review on divergent book

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Divergent, book 1, common sense media reviewers.

Exciting, violent dystopian thriller is original, addictive.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

The author includes historical tidbits about real

The lead characters deal with important issues abo

Tris doubts herself sometimes but taps into her br

Some Dauntless are sadistic and vicious. People ro

Mostly lingering, intense looks, hand holding, and

Insults like "idiot," "stupid," "loser," "jerk," "

The Dauntless drink unspecified alcohol at parties

Parents need to know that this dystopian teen novel is the first of a trilogy. It includes the markers of the genre, including fantasy violence, a fractured society, Big Brother-esque monitoring, as well as romance. The 16-year-old protagonist chooses to live in the "brave" faction, where members routinely try to out…

Educational Value

The author includes historical tidbits about real Chicago landmarks and challenges readers to think about what personal attributes are necessary for a cohesive society to succeed in peace.

Positive Messages

The lead characters deal with important issues about identity and controlling societies. They struggle with what it really means to be selfless, brave, smart, and kind.

Positive Role Models

Tris doubts herself sometimes but taps into her bravery and ingrained selflessness to protect others even when she doesn't realize it. Calm Four encourages Tris to use her upbringing's focus on selflessness to be even more courageous. Tris and Four are a good role model for a teen relationship; they treat each other as equals, defend each other (not just him defending her), and work through their problems with open, honest conversations. They also take their time with the romance and don't play games with each other.

Violence & Scariness

Some Dauntless are sadistic and vicious. People routinely have to fight each other -- regardless of size or gender -- and every character is beaten and bloodied at least once. Several characters die: one commits suicide by throwing himself off a ledge into rapids; one falls by accident in the gap between a train and a roof; and others are shot dead during an armed ambush. Two characters are nearly choked to death, and during training, a few characters have to visit the Infirmary due to their injuries. During one physical assault, two guys start groping a girl's chest and make rude comments about her body. In a calculated move, three initiates stab the first-ranked competitor in the eye.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Mostly lingering, intense looks, hand holding, and hugs, but toward the end of the book, there's kissing. Inexperienced Tris has a panic attack about Four's possible expectations for sex. In one scene, they kiss passionately (and in bed) after he removes his shirt. They admit they "want" each other, but vaguely agree to wait for "someday." Slightly disturbing jokes are made about Tris' petite size. A couple of guys ask her if she's 16 or really 12.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Insults like "idiot," "stupid," "loser," "jerk," "shut up," "freak," and the pejorative nickname for Abnegation members, "Stiff."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The Dauntless drink unspecified alcohol at parties, dinner, and in one scene Four is seen looking tipsy.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this dystopian teen novel is the first of a trilogy. It includes the markers of the genre, including fantasy violence, a fractured society, Big Brother-esque monitoring, as well as romance. The 16-year-old protagonist chooses to live in the "brave" faction, where members routinely try to out-do each other physically and recklessly act like daredevils to prove their fearlessness. The initiation process is brutal and bloody, and kills or seriously injures a few characters. Violence escalates as the end of the book approaches, culminating in a blood bath. The romance is sweet and progresses from lingering looks to a few kissing sessions, but there's no sex and characters express fear of going too far, too fast. Like The Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen, Tris Prior is a strong, generous, and beautifully flawed female protagonist.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (72)
• Kids say (530)

Based on 72 parent reviews

Amazing book set in dystopian future!

My current favorite book, what's the story.

In the Chicago of the distant future, society has willingly segregated itself into five "factions:" Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the kind), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent). All 16-year-olds take an aptitude test revealing their true faction and then choose one to join -- regardless of which one they were born into. When Abnegation-born Beatrice Prior's results are inconclusive, her tester informs her she's a "divergent" and should never mention her results to anyone. Believing herself too selfish to be any good in Abnegation, she chooses Dauntless, where she rechristens herself Tris. During the dangerous bloody Dauntless initiation process, she develops feelings for her handsome, mysterious instructor Four, who never fails to challenge her to perform her best, even as others grow jealous of her unexpected skills. And Tris beings to realize being a Divergent has both advantages and disadvantages.

Is It Any Good?

Roth, who wrote the book as a college student, has earned a tremendous amount of first book buzz, and the hype is well-deserved. She uses some devices that fans of dystopian novels will recognize -- a compartmentalized society, a misfit protagonist, dangerous secrets, and a cliffhanger ending -- but still manages to create an unstoppable plot that's remarkably original. Tris is a refreshingly smart and self-possessed 16-year-old protagonist, and readers will fall in love with her leading man right along with her. But the romance, while as swoon-worthy and fluttery as you'd expect from a teen novel, is actually secondary to the book's deep messages about identity and controlling societies. This is an impressive and provoking start to what should be a fascinating series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about why so many books are coming out about teens growing up in dangerous futuristic societies, like Matched or The Hunger Games . Is the dystopian genre becoming overcrowded? What does this book have in common with other books you've read?

What did you think of the level of violence here? Does the fantasy setting make it easier to handle -- or are there details that you found disturbing? Is violence in books different than in other media, like movies or television shows?

Book Details

• Author : Veronica Roth
• Genre : Science Fiction
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
• Publication date : May 3, 2011
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
• Number of pages : 496
• Last updated : February 10, 2020

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By Veronica Roth

Veronica Roth's 'Divergent' is an action-packed young adult novel, with complex themes revolving around self-discovery and rebellion against oppressive systems.

Article written by Michael Chude

B.Sc. degree in parasitology and entomology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Born into Abnegation, a faction known for its rejection of worldliness and the pursuit of material comforts, Tris Prior must prove to her new family and herself that she belongs in her new faction, Dauntless. ‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth  is a multi-layered narrative of bravery, rebellion against rigid social structures, and self-discovery.  

In ‘ Divergent,’ tattoos serve as a conspicuous mark of identity, showing a person’s identification and dedication to their chosen faction. During the initiation process, people who have come of age and have chosen their new factions undergo a ritual ceremony where they are tattooed with the symbols of their faction. These tattoos are meticulously designed to represent the essence of each faction, reflecting their core principles and beliefs.

More than mere body art, tattoos have deep meanings for the characters in ‘ Divergent.’ The tattoos embody the values and ideals that shape the lives of the faction’s members. The bravery and fearlessness of the Dauntless faction are represented by various designs that symbolize courage, strength, and the overcoming of fears, all inked in black. The tattoos were also created to remind the members of the factions of the expectations placed upon them and to encourage them to live up to their faction’s values.

Tris Prior uses her tattoos to mark the milestones in her life. She also uses her tattoos as important markers in her search for self-identity; she also uses them as a declaration of her newfound independence from the life she knew as a child in Abnegation. After each milestone in her life, she gets a tattoo. Each tattoo has a different, specific symbolic meaning to her.

For example, she gets a tattoo of the Dauntless symbol, a ring of fire, to celebrate the fact that she’s finally feeling at home among the Dauntless. In general, though, Tris’ tattoos symbolize her desire to form an identity for herself: tattoos remind her who she is, and inspire her to be strong and true to her principles. Thus, her first tattoo represents her family, symbolizing her continued allegiance to her old life in Abnegation; her second tattoo is Dauntless, symbolizing her love for her new community.

