Divergence Threatens Our Society

By: Khevna J.

            The book that I am reviewing is called Divergent, which is at present a popular book. Veronica Roth wrote this story, along with the next two books in the trilogy, Insurgent and Allegiant. It is a young adult dystopian novel set in a society that is divided into five factions, each of which represents a character trait. Abnegation represents selflessness, Amity represents kindness, Erudite represents knowledge, Candor represents honesty, and Dauntless represents fearlessness and bravery. When people turn sixteen years old, they must take a test, which is a simulation, and later choose which faction they want to be in. In order to be admitted into their faction of choice, they need to undergo initiation, which is a process that determines whether people are capable of becoming a part of that faction. If a person fails initiation, he/she will become factionless, and will not be a part of any faction.

            The main character in this book is Tris. Her home faction is Abnegation, and she decides to transfer to Dauntless, with the knowledge that she is different, divergent, from all of the other sixteen-year old initiates. In her new faction, she learns all of the tactics and strategies of how to survive in this dangerous, new environment. At the end of the book, an astonishing secret about divergence is revealed, and Tris must embark on another quest in the next two books to defeat the evil in the other factions.

            I did not have any complaints about this book. The plot was engaging in that it was unique from plots of other stories; the various ideas and concepts of the plot were different. The book was written so that the reader developed a close relationship with each of the main characters and understood the thought processes and actions associated with each of them. The dialog was intriguing and realistic for the story, and the pacing was perfect.

            The reader should definitely seek out Divergent to read for himself/herself because after reading the book, he/she would be moved by the events that occurred in the story. Tris makes some bold choices that shock the reader at points throughout the book. The simulations that Tris encounters were my favorite part, and I always looked forward to them. The way that Roth describes them causes me to enter Tris’s mind, experience what she is feeling, and delve into a completely different zone with new thought and structure. These events must be read in great detail with the amount of imagery that is used in the book, and cannot be summarized by a mere book review.

            Readers can find this book in any library, they can order it online off of a website, or they can read it electronically.