Divergent by Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 3, 2011 (Tomorrow!)
Source: Publisher
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.
My thoughts: *SPOILER FREE* Because I hate it when people spoil a good story for me.
To say that I was excited when I received a copy of this book is an understatement. Let's just say I got really weird looks from my neighbors and the UPS man.
I made time to read this book, which I would recommend you do too. Goodness, do not read between job breaks, a teacher's boring lecture, or anything that causes you to step away from that book for more than 5 minutes . You will regret not listening to me and you will not fully enjoy the book. This book needs your undivided attention.
That being said, this book, from beginning to end was mind boggling action and suspense. As you read in the summary, there are five factions in this society. By the age of 16 you must decide which fraction you will live with for the rest of your life. Your family is in another faction? Too bad. They're not your family anymore, your faction is.
It is a scary and hard decision to make, and Tris along with the rest of the faction's 16-year-olds must decide. Tris, is a pale and skinny your girl who was born into the selfless faction, but she seems to have a lot of trouble fitting in. So she must decide, stay with her family in a faction where she feels unworthy of the title Abnegation, or leave her family and go into the unknown?
Tris is a must-jot-down in the"kick-ass heroines" list, I admire her bravery and complete determination, qualities that everyone admires but are hard to come by. She completely transforms herself through the book-- from this shy quiet girl to this girl who accepts that she has to live by the choices that she makes, and never look back.
Veronica Roth's debut novel is by no means a quick read. But I found no difficulty whatsoever trying to finish it, I actually dreaded the end, because I knew that I would have to wait a torturous amount of time for the second book. And oh the ending! Veronica Roth, why must you torture us so?
Action-packed thriller and heart-stopping romance all packed into 487 pages of pure awesomeness. You're gonna want to buy this one, or borrow it from your next door neighbor, but make sure to ask for permission first, I don't want any break-in arrests in my conscience.
Before I finish, I would like to say that this book spent about two weeks on my bedroom nigh-stand, why? Because I kept re-reading my favorite parts over and over (mostly the romance parts), and it kinda makes the waiting for Divergent #2 a little less painful. Will that tidbit of unnecessary information, you can probably conclude that I really, really liked this novel, and I will be buying me a finished copy very soon.
Rating:
I would give it 5 butterflies, but Tris (and Four!) deserve better than that...
What's Next?
Expected Publication: 2012 *insert scream here*
Trailer: Just released Today!!
I cannot get it from YouTube or anywhere else.
Let me know what you think.
