Divergent by Veronica Roth

The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth: Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant. Book of Short Stories: Four, a Divergent Story Collection. Also being produced into a movie released March 21, 2014.

Summary

"In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, 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 alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating 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 unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her."

My Review

I really enjoyed the Divergent series. I had read the Legend series by Marie Lu, and the Librarian at my sons school recommended this series. I was drawn into the Divergent world, and had a hard time letting it go. The characters develop and grow, socially, personally and in an inspiring relationship. The books take on the task of trying to understand human nature. As humans generally go, we cannot be divided into factions or primary characteristic. Humans have multiple facets: intelligence, selflessness, bravery, honesty and peacefulness in some degree or another. I believe this book series does a good job of showing that trying to separate people is against human nature. It is an interesting story of how this dystopian Chicago was developed, and the reasons aren't fully clear, but enough to understand their reasoning and the story. To be completely honest: the ending made me upset. After first I grieved, then I was pissed. But finally I did come to a resolution, understanding why the ending is the way it is.

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