Within the restrictive, rigid, and factional system that defines the dystopian society created by Veronica Roth in ‘ Divergent,’ divergence becomes a force that defies the limitations of prescribed virtues. It disrupts the neatly organized lives of citizens, threatening the delicate balance of control created and meticulously maintained by the leaders. Those who are Divergent possess a unique gift—a mosaic of traits from multiple factions—rendering them unpredictable, elusive, and, most importantly, resistant to manipulation.

As a Divergent, the book’s protagonist lacks strong feelings of allegiance to any one of the five factions. Instead, she has qualities that align her with more than one of the factions. Divergence also suggests a unique kind of mental state that is yet to be fully explained to the reader, as Divergent people like Tris and Tobias can resist mind control and hallucinations that affect those with more clear allegiances. Although Tris thought she was the only Divergent in her city, she soon began to discover that others like her struggle with their identity and their loyalties. She also discovers that her mother is Divergent.

Divergent people cannot conform to factional expectations, making them resistant to indoctrination. These qualities ignite the flames of rebellion and hope. Divergent individuals emerge as the champions of individuality who shatter the shackles of societal expectations by daring to question the suffocating pressure to conform. In doing so, they unveil the strength that lies within embracing one’s distinctiveness.

Criticisms of Divergent

One frequent criticism of the book ‘Divergent’ is its overall unoriginal concept. Other works exist that have explored the idea of a dystopian society divided into factions based on personality traits or virtues, including books such as Lois Lowry’s ‘ The Giver .’ Many critics argue that ‘ Divergent ‘ fails to bring fresh ideas or a unique perspective to the genre, relying on familiar tropes and plot elements.

Readers and critics alike have also expressed their disappointment in the lack of depth of the worldbuilding in the ‘ Divergent ‘ book. The factions and their corresponding virtues are seen as somewhat simplistic and shabbily explored, leaving aspects of the society and its history underdeveloped. The setting of post-apocalyptic Chicago, while intriguing, may not be fully realized or explained to the satisfaction of some readers.

Divergent: A Gripping Story of Self-discovery

Book Title: Divergent

Book Description: In Veronica Roth's "Divergent," young adults are thrust into a world of high-stakes action and intricate dilemmas. Centered on themes of self-discovery and resistance against a repressive regime, the novel captivates readers with its intense narrative and thought-provoking questions about individuality and societal norms.

Book Author: Veronica Roth

Book Edition: First Edition

Book Format: Hardcover

Publisher - Organization: Katherine Tegen Books

Date published: April 26, 2011

Illustrator: Joel Tippie

ISBN: 0-06-202402-7

Number Of Pages: 487

• Writing Style
• Lasting Effect of Reader

In Veronica Roth’s ‘ Divergent ,’ a dystopian society divided into factions based on virtues forces sixteen-year-old Tris Prior to make a life-altering choice. Leaving behind her selfless Abnegation faction, she embraces her newfound identity as a brave member of Dauntless, as she hides a secret that will change her society forever.

• Gripping and engaging plot.
• Strong female protagonist.
• Explores concepts like identity and individuality.
• Lack of originality.
• Underdeveloped and unexplored worldbuilding.
• Simplistic characterization.

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About Michael Chude

Michael Chude has years of experience writing flash fiction and reviewing books with his book club members. He is also an avid reader who loves great stories and extensive world-building.

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Children’s Books

In This Dystopia, Teens Must Choose Wisely

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By Susan Dominus

• May 12, 2011

Imagine the publishing world as it might look in a dystopian universe in the distant future. In this world, college English majors — call them “Englies” — aspire to write only one kind of book: the dystopian young adult novel set in the distant future. (Englies of a certain status are permitted to write about dystopias populated by vampires.) Another subset of the population — “the Fans” — provides a kind of slave labor, posting endlessly to dedicated blogs and recording podcasts, providing free marketing for an unceasing succession of aspiring best-seller trilogies.

I couldn’t help imagining this world as I read “Divergent,” the first in a planned trilogy of young adult novels set in a dystopian future and written by Veronica Roth, who sold the book in a major pre-­emptive bid before she even graduated from Northwestern last year. With “Divergent,” Roth adds to a genre that has crossed over from having a vague cultural moment to being a full-bore trend, much of it driven by the wild success of Suzanne Collins’s “Hunger Games” trilogy.

“Divergent” holds its own in the genre, with brisk pacing, lavish flights of imagination and writing that occasionally startles with fine detail. As the mother of Beatrice, the main character, cuts her daughter’s hair, the young narrator notices “the strands fall on the floor in a dull, blond ring.” Beatrice sees her reflection only when her hair is cut — the second day of every third month — because she has been born into Abnegation, one of five factions that make up the population. Those who belong to Abnegation believe selflessness begets world harmony; those who choose Candor see honesty as the path to the same goal.

The other groups are Amity, Erudite and Dauntless, and it is this last group that calls out to Beatrice when she is given the opportunity either to stay with her family’s group or to choose another allegiance. As part of the initiation process for Dauntless, Tris (a nickname Beatrice adopts to reflect her new self) must prove her mettle with adolescent feats of bravado, like jumping off a moving train onto a rooftop. She endures simulated death traps and jacks up her adrenaline with breathtaking leaps into the unknown.

“Divergent” clearly has thrills, but it also movingly explores a more common adolescent anxiety — the painful realization that coming into one’s own sometimes means leaving family behind, both ideologically and physically. It is not a coincidence that Tris falls in love while undergoing initiation into her new tribe. It is precisely the moment when young people discover romance that family life all but evaporates, at least in terms of its emotional significance.

Terrible things happen to the people Tris loves, yet the characters absorb these events with disquieting ease. Here, somehow, the novel’s flights from reality distance the reader from the emotional impact that might come in a more affecting realistic (or even fantasy) novel.

In this way, though Roth’s “Divergent” is rich in plot and imaginative details, it suffers by comparison with Collins’s opus. The shortcoming would not be so noticeable were there less blatant overlap between the two. Both “Divergent” and “The Hunger Games” feature appealing, but not conventionally pretty, young women with toughness to spare. Both start out with public sorting rituals that determine the characters’ futures. And both put the narrators in contrived, bloody battles that are in fact competitions witnessed by an audience. Even the language sounds familiar: the Hob is a central geographic point in “The Hunger Games”; in “Divergent,” it’s the Hub in the remnants of what was once the Sears Tower. For a book that explores themes about the right to be individual and the importance of breaking away from the pack, “Divergent” does not exactly distinguish itself.

“Now isn’t the time for debates about ethics,” Tris tells her father at one point, when she feels compelled to hurt someone for the greater good. Billboarding of this sort can interrupt the moment by announcing its own significance: now actually is the time for such a debate. In a novel that takes on the problem of conformity and questions the certainty of narrow-minded ideologues, such circuit-breaking is nonetheless useful, forcing the reader to pause and think in the middle of that dauntless break for the plot’s conclusion.

By Veronica Roth

487 pp. Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins Publishers. $17.99. (Young adult; ages 14 and up)

Susan Dominus is a staff writer at The Times Magazine.

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From the Divergent series , Vol. 1

by Veronica Roth ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 3, 2011

Guaranteed to fly off the shelves.

Cliques writ large take over in the first of a projected dystopian trilogy.

