Bookish Sundays

Title: Divergent


Author:  Veronica Roth

Category:  Fiction

Synopsis [c/o Barnes & Noble]:  "In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

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

I'm on a role; Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and now Divergent.  I really should stop doing this to myself; between Twilight [which I hate], The Hunger Games [which I love], Vampire Diaries [which I am strangely addicted to], and Vampire Academy [which is a blend of all the emotions above], I am starting to hate this teenage martyr that only gets into trouble and endangers everyone around them while falling hopelessly in love at the age of 16.  Sick of it.

But, Divergent is still a great book.  Teenage girl, caught up in a life that is so different from our own, and has to make a decision that will affect her future at such a young age.  Of course, she finds the man of her dreams, but there are never ending issues to work out [because they're teenagers...duh].  And in the midst of it all, the world she knows falls apart and she must risk her life to save everyone around her.  [I know I have a sardonic tone to my words, but it does sound eerily like Hunger Games and The Maze Runner, no?]  The author has a great since of wording, timing, and description; I definitely got caught up in the novel from the beginning.  You're left hanging for a while, not quite sure what's going on, but be patient; Roth will get to it in her own way.  Contains action, adventure, drama, romance, and suspense; another young adult novel that would be great for most ages, maybe around 13 and up?  There is violence and killing, so keep that in mind if you have kids.  You should check it out; I could see this being made into a movie in the future.