Divergent (Divergent, #1)

by Veronica Roth

The explosive debut by No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth.

DIVERGENT – a major motion picture franchise.

The first book in the DIVERGENT series that has swept the globe – selling millions of copies world-wide.

In the world of Divergent, society is divided into five factions – Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity and Erudite. Every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice Prior, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is. Her choice shocks everyone, including herself.

During the initiation that follows, Tris and her fellow initiates undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them, Tris must determine who her friends really are – and whether she can trust the man who both threatens and protects her.

Because Tris has a deadly secret. And as growing conflict threatens to unravel their seemingly perfect society, this secret might save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

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

• ISBN13: 9780008167905
• Publish Date: 31 December 2015 (first published 1 May 2011)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 21 February 2024
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Harper Fire
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 496
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[celinenyx]

Divergent was so incredibly fast-paced that I finished it within two days. Even though it has close to five hundred pages, it doesn't feel like so long a read. From the moment we meet Beatrix, later shortened to Tris, I was hooked.

I like this book so much that I don't have enough words to write a full review. There is not one piece of Divergent that I didn't like. I loved the romance between Tris and Four. I was swooning after fifty pages, which is a record for me. I love the sense of community in the Dauntless. I loved Tris as a character, I loved that she wasn't a total goody-goody. I loved the simple and clean writing style. And I loved the holy-crap-the-world-is-going-down exciting ending.

The most incredible thing about Divergent is that it's a debut novel. That means Ms Roth is only just getting started. There is going to be so much awesome in her future...

[kimbacaffeinate]

In, Roth’s dystopia, Chicago has been divided into five factions, after a series of natural disasters, and wars. Each of these factions is dedicated to a single virtue. At the age of sixteen, each child within the society is able to decide what faction they wish to join. They take an exam which tells them which faction they are best suited for, however they are still free to ultimately choose their place. Once they choose, they are separated from their family and become members of the new faction. Each faction fills a purpose within the society. The idea being that society as a whole will flourish with each faction performing tasks that best suit their virtue.

Protagonist Beatrice Prior, has spent most of her life living in a peaceful society. Recently, there has been tension between some of the factions. She notices a change at school, and overhears conversations between her parents. Beatrice and her brother are turning sixteen and must choose a faction. The exam reveals something that Beatrice must keep secret. Ultimately, she makes a choice that surprises everyone; including herself. The tale that unfolds literally swept me away, as I became caught up in her story, and the world Roth created. There is a dark side to this tale that is reminiscent to the classic, Lord of Flies. This element drives the plot and ultimately captures the reader. While, the protagonist fights to earn her place in her faction; others plot to earn theirs. They are driven by a fear of become factionless. Each faction believes that their virtue is the best, and ultimately this ideal will become their demise.

The characters have depth and I immediately connected with them. I formed a bond with the spunky, insecure, brave and oh so lovable Beatrice. As she fights to create her own identity within her faction, and make friends, we see her grow into herself. Circumstances force her to move outside of her comfort zone in order to be accepted, and earn her place. The characters in her faction are colorful and we see all types of personalities emerge. It is here, that the Lord of the Flies analogy comes into play, as each of the new members’ fights for position within the faction. A relationship develops between Beatrice and Four; one of the trainers. The romance between them evolves slowly and feels genuine. Four ends up helping Beatrice keep her secret and she begins to wonder what his secret is. Events that unfold, cause them to question everything and the dramatic conclusion left me wanting more. This looks to be the start of an exciting new trilogy and I can't wait to read more.

[Kelsenator]

Originally posted on my blog Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf

I LOVED this book. There are just so many good things about it. the dystopian world that the author created was fun and unique, and I loved how different the factions were from each other but that they each had a specific role. At first I had trouble remembering which faction was which, but that’s just me. Dauntless is my favourite so far.

I liked how Tris just went for the other faction, how she managed to make some friends and how she became strong, even after everything that was happening around her. Her uniqueness, the Divergent part of her, was interesting too. The people are so categorized into their faction, that anyone deviating outside of it, or showing a trait that isn’t supposed to belong to them, is shown as dangerous and those people are usually killed. Tris needs to be extra careful because of it. Her romance with Four was very cute too, I was rooting for them the whole time.

I literally had trouble putting this book down, it was an awesome read for a debut author, and I am super excited for when the next book comes out!

I highly recommend if for dystopian fans, or anyone that wants to try something new.

[journalingirl]

This is my favorite book of 2011. It's just so good. Or is it 2012, because I did read it this summer. I confuse myself. But read it anyway Because it's really good!