The remnant population of post-apocalyptic Chicago intended to cure civilization’s failures by structuring society into five “factions,” each dedicated to inculcating a specific virtue. When Tris, secretly a forbidden “Divergent,” has to choose her official faction in her 16th year, she rejects her selfless Abnegation upbringing for the Dauntless, admiring their reckless bravery. But the vicious initiation process reveals that her new tribe has fallen from its original ideals, and that same rot seems to be spreading… Aside from the preposterous premise, this gritty, paranoid world is built with careful details and intriguing scope. The plot clips along at an addictive pace, with steady jolts of brutal violence and swoony romance. Despite the constant assurance that Tris is courageous, clever and kind, her own first-person narration displays a blank personality. No matter; all the “good” characters adore her and the “bad” are spiteful and jealous. Fans snared by the ratcheting suspense will be unable to resist speculating on their own factional allegiance; a few may go on to ponder the questions of loyalty and identity beneath the façade of thrilling adventure.

Pub Date: May 3, 2011

ISBN: 978-0-06-202402-2

Page Count: 496

Publisher: Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION

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More In The Series

BOOK REVIEW

by Veronica Roth

More by Veronica Roth

From the Powerless Trilogy series , Vol. 1

by Lauren Roberts ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 2023

A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.

The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.

Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023

ISBN: 9798987380406

Page Count: 538

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

More About This Book

IF ONLY I HAD TOLD HER

by Laura Nowlin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024

A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.

In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me , three characters tell their sides of the story.

Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.

Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024

ISBN: 9781728276229

Page Count: 416

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

More by Laura Nowlin

by Laura Nowlin

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Book Review

• Veronica Roth

Readability Age Range

• Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books

Year Published

This futuristic thriller book by Veronica Roth is the first in the  Divergent series and is published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Divergent is written for kids ages 14 and up. The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness.

Plot Summary

Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior lives in post-apocalyptic Chicago where society is divided into five factions: Amity (kind), Erudite (intelligent), Candor (honest), Abnegation (selfless) and Dauntless (brave). Beatrice and her brother, Caleb, must take an aptitude test that will tell them which faction they are best suited for and then choose which they will join. Where they join determines the value they will commit to for the rest of their lives.

During the aptitude test, Beatrice is injected with a serum that simulates several scenarios. She is judged on her reactions to these scenarios. After the test, the administrator tells her the results are inconclusive. Instead of having aptitude for only one faction, Beatrice shows an aptitude for three — Abnegation, Dauntless and Erudite — a result the administrator says makes her Divergent. The instructor warns Beatrice to not share the results with anyone because those who are found to be Divergent are killed.

Beatrice’s family belongs to Abnegation, the faction that has run the government since the great peace when the factions were formed. At home, Beatrice’s father tells the family that tension between Abnegation and Erudite is high. Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews has released a report saying that Abnegation leader Marcus’ abusive behavior toward his son Tobias is the reason Tobias left Abnegation two years earlier and chose Dauntless. They all believe the report is a lie. Beatrice has never met Tobias but knows leaving one faction for another is considered a betrayal. Beatrice believes she is too selfish to remain in Abnegation and secretly admires Dauntless, but she knows if she chooses another faction, she will have to leave her family forever.

At the choosing ceremony the next day, Beatrice is shocked when Caleb chooses Erudite. She intends to choose Abnegation so her parents won’t lose both their children, but at the last second, she chooses Dauntless, much to her father’s disappointment.

Beatrice travels to the Dauntless compound with other initiates and renames herself Tris. The initiates are told that only 10 of them will succeed, the others will become factionless or homeless with no place in society. Tris befriends Christina and Al from Candor and Will from Erudite. Peter, Drew and Molly, three others in their group, bully her.

The group’s Dauntless instructor, Four, teaches them how to use guns and knives, and to fight using hand-to-hand combat in the first stage of their initiation. Tris is simultaneously intimidated and attracted to Four.

Tris’ mother comes to the Dauntless compound on visiting day. She warns Tris to stay in the middle of the rankings and to not draw attention to herself because she is Divergent. She also asks Tris to visit Caleb in Erudite and ask him to research the simulation serum. Tris notices that her mother knows her way around the compound and realizes that she is Dauntless-born.

Stage two of Tris’ initiation involves conquering fear. As with the aptitude test, initiates are injected with a serum that simulates a frightening situation and measures the teens’ ability to remain calm or eliminate the threat. Tris performs well during this phase and eventually realizes that she can control the simulation and change the outcome. Four tells Tris that manipulating a simulation proves she is Divergent and warns her that if she does not hide it, the Dauntless leaders will kill her. He deletes the footage of the simulation.

Tris is more careful but still excels at training, getting through her simulations faster than anyone else. By the end of stage two, she is ranked first among the initiates. Other initiates become jealous, and three of them, including her friend Al, kidnap her and try to kill her. Four saves Tris before she is thrown over a ledge.

Tris and Four draw closer together, and Four takes Tris into a simulation of his fears. Tris discovers that Four only has four fears, hence the nickname. Most initiates have an average of 10 to 15. She also discovers that he is actually Tobias, the Abnegation leader’s son and an Abnegation transfer. Four’s greatest fear is of his father beating him and locking him in a small closet. After the simulation, Four takes her to the rapids where he tells her that he likes her, and they kiss.

The next day, Tris is disappointed that Four treats her like everyone else in her group. She fails a simulation, and he scolds her. Tris runs away to the Erudite headquarters in search of her brother. She tells Caleb about their mother’s visit and asks him to research the simulation serum. Caleb is afraid for Tris. He feels something big is going to happen, but he doesn’t know what it is. The Erudite are not happy with the government under Abnegation. As she tries to leave, Tris is arrested and taken to Jeanine, the Erudite leader, who questions her about choosing Dauntless and about her training records. Jeanine developed the serum aptitude tests and simulations, and she is suspicious of Tris’ results. Tris tells her that she transferred to Dauntless because she hates Abnegation and her parents. She is allowed to return to the Dauntless compound.

Four explains to Tris that they must keep their relationship a secret or other initiates will think her rank is based on favoritism and not merit. He also tells her that he got into the Dauntless computer system and found war plans from the Erudite. They realize that the Erudite want to use the Dauntless as soldiers in a war against Abnegation.

Tris passes her final test in the Dauntless initiation, a virtual simulation of all her combined fears, and receives the top rank. Afterward, Eric, the Dauntless leader, injects her with what he says is a tracking serum. He tells her that all the Dauntless are getting it as a precaution.

That night, Tris wakes up to find all the other initiates in her dorm getting out of bed in unison and getting dressed. They are in a trance-like state, and she can’t wake them. She follows them aboard the train to the Abnegation section of the city. She realizes the serum they received contained transmitters, and the transmitters are connected to a mind-control program. The Erudite developed the serum and the simulations, and the Dauntless leaders are working with Erudite. She is not under the mind control like all the other Dauntless because she is Divergent. She finds Four, who is also awake and pretending to be in a trance. He is Divergent as well.

When they get to the Abnegation sector, they see mind-controlled Dauntless shooting Abnegation members in the street. After a confrontation with a Dauntless leader, Tris is shot in the shoulder, and Eric and Dauntless soldiers capture Tris and Four. They are taken to the Erudite leader who tries a new serum on Four, one made especially for the Divergent, and it turns him into a mindless killer as well. Tris is left to drown in a tank rapidly filling with water, but her mother rescues her. She tells Tris where her father and the other Abnegation are hiding. She distracts soldiers so Tris can get away, but in the process, Tris’ mother is killed.

