Module 5/Fantasy and Science Fiction/June 30-July 6
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Roth, V. (2011). Divergent. New York: HarperCollins.
Summary
Divergent is the first in a trilogy about futuristic Chicago, which has now become a dystopian society. The story follows Beatrice Prior who has to choose which faction she will be in because she is now sixteen and all sixteen-year-olds must../ choose. They have five choices: Candor, Erudite, Amity, Abnegation or Dauntless. Although Beatrice has been raised Abnegation, when it comes time to choose in front of everyone, she chooses Dauntless. Abnegation is a gentle faction but Dauntless is completely different and it doesn't take Beatrice long to realize that. Also, when Beatrice takes the test that all teenagers take, the results that come back are surprising: she is Divergent, so she does not have skills that attract one faction. She is rare and this can be deadly for her. Soon, she changes her name to Tris and begins making both friends and enemies. She sees she is going to have to fight her way through initiation to make it to the end. She watches as friends kill themselves and others get seriously injured due to competition. Finally, she completes Dauntless initiation and becomes official. As this is happening though. something else is brewing. Soon she will have to lead a revolution against the government. The rest of the story is told in the other two books, Insurgent and Allegiant.
My Impression
I really liked Divergent and believe it is definitely the best of the three. The action is from cover to cover and I feel like Tris' character is layered very well. Every time I think she is a certain way, she makes a decision that completely throws me for a loop. I love her relationship with Four and how it is based on mutual respect. The story line is fast paced which makes it both a quick and easy read. She is a strong female character and I really like that too. She can easily be a role model for teenage girls. She is brave, strong and does not show her fears, even during initiation when she couldn't even sleep at night because she may be attacked due to her advancing at the top in almost every category the initiates competed in. This is a very well written book and starts the series off strong. I would not re-read the series again because I strongly disliked the ending, but I would read this book on its own over and over.
Reviews and Awards
"The remnant population of post-apocalyptic Chicago intended to cure civilization’s failures by structuring society into five “factions,” each dedicated to inculcating a specific virtue. When Tris, secretly a forbidden “Divergent,” has to choose her official faction in her 16th year, she rejects her selfless Abnegation upbringing for the Dauntless, admiring their reckless bravery. But the vicious initiation process reveals that her new tribe has fallen from its original ideals, and that same rot seems to be spreading… Aside from the preposterous premise, this gritty, paranoid world is built with careful details and intriguing scope. The plot clips along at an addictive pace, with steady jolts of brutal violence and swoony romance. Despite the constant assurance that Tris is courageous, clever and kind, her own first-person narration displays a blank personality. No matter; all the “good” characters adore her and the “bad” are spiteful and jealous. Fans snared by the ratcheting suspense will be unable to resist speculating on their own factional allegiance; a few may go on to ponder the questions of loyalty and identity beneath the façade of thrilling adventure.
Guaranteed to fly off the shelves."
Reviews and Awards
"The remnant population of post-apocalyptic Chicago intended to cure civilization’s failures by structuring society into five “factions,” each dedicated to inculcating a specific virtue. When Tris, secretly a forbidden “Divergent,” has to choose her official faction in her 16th year, she rejects her selfless Abnegation upbringing for the Dauntless, admiring their reckless bravery. But the vicious initiation process reveals that her new tribe has fallen from its original ideals, and that same rot seems to be spreading… Aside from the preposterous premise, this gritty, paranoid world is built with careful details and intriguing scope. The plot clips along at an addictive pace, with steady jolts of brutal violence and swoony romance. Despite the constant assurance that Tris is courageous, clever and kind, her own first-person narration displays a blank personality. No matter; all the “good” characters adore her and the “bad” are spiteful and jealous. Fans snared by the ratcheting suspense will be unable to resist speculating on their own factional allegiance; a few may go on to ponder the questions of loyalty and identity beneath the façade of thrilling adventure.
Guaranteed to fly off the shelves."
(2011, April 5). [Review of the book Divergent]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/veronica-roth/divergent/.
YALSA Teens' Top Ten Books
New York Times' Bestseller
Suggestions for Use
*Discuss the similarities and differences between dystopian novels and why they are so popular among teenagers
*Have a movie night and watch the movie "Divergent." You can also discuss with the teenagers after the movie what they liked better/worse than the book.
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