[empressbrooke]

Like The Hunger Games, this is a smartly-written dystopian YA novel with some interesting world building. And, amazingly, it avoids the YA trope of a love triangle for the main character. I think [b:A Need So Beautiful|7656231|A Need So Beautiful (A Need So Beautiful, #1)|Suzanne Young|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1300744024s/7656231.jpg|10230316] is the only other one I can think of that skips that cliche as well. If you're wondering "What's next?" after finishing the Hunger Games but are wary of wading through too many YA books, this is a great one to pick up.

[inlibrisveritas]

After reading this I have one question...Why did I wait so long to read this? I want to gush...I really do, but I don't think I can come up with enough words to substitute for awesome.

Everything is so well done in this book. The world that Roth has created is very believable and slightly chilling. At first I wasn't sure about the faction aspect, I found it be confining and unfair...but then I kind of realized that was the point. I loved the fact that it's set up in such a way, and that the factions have different rules and personalities makes it even better. The characters are also wonderfully realistic and not just one dimensional plot devices. I think that the way this is written really goes a long way to give you true insight to what's going on. I mean at times I even felt nervous for the main character, Tris. There is a lot that goes into the characters and even the ones you rarely see feel real. These people have flaws and their actions have consequences, and not just to their surroundings but mentally as well. Four is by far my favorite character in this, which I suppose is hardly surprising to those who've read it. Tris is a pretty close second though, and I could only wish I were as strong as she is at times. The romance that occurs is also very well done and doesn't feel rushed or fake at all. The timeline feels real and the interactions between the two are perfect for them. There were times when I had to stop reading and simply gawk at the page for a bit before everything kind of sunk in.

This is action packed and gripping, and I've lost more then a few hours of sleep reading this one. I want to say more on this, but I fear if I do I'll give away some part of the plot and I don't want to ruin this for anyone. It's capable of the element of surprise and I don't want it to loose that. I recommend this completely! A bit of content warning so I'd keep it 16 and up, or so. I can't wait till the next one comes out!

[Amanda]

Actual rating: 4.5

Original review: http://onabookbender.com/2011/11/16/review-divergent-by-veronica-roth/

Divergent is narrated in present tense, which sets it apart from a lot of books, and throws the reader into the book; it is the tense of the Dauntless. This wasn’t just a story; it was a commentary on human nature and society, and therein lies the appeal and beauty of Divergent. It operates on a multitude of levels, and I love books like that.

I found the factions fascinating (Dauntless would so not be my faction; the heights would do me in) because where the general premise and idea of each faction is sound, in practice, it is flawed and creates the same problems — or worse — that the world experienced in the first place, which had presumably led to the creation of factions. Divergent asks questions like: what is bravery? What is selfishness? Is it possible to put one character trait above all others? Is there just ONE trait we are missing in this world? Would having the one trait make the world a better place? Buried deep within a story about a girl named Tris is a philosophical debate.

Having Divergent set in a setting that is familiar to our world made it easier to connect to, even though I have never personally been to Chicago (except the airport, which doesn’t really count). Because each faction is tied to a character trait that can be easily twisted, examples of which we can easily find in our daily lives, it was not difficult to find a place within Tris’s world; I know exactly what faction I would be in. I loved Tris who grew into her self throughout the initiation process, and I loved Four (oh, Four!) because he was one of those strong and silent types who is always there for you, even if it doesn’t always appear that way.

I went in with low expectations and ended up being blown away by Divergent. It’s YA, but it is decidedly absent of typical teenage angst. It is our world, but it is not. It goes beyond a story to speak to something deeper, greater.

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

I listened to the audio book of Divergent because it was the only way I could borrow it from my library. It is narrated by Emma Galvin, and at first it really ruined my experience of the story. Somehow, Galvin managed to read every sentence in a voice that made Beatrice seem fearful and pathetic. She could read, “I ate a piece of broccoli,” in a way that suggested Beatrice was terrified of vegetables. In some cases, I managed to ignore this by repeating the sentences with different inflections in my head. Eventually, as I was hoping, Beatrice made some life decisions that made her braver, and Galvin changed the tone of her narration. After that, she made a pretty good Beatrice.

Narration aside, I really loved Divergent, but I appreciated it more as a romance than a dystopia. The story is based on the premise that all people belong to one of five factions: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, or Erudite. This is fine, except that the majority of people seem to manifest the values of only a single Faction—and they do it unceasingly. In one of the beginning chapters, Beatrice describes a scene at her school where the students are waiting for a test. The Candor are debating, the Erudite are reading, the Abnegation are sitting silently, the Dauntless are messing about, and the Amity are playing a group hand game. This is apparently how the Faction members spend all their free time. Unfortunately, even the argument that they are conforming to social norms cannot convince me that Erudites whip out a book any time they have a free second. It seemed more stereotypical than a convincing depiction of a society forced to act a certain way.

