Review - Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, 2011
Hardcover 487 pages


Divergent by Veronica Roth is a thrilling, well written edition to the plethora of dystopian teen novels that have come out in the last couple of years following the popularity of The Hunger Games. Like The Hunger Games, this book stars a 16 year old girl, Beatrice (later Tris), whose fate seems linked with the revolution taking place in a futuristic Chicago. At the age of 16, children are given the choice of five different factions to choose from; the Amity who live for peace, the Dauntless who live for bravery and daring, the Candor who believe in only telling the truth, the Erudite who value intelligence over everything, or the faction of her parents, the Abnegation who value selflessness. Breaking with her family, Tris chooses to train with the Dauntless, though in truth, she feels like there is no one group that she belongs entirely to. While training, she stumbles upon a plot that will start an all out war between the factions and destroy the fragile peace that now exists.

The book was definitely one that I couldn't put down once I had started it. The pacing is fast and action packed, but the end seemed unnecessarily rushed. I felt like there was a spectacular build-up only to have a few tense minutes before the dramatic conclusion and a HUGE cliffhanger. I'm going to be waiting eagerly for the next book in the series as there are many questions unanswered at the end of this book.