Tris finds her father hiding with her brother and Marcus, Four’s father. They agree to go back to the Dauntless compound to find the computer running the mind-control simulation and destroy it. When they get to Dauntless, they find another initiate, Peter, willingly guarding the facility; he is not under any mind control. Tris shoots him in the arm to get him to tell her the location of the computer. Leaving a wounded Peter with Caleb and Marcus, Tris and her father find the computer room and encounter several guards along the way. Her father shoots them, and in the fight, he is killed. Tris finds Four in the computer room monitoring the simulation. She knows she can’t shoot him or beat him in a fight, so she reasons with him, hoping that because he is Divergent, he will be able to break free of the simulation, and he does. They stop the computer program and remove the data. The Dauntless group, no longer under mind control, realizes what they have done.

Tris reunites with her brother, and Four faces Marcus for the first time in more than two years. Tris warns Marcus to stay away from Four. They take a train to Amity Headquarters to seek refuge.

Christian Beliefs

Tris’ father gives thanks to God before dinner. She notes that not every Abnegation family is religious, but her father urges her not to think about that because it will only cause division. Four has the words “Fear God Alone” painted on his bedroom wall. After Tris is shot and left to drown, she thinks of her baptism as a baby and how her mother gave her to God then. She knows she has not thought about God in a long time, and she suddenly is happy that she did not kill the Dauntless leader who assisted Erudite with the rebellion. Tris’ father tells her to go with God’s help as she faces soldiers guarding the Dauntless computer room. Thinking that Four will shoot her, Tris wonders what death will be like. Will she be instantly in another world and can she be forgiven for all she has done in this one?

Other Belief Systems

After her friend Al’s suicide, Dauntless leader Eric eulogizes the initiate by telling the Dauntless crowd that Al was courageous for leaping into rapids in order to explore an unknown and uncertain afterlife. He asks the crowd if any among them is brave enough to venture into darkness without knowing what lies beyond it.

Authority Roles

Once 16-year-olds choose a faction, they are no longer under any sort of parental supervision. Those who transfer to a different faction rarely or never see their parents again. Dauntless leaders are not selected by age, so Eric and Four, who oversee Tris’ initiation, aren’t much older than she is. Eric is hostile and violent, traits that are progressively working their way into the original, nobler Dauntless ideologies of bravery and courage. Erudite leader Jeanine uses deception and bad publicity to turn other factions against Abnegation. She has the Dauntless injected with a serum that makes them kill Abnegation members without realizing what they’re doing. Tris’ loving parents don’t disown her for changing factions. She discovers her mother has many secrets, including being formerly Dauntless and, like Tris, Divergent. Tris’ mother ultimately gives her life to save Tris. The beatings Four received in youth from his father, Marcus, leave him emotionally scarred and fearful.

Profanity & Violence

The Lord’s name is taken in vain twice. God’s name is taken in vain 12 times with for —‘s sake, thank, oh my, oh and swear to . Profanity used includes h— . Other language used: stiff (a derogatory name for members of Abnegation), hellions, idiot, shut up, jerk, stupid and crap .

As a part of initiation, Dauntless initiates jump out of a moving train onto the roof of a building; some are hurt, and one falls to her death. Initiates must then jump off a seven-story building without knowing what lies at the bottom. Tris goes first and falls into a net. During training, the instructor holds a gun to an initiate’s head because he is not paying attention. Tris has to stand still while knives are thrown at her head; one of them nicks her ear. Initiates face each other in fighting matches and are paired together regardless of gender or size. Two boys fight until one is knocked unconscious. Two girls fight, and when one is beaten so badly she surrenders, the instructor makes her hang off a ledge over rapids for five minutes. A large boy and a small girl are paired, and the boy brutally punches and kicks the girl until she passes out. Tris, angry for being constantly bullied, beats Molly mercilessly during their match — until Molly passes out.

The highest-ranking initiate is targeted and stabbed in the eye by three other initiates while he sleeps. After Tris is ranked first, other initiates kidnap her. They blindfold her, grope her and attempt to throw her over a ledge into the rapids. Four saves her and severely beats one of her attackers. In the virtual simulations, initiates face several of their deepest fears including bird attacks, drowning, shooting family members and kidnapping. Even though the simulations are not real, the teens have horrific nightmares after going through them. Skirmishes break out among initiates who punch each other. Two initiates are almost choked. Using mind control, Erudite turns members of Dauntless into an army that attacks Abnegation and kills several citizens. When Eric realizes Tris and Four are not under the mind control because they are Divergent, he threatens to kill Four. Tris shoots Eric in the foot to stop him. Tris is shot in the shoulder and left to drown. Her mother rescues her by shooting and killing several guards. Tris’ mother allows herself to be shot and killed so Tris can get away. Tris is forced to shoot her friend Will before he kills her. Tris’ father removes the bullet from her shoulder with a knife. Tris shoots Peter in the arm to get information from him. Tris’ father also dies because he sacrifices himself to save her. He kills several soldiers before he dies.

Sexual Content

Tris sees two initiates kissing in the dining room. She is embarrassed because Abnegation does not condone public displays of affection. Al likes Tris and tries to put his arm around her, but she rebuffs him.

Tris comes out of the shower wearing only a towel and encounters Peter, Molly and Drew in the dormitory. She barely has time to grab her dress before Peter pulls her towel away. Although she is able to hold the dress in front of her, they see her naked body from the back and laugh at her. After Tris is ranked first, other initiates kidnap her. They blindfold her and grope her before attempting to throw her over a ledge into the rapids.

Tris and Four secretly begin a dating relationship and kiss. Tris and Four sneak out to see Erudite headquarters at night, and while they are on the train, she straddles his lap, and they kiss. Christina tells Tris that she and Will kissed and are now dating. During Tris’ final test of her fears, a virtual simulation, she is placed in a situation where she and Four are alone in a room with a bed. Four kisses and begins to undress her, and Tris realizes she has a fear of intimacy. She tells virtual Four that she will not have sex with him in a simulation. After the test, she asks Four about his expectations of her because he is older than she is and more experienced. She tells him what happened in the virtual test and that she is not ready for sex. Four tells her that he is just as inexperienced as she is, and someday, if she still wants him, they can take their relationship to the next level.

After Tris is declared first among the initiates, she and Four kiss in front of everyone in the dining hall. In the train ride on the way to the Amity headquarters, Four tells Tris that he loves her, and he kisses her.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at ThrivingFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Alcohol: Four is seen with a bottle in his hand and appears tipsy. Alcohol is present at a wake where some of the initiates drink. People are drunk at dinner and at various celebrations.

Bullying: Tris is bullied for being Abnegation and pushed around because she is shorter and thinner than everyone else. She is often called a Stiff , a derogatory nickname for members of her home faction.

Lying: Tris lies to her brother Caleb when she tells him she was sent home early from the aptitude test because she got sick. When their mother asks if they know who got sick and was sent home early, Caleb tells her no. After she is rescued by Four, Tris tells her friends she does not know who saved her. Tris lies to her friends about the results of her aptitude tests. She lies to the Erudite leader about her reasons for joining Dauntless and her feelings toward her parents. Four lies to Eric about why Tris went to the Erudite headquarters. Tris lies to her friends about her whereabouts when she spends time with Four.

