Book Review- Divergent

By Veronica Roth

Published by Harper Teens/Katherine Tegen Books

To Be Released on May 3rd, 2011

Source- ARC for review from publisher

5 stars- This is a MUST have!

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 (quoted from Goodreads).

A thrilling, captivating, fantastic debut book, Divergent is one of the best dystopian books I've read! Veronica Roth's heart stopping action, sizzling chemistry, and unforgettable adventure took me on one amazing emotionally charged ride and in the end left me breathless. If I could sing from the roof tops about this book, I would.

Talk about perfection! The writing, the world building, the characters, the twists, everything about this book screams excellence. Divergent sold me on dystopian books! The world in which it's set is fascinating, as it's made up of fractions, each one excelling at something unique. When 16 yr old Beatrice takes her test to find out what fraction she'll join, she's a little shocked to find out not only is she different from everyone else, but she'll have a choice to make. Does she stay with her family or set off on her destiny? Beatrice has a secret that no one can know about, she's a Divergent. A rare gift which will make her open target if someone finds out about her ability. Divergent's have an empowering ability as the don't fit into just one fraction, but any one of them.

Talk about an awesome heroine! Beatrice for me is the essence of a realistic teen set in a futuristic world. She is someone I both came to admire and totally loved getting to know, as she has the ability to it not only embrace what she is, but find her place in the world in which she choose, Dauntless. She's so real, as she has insecurities, and is really just trying to make her mark in her new world, as well as learning to survive in it. When Beatrice enters Dauntless she not only takes on the new identify as Tris, the story becomes so captivating I couldn't stop reading it. I can honestly say I have never read an almost 500 page so quickly.

It's not just the riveting plot and the unexpected twists that sucked me, but the in-depth, complex characters who fueled my fascination with the book. Divergent has character chemistry and a romance I couldn't get enough of. There's something about Four, Tris's trainer that is so captivating not just to her, but to me. He's has a quite strength that not only makes him mysterious, brave and swoon worthy, but he's very intelligent. What's heartbreaking about their relationship is the secrets they both have, and will eventually learn to share. Four's painful past and carefully hidden true identity made me love him even more, as he hides his vulnerability so well. Both of them become the strength they need to endure what will happen next.

There is so much I want to say about Divergent, but for the sake of not giving away spoilers I will say this book is perfectly written. There is something in this book for everyone and it's one that will leave you catching your breath at the every end. I am so excited that this is the first book in a triology, but only problem I have is waiting to read the second book. We will definitely be hosting a giveaway for this book when the release date gets closer. This is a MUST have book. It's one of those rare books that I'd be tempted to purchase a few copies of just to have on hand to loan out to my family and friends.