Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent
Divergent #1
Author: Veronica Roth
Pages: 487 pgs
Reading Level: YA
Pubislhed: May 3rd 2011
Review Source: Purchased
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble /Borders

Summary: (from goodreads) In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Wow that an amazing story!! Veronica did an amazing job describing everything in this book. I was able to visualize the world she intended us to see. This was my first dystopian book and I have to say that it made me a huge fan. If all dystopian books are like Divergent, then I have been missing on some really amazing books. This is one of those books that when you start reading it, you will have a hard time putting it down.

The story is set in Chicago and in the future. The world is completely different from what it is today. Beatrice’s 16th birthday is coming up and that means that she will have to choose a faction she will live with for the rest of her life and say good bye to her parents and family forever. You see, when you are born, you are raised in the faction your parents live in and once you turn 16, you get to choose your own. There are a total of 5 factions and everyone in them is different. Abnegation, the selfless; Candor, the honest; Dauntless, the brave; Amity, the peaceful and Erudite, the intelligent. Beatrice lives with her family in the Abnegation faction. If she fails the initiation, she will be factionless and forced to live outside society as a castoff. But instead of failing, Beatrice discovers that she is Divergent. She is also told not to tell anyone about that and to just pick the faction she wants to be a part of. When it’s time for the ceremony, Beatrice choses Dauntless and her family feels like she has betrayed them all. After leaving Abnegation Beatrice has to go to Dauntless boot camp. There she meets Four and let me tell you, I am madly in love with him!! LOL Tris, as she decides to call herself after leaving her family, is put to the test. She is going to see how the world really is and will discover what being Divergent really is.

I found out about this book from Yara. She told me that it was one of the best books she has read this year. So of course, I had to get it and read it. I was lucky enough to have Yara get me a signed copy of it which I am so grateful for. This is definitely going into my “don’t touch or I will kill you books” shelf. I’m sure you have heard about how fantastic this book is, well let me tell you, IT IS that and more. Like Yara said, there is only one word that sums up this book: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!!!!! You can read Yara's review for Divergent HERE.