Smoking: A crowd from Candor smoke outside the building prior to the choosing ceremony.

Suicide: Al performs poorly in training and becomes increasingly depressed. As his ranking is lowered and Tris’ rank improves, he helps Peter and Drew kidnap her in an act of desperation. Al apologizes to Tris for his participation in the kidnapping, but she does not accept it. He commits suicide a few hours later by jumping off a ledge into the rapids.

Tattoos: The Dauntless routinely get tattoos and piercings. Four has several tattoos on his back; Tris gets three tattoos and accompanies her friends as they get their own tattoos. Eric has several tattoos and piercings. After Tris realizes her mother was Dauntless born, she notices a small tattoo under her mother’s arm.

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Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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Divergent by Veronica Roth - review

Divergent isn't just another book in a long line of dystopian novels – it really is something else. It's the first book in the compelling series by Veronica Roth , set in future dystopian Chicago, where people have been split into five factions according to their personal qualities. Beatrice Prior is faced with the impossible task of choosing whether to betray her family and leave Abnegation, the faction she has grown up in, or take the giant leap to a whole new way of life somewhere else.

Beatrice decides to transfer to Dauntless, the faction known for bravery, and must strive to ignore her Abnegation, selfless qualities, and become somebody new. With secrets to hide, and skills to learn, Tris struggles with her new fears, friends, and enemies; plus there's the potential for a love interest in the shape of Four, a Dauntless initiate trainer. Will Tris be able to decipher the mysteries he's hiding?

Divergent is extremely thought-provoking, questioning the meaning behind a nickname, and the idea of compressing a personality in order to fit in with the people around you.

With it having been compared to The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter, I was sceptical; however, as soon as I picked up the book, I was hooked. Roth creates an engaging story with cliffhangers throughout and something new to discover in every chapter, forcing you to read on. If you haven't already, I highly recommend reading the whole trilogy, with Divergent coming to cinemas in the UK later this year.

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Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:.

Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior lives in what was once Chicago but is now a vastly different place from what it used to be. The entire society fits within the city limits and is divided into five factions, each of which has a different set of guidelines and lifestyles that support its goal. The Abnegation faction pursues selflessness, Dauntless practices courage, Candor engages truth, Erudite seeks knowledge, and Amity follows kindness. These factions work together to form a perfect society --- well,  almost  a perfect society.

When citizens reach 16, they undergo an aptitude test that determines the best fit for each person. The following day is the Choosing Ceremony in which each teen must decide the faction he or she will join for the rest of their lives. Most follow in their parents' footsteps, but some choose a different faction, thus cutting off most contact with their loved ones. They have a saying in their society, "'faction over blood;" a person's faction becomes their new family.

So, at 16, Beatrice faces the biggest decision of her life. She has grown up in the Abnegation faction, where all thoughts and deeds focus on selflessness and doing for others. Unfortunately, Beatrice isn't very good at being completely selfless; she's forever getting disapproving looks from her parents and brother. So she's not surprised when her aptitude test doesn't point to Abnegation. She's surprised, though, when her test is inconclusive. This is extremely rare and makes her a Divergent. Her tester advises her never to tell anyone, as being a Divergent is extremely dangerous. Beatrice doesn't understand, and it makes her decision even more difficult. She must decide whether to follow in her parents' footsteps, in which she hasn't been very happy, or turn her back on her family and dare to be courageous. 

On the day of the Choosing Ceremony, Beatrice follows her gut and elects to join Dauntless, the faction of bravery. Next she must undergo a series of initiation procedures in order to become an official member. These procedures are beyond tough, beyond scary, and beyond one's darkest nightmares, both physically and mentally. If she fails, Beatrice will become factionless --- an outcast living on the brink of poverty. But in order to survive, she must find the courage to reinvent herself and face her greatest fears. One of the first things she does is change her name to Tris, signaling a new beginning. She has no idea, though, of the magnitude of what is in store for her, including falling in love. The worst part, unbeknownst to most, is that a mutiny is brewing beneath the surface, and their well-ordered society is about to implode.

Veronica Roth's first novel marks the beginning of a trilogy, opening up a whole new adventure for book lovers. She writes with an intensity that challenges readers to look at their own lives, to consider which faction they might choose, to dream up which nightmares they might face in a similar initiation. She chose to set the story in first person, present tense, which adds to that intensity and energy. Tris is an extremely interesting character and very well rounded, and the story takes a unique turn with the massive emotional transformation she goes through as she reinvents herself. DIVERGENT offers exciting danger, sweet romance, intriguing psychiatric excavations, and nonstop captivating action. Veronica Roth is a welcomed and talented new addition to the YA book world.

Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman on May 3, 2011

Divergent by Veronica Roth

• Publication Date: February 11, 2014
• Genres: Dystopian , Fiction , Thriller , Young Adult 14+
• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
• ISBN-10: 0062289853
• ISBN-13: 9780062289858

Divergent by Veronica Roth (Divergent Trilogy #1)

Little did I know when I first picked up a copy of Veronica Roth's Divergent that it was quickly becoming a sensation of its own. Not quite of the scope of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games , but some sizable movement. More surprising was that Divergent is Roth's first book, which she wrote instead of doing homework in college.

Perhaps most surprising of all was how good the book actually was. Revolving around a young protagonist, Beatrice, on the eve of her sixteenth birthday in a dystopian wasteland future, their civilization of survivors (of what catastrophe we're not told) has divided into five factions, each of which focuses on a different virtue. Beatrice and her whole family are in Abnegation, which emphasizes selflessness. The four others are Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful) and Erudite (the intelligent). On your sixteenth birthday you must choose which faction you will be associated with – and if it is one your family is not a part of, you will probably never see them again. Beatrice, always having admired Dauntless, joins their faction and begins her training in the Dauntless guild. But there is a dark secret to this perfect system: many people do not fit perfectly into just one faction or another. These individuals are known as Divergent, because they do not fit in, and Beatrice is increasingly worried she may be among them. And when Divergents disappear without a trace, there's good reason to be worried.

The book is well-written, with solid prose and an emotional and thematic depth that gives the book an extra nudge. The characters are interesting and compelling, the story driving and rarely lags. Much like other stories that separate society into different character or personality traits (think here Rowling's four Hogwarts houses or the three classes in Ann Aguirre's Enclave ), Divergent is interested ultimately in their (often painful) reintegration. Every virtue can be inverted into a vice and this is slowly what we see as the story progresses. Bravery can give way to aggression. Intelligence can become calculating and manipulative. Love of peace can become passivity. Honesty can become a way to brutalize others. Selflessness can be inverted into self-destruction. I look forward to how Roth unfolds these ideas in the future books of the series (which, if I hear correctly, will be a trilogy). Life is too complicated and messy to fit in our neat little boxes, and those who do not fit the boxes are the ones able to change the system for the good, seems to be the theme of the book.

Present too are more familiar aspects to contemporary YA fiction; the strangely secretive and aloof older boy who is attractive yet angry, the potential for a love triangle in future instalments, the lengthy world-building conversations that seemingly exist mostly for themselves. Some of these are more interesting than others; I, for one, am ready to see an end to these angsty love triangles. Perhaps they are meeting some forgotten need of adolescence I did not experience, but I cannot recall but a few times when this tactic has actually worked (most notably in The Hunger Games ). These conflicts usually come across as contrived and designed to keep audiences engaged in the franchise during the long gaps between books. This particular time it was not horribly done, though I repeatedly found it the least interesting aspect of the book; this is saying something, coming from a male reader who doesn't mind a decent romantic subplot so long as it has a realistic resonance.

