Divergent: Could Thinking for Yourself Get You Killed?

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Why did I read it?

Dystopian novels are huge right now, so we decided to read this book for TeenBookWorms. We meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 4-5pm, to discuss a book together.

What happened?

After a devestating war ravaged the planet, survivors created factions that focused on a particular virtue to combat the evil that caused the war. Those who said the war was caused by deception formed Candor (the honest), those who blamed selfishness formed Abnegation (the selfless), those who blamed cowardness formed Dauntless (the brave), those who blamed anger formed Amity (the peaceful), and those who blamed ignorance formed Erudite (the intelligent).

Many years after the establishment of this seemingly perfect society, Beatrice Prior will choose which faction she will join just like every other sixteen-year-old in Chicago. For most, a simulation will definitively tell them which faction will be the best fit for them. But, for Beatrice, her choices in the simulation are inconclusive, and that can mean only one thing; that she is divergent.

While no one will tell her exactly what that means, she is told repeatedly that it is dangerous and could get her killed. Fantastic! As if surviving initiation in her chosen faction isn't going to cause enough problems for her.


What did I like or not like?


Veronica is only 22 years old and this is her debut novel, but it is amazing! She does a great job imagining a world where society members are split by personality, and how focusing on one virtue can mess us up instead of help us.

The initiation process that Beatrice has to endure provides a great mix of excitement, adventure, discoveries and a little bit of romance. But, beneath it all, there is something more sinister that Beatrice can't put her finger on, and it is this undercurrent that eventually rears its ulgy head and threatens to topple the system her entire society is built on.

P.S. There is some violence (this is a Dystopian novel) and some brief sexually-themed discussions.