In fact, there were really no moments where I looked at the society in Divergent and thought That’s really awful. Of course there’s an evil plot and people trying to control each other by hiding information and messing with their brains—things one would expect in a dystopian novel. But somehow I was never horrified the way I was by Uglies or The Hunger Games. In some ways, the evil plot and who was directing it was too obvious. In other ways, there was no build-up to it at all and things just suddenly started happening.

The aspects that really kept me reading were not the main plot. First, I was fascinated by life in the Dauntless compound and how Tris was going to get through her initiation. Roth clearly chose the most interesting Faction for the main setting of her book, and she exploits it well with descriptions of crazy stunts and a wild initiation—nothing like the month of community service that Abnegation initiates perform. It did take Tris a little too long to ponder the difference between being a bully and truly being brave and to notice that some things about the Dauntless have become corrupt. The real definition of courage is one of the few important questions the book stops to ask, and I would have liked for it to be more prominent. Tris finally does address it, however, and it is one of the finest moments of Divergent.

Second, I wanted to see the romance unfold. Who the main love interest will be is relatively obvious soon after he is introduced, but Roth does an amazing job of developing a relationship between him and Tris; this is not a story where the characters fall in love at first sight. They have a lot of little encounters that I was literally gushing over. It was sweet but not too gooey because they are Dauntless, after all. They have a nice balance of knowing the other person is strong but understanding that sometimes they are weak.

Roth has created a very interesting world in Divergent, and I would like to have an inside look at the other Factions. This book has some great opportunities for readers to choose Factions the way Harry Potter fans declare allegiance to a particular house. Roth’s world-building and the romance are the main reasons I will be reading the sequel Insurgent in May. Frankly, I am not overly interested in how Tris and her friends plan to save their city.

[elysium]

When people are sixteen they have to choose a faction that values different virtues and where they want to live the rest of their lives. Beatrice is torn because while she doesn’t feel like belonging to Abnegation, leaving would mean not seeing her family again. Before the choosing ceremony everyone goes to a test that tells a recommendation which faction they should choose. But the test gives a shocking result: there’s not one faction she should belong but several. People that has that kind of result is called Divergent.

For once I agree with all the raving and hyping: I loved this book!

I liked Tris who was both brave, strong and same time vulnerable. She learned to stand up for herself even if her old faction taught people to be selfless. She learns to merge the best parts of two faction.

And of course there was the romance part. And for once there wasn’t a triangle that every YA book seems to have. Gotta love that. And it wasn’t too much like teen-age drooling. And I liked Four. There could have been little more telling about how he looked but oh well, worked fine for me. Maybe he’s past didn’t come so much as a shock but that didn’t ruin anything. I loved to see their relationship grow and getting to know each other.

I wish there would have been more about Tris’s mother’s past but I hope we learn more in the future. But that’s pretty much the only complain I have.

What a great debut from the author and I’m definitely reading the next book!

[lizarodz]

OH WOW! I started to read this book on Saturday evening and finished it last night. If you have kids, you know that this is quite the accomplishment. I just couldn't put in down or stop thinking about it. This a dystopian series that takes us to the Chicago of the future, to a world that is recovering for war and trying to re-invent itself. It is difficult to imagine that your life depends on choosing a faction, and that its ideology is ingrained into your thoughts, ideas, your sense of self and your value to society. Ms. Roth has created a world that we get to know well, her descriptions are excellent as well as her characterization.



Divergent is a wild ride, is a thriller that takes you to the difficult roller coaster that turs out to be Tris's life. Tris is a kick-ass heroine that reminds me a little of Katnis from 'The Hunger Games' (if you haven't read this series you are missing out too!) We can se,e as the novel progresses, how Tris grows in her new faction, the conflict within herself, and her interactions with Four and her classmates and new friends and enemies.



The novel is action packed and even the all the descriptions necessary for us to understand Tris's world are so interesting and well written that you don't feel like the book is as long as it is. All the characters are well crafted and they all have their strengths and weaknesses, which makes them feel more real. Four is combination of tough, sweet, maddening, violent, and so much more; I really loved him and I am glad that Ms. Roth didn't leave the story with a big cliffhanger.



This is by far the best book that I have read so far (so many good books this year, right?) 'Insurgent', the second book in the series comes out sometime next year