Beyond the occasional quibbles and trifles of choice and style, the book is paced quite nicely, building to a stellar climactic final act that is both intense and surprising, while remaining consistent with the unfolding story of the previous two-thirds. There is much climactic emotional intensity here, tremendous tragedy and sacrifice on the part of people we have come to identify with, a race to the finish I found difficult to set aside. AT Ross, 9/10

I have an unhappy habit of coming late to the ‘next’ YA fantasy. I was late to Harry Potter, late to Hunger Games, and now I’ve come late to Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy – but boy I’m glad got to arrive at all!

I was first made aware of the series by a friend who showed me the trailer for the 2014 movie release. Unsurprisingly, I quickly acquired the whole trilogy and ploughed through ‘Divergent’ – the first book in the series – in less than five hours. From the first page – much like ‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins – I was captivated by the world springing up in front of me. A dystopian feel and a sixteen year old female protagonist had me from the very first page, and I didn’t stop reading until I finished the book.

Divergent is, for all the good and bad, a Young Adult book, carrying with it all the tropes and ideological perfection necessary when writing sixteen year olds. Stuff mum says is almost immediately forgotten, and feelings are behind every decision – for good or for ill.

That being said – I love all of that stuff. I was never a sixteen year old girl, and after reading The Hunger Games and now Divergent, I’m seriously beginning to get an idea for it. It doesn’t sound easy, that’s for sure!

I was a bit disappointed with the way that some plot points were just left by the wayside – whether because “as a sixteen year old you just dismiss it as being unimportant” or because the author forgot, I’m not sure. Add to that the inherent ‘speed’ with which a YA book has to move – because obviously young adults don’t have an attention span yet – and this book has a really fast-paced style to it, which is at times wonderful and at other times a little disconcerting.

The story and characters, always important in a YA book, were brilliant. The world is beautifully conceived, without being overbearing in its appearance, and the characters actually exist in three dimensions, rather than just being “bad” or “good” or “sexy”. You really do get the feeling of high school drama, with feelings coming and going as quickly as the wind passes through the school corridors. People are upset with each other one moment, and clinging to each other in grief another.

The ending of the book finishes very quickly, obviously reliant upon sequels to make up for it. I’m glad I have the next book to step right into, because otherwise I would have been a bit unnerved by how quickly we reached the last page. But with that being said, what comes next is greatly anticipated, and again I’m relieved that the next book is right there waiting for me, because I can’t wait to pick it up.

Divergent is a brilliant read, good for any teenager and most adults (as long as you are willing to allow yourself to be sixteen again). Joshua S Hill, 7/10

In the Harry Potter novels there were several houses the students at Hogwarts were sorted out into depending on their potential. A talking witch’s hat did the decision making, called the Sorting Hat.

And similar to that, Divergence has several factions they can be sorted into, yet unlike Hogwarts the people of Chicago (or at least a high-tech future version of it) have to pass several tests to find out whether they belong in the following; Abignation, Candor, Erudite, Amity or Dauntless. After the tests, in the Choosing Ceremony, they will find out their fate. For the test to be successful, these are the rules: there has to be someone from another faction in the test room as no one can test others from the same faction as it would be considered cheating. The test isn't what you would expect either. It isn't a written one even though each participant is taken into a room full of tables and chairs. Instead, electrodes connect the tester to the testee, and the testee drinks a vial of liquid. After that the testees are mentally taken into a scenario they think is real. This is the real test, and depending on what choices they make in the scenario it explains as to whether they will fit into either one of the factions. The idea is that this futuristic world is a utopia where each person fits snugly into a perfect faction and they live their lives by the code of each faction. Unfortunately if any person is chosen to be put into a different faction from the one they grew up in, they have to move and in this story, Beatrice (Tris) Prior and her brother Caleb are to be tested to see where they belong, but when Tris takes the test, she finds she can fit into three different factions, this being concluded as her being a Divergent.

In this world being a Divergent is a bad thing as it means the perfect world she has been brought up in could be a lie. Tris is told she can't tell anyone the fact she is a Divergent, which is lucky for her as she isn't supposed to reveal her test results to anyone. According to the facts, each faction lives a certain way. The Abnegation stand for selflessness as they are without the trappings of wealth and power that others take for granted. They have plain houses, wear plain clothes without ornament. The reason for it is to make them forget themselves and instead think of others. Candor value honesty above anything else, the Dauntless have a fearless attitude to life which makes them ideal for protecting their nation's borders even though they are looked down on by the other factions. The Erudite are the ones who value intelligence. As the ceremony approaches, Tris fears what she will choose despite what she was told.

As in Harry Potter, the houses all have their uses and as we know, Slytherin was considered the worst house to be put into. Tris's dad already has a dim view of the Dauntless, calling them 'Helians' as they wear tattoos and behave like careless delinquents. Though he forgets that they are valued in society as none of the other factions are strong enough to tackle any adversity. It isn't surprising that this, the first novel in a trilogy has been made into a major motion picture - Insurgent and Allegiant being the next two - as the plot is such a strong one.

With over four-hundred-and-eighty pages Divergent and its later novels in the series are something to invest time in, like the Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series. Tris, like Katniss, is the sort of heroine teens will warm to as there is something of her in all of us. Sandra Scholes, 9/10

8/10 Well-written, with solid prose and an emotional and thematic depth.

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Reviews by AT Ross and Joshua S Hill and Sandra Scholes

11 positive reader review(s) for Divergent

Veronica Roth biography

Kyle from UK

BEST BOOK EVERRRRR! Divergent is one of my favorite books and it's a real page turner. I would recommend it for any Hunger Games or Maze Runner fans. What I love about this story is that it doesn’t seem unrealistic at all. The characters and the setting felt very real to me. When they felt sad, I felt sad; when they felt pain, I felt pain... The main character Tris Prior is a really interesting character. In the beginning she was known as a soft, delicate girl and towards the end, she transforms into a strong warrior. The development of Tris and Four's relationship is also very exciting. The ending of the book is quite open and it makes you want to read the next books of the serie.

Erin-Hope from Uk

My Favourite book... OF ALL TIME! Such a good read that's packed with action. I would most definitely recommend it for any Hunger Games lovers. I absolutely loved it. A real page turner! I genuinely could not put it down! Veronica Roth is an incredible writer who helps you to really engage with the characters. The characters felt so real to me and I really felt like I built up a relationship with them. If you are going to watch the film I would recommend reading the book first so that you have a better understanding. Tris is such a brave and strong-minded character! The best fiction trilogy I've ever read.

Jeanine Matthews from Erudite

The book was amazing, relatable characters, a good story full of plot twists and interesting discoveries and that little bit of (scientific) facts. I can easily say it’s the best book I’ve ever read.

Jessica from Australia

I am immensely addicted to this book and the ideas in it. This is a must-read for fans of the Hunger Games or Harry Potter who are looking for another devour.

