Divergent, by Veronica Roth, is a dystopian story in which the city is split up into factions based on their most prominent quality, bravery, selflessness, kindness, honesty, or intelligence. In order to be part of the society, each person has to pick which faction to go to, leaving their family for a new life or staying with the comfort they already have. The first step to this process is taking a test to see which faction you would fit in best, then you choose. The story follows Beatrice “Tris” Prior who, when taking the test, finds out she is Divergent. The world engulfs you into the dangers and challenges of Tris’ life after making her choice. It takes you into the struggles of her love life and her friendships, with betrayals and secrets, fun times and bad.
The story does a great job relating the reader to the difficult life of a teenager, showing Tris’ relations with her friends, her family, and those who want to bring her down. Dystopian stories always do a good job of showing us what not to do in our future, but Divergent both helps this claim and refutes it. This dystopian shows the reader the disaster that will come if we as a community divide ourselves. On the other hand, the beginning of the story shows how clean and orderly the community could be, even in this divided situation, everyone knowing exactly what to do and who they will become. Veronica Roth does an amazing job adding different twists and turns, challenging what the reader thinks will come next. The characters as well are well thought out, each showing a reason they are how they are and their evolution throughout the story. The first person view also allows a closer look into how Tris lives and interacts with her thoughts and feelings. Wording choices throughout the novel did a good job expressing Tris’ emotions, whether it was complex words to show her stress, or simple ones when trying to process her chaotic life. The book as a whole is a creative and unique twist on the future of our society and teenage life. I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a book with some romance, secrets, destruction, and a message on life.
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