Johny Tammyson from Aussie

I think it was good but just didnt give me that kick in the but i wanted like when she got bashed she got punched

John from Antarctica

Although this book was not badly written, I do not give it a 10/10. The ending could be elaborated. Also, the book was paced slightly too quickly. It was a benefit at some times, sure, but it made the book messy at others. The rest of the series decreased in quality. As the big reveal plays out at the end of Insurgent, it gives the series the feel of a great story, then ending with an, "It was all a dream."

Sian from England

FAV BOOK EVER. READ IT 10 TIMES.

Kyra from UK

One of my favourite books at all times! If you're wanting something to read this is the right book!!! Definetly go read it!!!

Malia from New Zealand

Probabaly on of the best books I have ever read. A good book, a must read.

Ariel from Singapore

I finished the book recently and I love it. I love the idea of a futuristic city, where people are separated into factions and how some people are special (Divergent). I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy and 'Four : a Divergent collection'.

Ashley from US

I have read almost all of the books and just as I am done more books come back out. These books great and the movies are too. Wish I could meet the author and ask her some stuff about the book.

Snazal from UK

Divergent trilogy are one of the best fiction novel series to this era. As I love a kind of story that will brings me into another world of fantasy, I like the way Veronica plot the story. The trilogy is comparable to others popular fiction novels like Hunger Games, The Maze Runner etc. In my view that veronica Roth have given more complexity on her story. The story behind the girl Tris and how she struggle her life is fantastic, she is so brave i love the characters. In Divergent Trilogy the story is plot on division of society into personality type, with action and romance. Overall all the collection in Divergent are Fantastic.

Suleman from UK

Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant and Four books collection novel is very interesting to read. I really like this novel Divergent Series It’s true that Veronica Roth books are amazing to read. Nice set of books, for first time all the four books collection. All the books are amazing and interesting to read. I am very glad I bought these books. And price is also too good, it was reasonable to me. It’s worth to buy this book series for me. I really love this novel its hold components of romance, action, drama and suspense. This arrangement keeps up steady anticipation with various shocks that ideas in continually keeping book lovers captivated.

Kayla from Canada

I loved this book. All time favourite book!

9.6 /10 from 15 reviews

All Veronica Roth Reviews

• The Chosen Ones (Chosen Ones #1)
• Divergent (Divergent Trilogy #1)
• Insurgent (Divergent Trilogy #2)

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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, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

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Barnes & noble, praise for divergent, 2011 goodreads choice award for favorite book, publisher’s weekly best book of 2011, winner of yalsa 2012 teens’ top ten, “a memorable, unpredictable journey from which it is nearly impossible to turn away.”, — publishers weekly (starred review), “you’ll be up all night with divergent, a brainy thrill-ride of a novel.”, “divergent’s depiction of adolescence rings true. growing up isn’t easy, and growing up with a terrible secret is just plain hard.”, — alan review, “the themes are particularly poignant for young adults trying to identify their place in the world—having the choice to follow in your parents’ footsteps or do something new… this is a fast-paced and fun read.”.

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Divergent by Veronica Roth | Parent Guide & Review

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Synopsis of Divergent

Divergent is set in a dystopian world, society is divided into five factions. Each faction values one particular trait – Candor (honesty), Abnegation (selflessness), Dauntless (bravery), Amnity (peace), and Erudite (intelligence). On a specific day, every year all the sixteen-year-olds choose which faction they will be a part of for the rest of their lives. Beatrice Prior has a choice between staying with her family or being her true self. Her choice surprises everyone, including herself. Next comes the competitive initiation where newly names Tris discovers who her real friends are and figure out a budding romance with an infuriating boy. But Tris has a secret. A secret that might kill her if others find out. When conflict arises between the factions Tris learns her secret could help her save her loved ones or it could end her.

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First Impressions

Divergent is a science fiction dystopian novel with a dash of romance and a whole lot of action. I originally read this book during the boom of dystopian novels. This take on the “perfect” society is different and refreshing with different flaws unique to this society. I liked how the very thing that put Tris in danger is what ultimately saved her life. Plus, it allows her to help those around her. This book does have quite a bit of violence but it was refreshing that Veronica Roth focused more on the psychological damage happening through the violent scenes instead of the gore.

Divergent Parent Guide

Overall: PG-13 for violence and brief nudity (from a prank) Violence: PG-13 for graphic war scenes and fights Language: G Adult Content: PG some kissing Reading Level: Grades 7-12

Touchy Topics in Divergent

• Abuse – One of the main characters has a residual fear of an abuser from their past and confronts that fear.
• Bullying – Multiple instances of severe bullying happen during the initiation process.
• Cultural Retraining – Each faction focuses on a specific value above all others and enforce that in everything to the point of mass groups things and handling situations the same way.
• Brainwashing – Brainwashing and mind control are weapons deployed during the war that happens at the end of the book.
• Fears – Fear and how an individual reacts in the face of fear is a large theme in the book. 
• Self-Doubt – Double and triple questioning whether you fit in or made the right choice happens frequent
• Self Discovery – Tris comes to terms that she is not like anyone else and how she what makes her different is one of her biggest strengths.
• Death – Many people die in the book from various causes and the characters learn how to react and continue living with it.

“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” ― Veronica Roth, Divergent

“Becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it.” ― Veronica Roth, Divergent

“I might be in love with you.” He smiles a little. “I’m waiting until I’m sure to tell you, though.” ― Veronica Roth, Divergent

My Thoughts about Divergent

This book was at the top of the New York Times best-seller list and won multiple awards for a reason. Divergent is both similar and different from other dystopian novels. You have the broken system and it is partly about that but the book is more about Tris and her self-discovery process within the system. Tris has the choice to follow in her parents’ footsteps or to create her own path. Tris also has to confront and accept all parts of herself. I really enjoyed the book and loved being transported to this new fresh world.

On another note, here is a bit more of a peek inside the book’s violence and other things to be aware of. There is one scene with brief nudity in Divergent. Nothing is described and it is a hazing ritual instead of anything remotely romantic. Violence wise there is quite a bit. During some of the training, they are pitted against each other until someone passes out. Later, multiple people are murdered right in front of Tris. These scenes are graphic but the main focus is the psychological pain and suffering she is going through.

Over all I fully recommend this book to anyone 16 and up. For teens between 13 and 16, this book would be great on a case by case basis.

What to Read Next?

If you are a fan of this book, read the second book, Insurgent . Veronica Roth has written a few other books that you might like too. Check out her website here for more of her books. After that great books to read include Matched, Hunger Games, and Maze Runner. Here is a list of other action-filled books and another list of books with strong female character s.

Happy Reading!

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Divergent (Divergent Series, 1) Paperback – September 30, 2014

There is a newer edition of this item:.

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This first book in Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent series of books is the novel the inspired the major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet. This dystopian series set in a futuristic Chicago has captured the hearts of millions of teen and adult readers.

Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Maze Runner series, Divergent and its sequels, Insurgent and Allegiant , are the gripping story of a dystopian world transformed by courage, self-sacrifice, and love. Fans of the Divergent movie will find the book packed with just as much emotional depth and exhilarating action as the film, all told in beautiful, rich language.

One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions.

Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.

And don't miss The Fates Divide , Veronica Roth's powerful sequel to the bestselling Carve the Mark !

• Book 1 of 3 Divergent
• Print length 576 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Katherine Tegen Books
• Publication date September 30, 2014
• Grade level 9 - 12
• Reading age 14 - 17 years
• Dimensions 5.31 x 1.3 x 8 inches
• ISBN-10 0062387243
• ISBN-13 978-0062387240
• Lexile measure HL740L
• See all details

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Editorial Reviews

“A memorable, unpredictable journey from which it is nearly impossible to turn away.”― — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“You’ll be up all night with Divergent, a brainy thrill-ride of a novel.” — BookPage

From the Back Cover

This first book in Veronica Roth's #1  New York Times  bestselling Divergent trilogy is the novel that inspired the major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet. This dystopian series set in a futuristic Chicago has captured the hearts of millions of teen and adult readers.

Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Maze Runner series,  Divergent  and its sequels,  Insurgent  and  Allegiant —plus Four: A Divergent Collection , four stories told from the perspective of the character Tobias—are the gripping story of a dystopian world transformed by courage, self-sacrifice, and love. Fans of the Divergent movie will find the book packed with just as much emotional depth and exhilarating action as the film, all told in beautiful, rich language.

The paperback edition includes bonus materials created by Veronica Roth, including her essays on Utopian worlds and how she named the factions, writing tips, a Q&A, a Divergent playlist, faction manifestos, and an excerpt from Insurgent . 

One choice can transform you.  Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world,  what makes you different makes you dangerous.

Supports the Common Core State Standards

About the Author

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, Four: A Divergent Collection, and Carve the Mark . Ms. Roth and her husband live in Chicago. You can visit her online at www.veronicarothbooks.com.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Katherine Tegen Books; Reprint edition (September 30, 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062387243
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062387240
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 17 years
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL740L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 1.3 x 8 inches
• #30 in Teen & Young Adult Survival Stories
• #45 in Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction & Dystopian Romance
• #61 in Teen & Young Adult Dystopian

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Veronica roth.

Veronica Roth is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Divergent series and Carve the Mark. She was born in a Chicago suburb, and studied creative writing at Northwestern University. She and her husband and dog currently live in Chicago.

You can find Veronica on Instagram (@vrothbooks), Facebook, or at her website (veronicarothbooks.com), or sign up for her newsletter to get book news and exclusive content here! eepurl.com/dcqzr1

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Movie Reviews

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"Divergent" is all about identity—about searching your soul and determining who you are and how you fit in as you emerge from adolescence to adulthood. So it's all too appropriate that the film version of the wildly popular young adult novel struggles a bit to assert itself as it seeks to appeal to the widest possible audience.

It's the conundrum so many of these types of books face as they become pop-culture juggernauts and film franchises: which elements to keep to please the fervent fans and which to toss in the name of maintaining a lean, speedy narrative? The "Harry Potter" and "Hunger Games" movies—which "Divergent" resembles in myriad ways—were mostly successful in finding that balance.

In bringing the first novel of Veronica Roth's best-selling trilogy to the screen, director Neil Burger (" Limitless ") and screenwriters Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor have included key moments and images but tweaked others to streamline the mythology and move the story along. The results can be thrilling but the film as a whole feels simultaneously overlong and emotionally truncated.

Folks who've read the book will probably be satisfied with the results, while those unfamiliar with the source material may dismiss it as derivative and inferior. (Stop me if you think you've heard this one before: "Divergent" takes place in a rigidly structured, dystopian future where one extraordinary girl will serve either as its destroyer or its savior.) But the performances—namely from stars Shailene Woodley and Theo James and Kate Winslet in a juicy supporting role—always make the movie watchable and often quite engaging.

In the fenced-off remnants of a post-war Chicago 100 years from now, society has been broken down into five factions—groups of people arranged by a primary, defining trait. The Amity are happy, hippie farmers who dress in shades of sorbet. The Candor run the judicial system and value truth about all else. The Erudite are the serious-minded scholars who wear conservative, dark blue. The Abnegation are known for their selflessness and modesty. And the pierced-and-tatted Dauntless are the brave soldiers who protect the city from … who knows what? Whatever the perceived threat is, it requires them to run, scream and practice parkour wherever they go.

Woodley's Beatrice Prior is a member of the Abnegation alongside her brother, Caleb ( Ansel Elgort ), and their parents ( Ashley Judd and Tony Goldwyn ). They dress in drab colors, eat simply and are only allowed to steal a quick glance in the mirror once every three months when it's time for a haircut. Basically, they're no fun, and Beatrice has a wild streak in her that she's been forced to suppress.  

When she undergoes the aptitude test required of all teens, which determines which faction is the best reflection of one's true nature, her results are inconclusive. She's got pieces of a few different places in her, which makes her what's known as Divergent, which makes her dangerous. Thinking for yourself is a naughty thing in this world, apparently; plus, the angsty inner conflict that rages within Beatrice is something to which the target audience for the book (and the movie) surely can relate.

At the annual Choosing Ceremony, where the teens use their test results to pick the faction they want to join for the rest of their lives—like the last night of sorority rush, mixed with the "Harry Potter" sorting hat—Beatrice dares to choose Dauntless. This means she can never see her family again. (Man, the rules are strict in dystopian futures.) But it also means she gets to train to unleash the bad-ass that's been lurking inside her all along.

Renaming herself Tris, our heroine must learn how to fight, shoot, jump from moving trains, throw knives and control her mind in a series of harrowing simulations, all while competing against a couple dozen other initiates in a demanding ranking system. Eric (a coolly intimidating Jai Courtney ) is the merciless Dauntless leader who's taking the faction—which was founded on the notion of noble courage—in a more militant and vicious direction.

But the hunky trainer who goes by the name Four (James) is the one who will have a greater impact on the woman Tris will become. Quietly and generically brooding at first, James reveals more depth and shading to his conflicted character as the story's stakes increase. He and Woodley have an easy chemistry with each other, but the romance that took its time and smoldered on the page feels a bit rushed on the screen.

Similarly, the supporting figures who had identifiable personalities in the book mostly blend into the background here, including Tris' best friend, Christina ( Zoe Kravitz ). But it is extremely amusing to see Miles Teller , who played Woodley's first love last year in the wonderful " The Spectacular Now ," serve as her enemy here as the conniving fellow initiate Peter. The smart-alecky Teller is also the only actor here who gets to have much fun. With the exception of a few major set pieces—the zip-line ride from the top of the John Hancock Center, for example—"Divergent" is a rather dark and heavy endeavor.

Woodley, though, by virtue of the sheer likability of her presence, keeps you hanging on, keeps you rooting for her. She may not have the blazing, rock-star power of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in " The Hunger Games ," but there's a subtlety and a naturalism to her performance that make her very accessible and appealing. And when she needs to crank it up and kick some butt—as she does in a climactic scene with Winslet as the evil Erudite leader who's hell-bent on eradicating Divergents and maintaining control—she doesn't oversell it.

Plus, there could be worse role models for the eager adolescent audience than a young woman who's thoughtful, giving and strong—all at once. The inevitable sequel will show us what else she's got in her.

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Divergent (2014)

Rated PG-13

143 minutes

Shailene Woodley as Beatrice Prior / Tris

Theo James as Tobias "Four" Eaton

Kate Winslet as Jeanine Matthews

Miles Teller as Peter

Jai Courtney as Eric

Zoë Kravitz as Christina

Ansel Elgort as Caleb Prior

Ray Stevenson as Marcus Eaton

Maggie Q as Tori

• Neil Burger
• Evan Daugherty
• Vanessa Taylor

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