★★★★★
Divergent is the first book in a trilogy of stories set in a post-apocalyptic city that is divided into five groups of people, known as Factions. The factions are determined by one's personality traits, and include the Abnegation, who are selfless, the Amity, known for their devotion to peace, the Erudite, the pursuers of knowledge, the Candor, honest men and women, and the Dauntless, bold and strong. Those who do not fit into a faction are known as "Factionless", and are given the odd jobs no other faction wants. One is born into their faction and belongs to it until they are sixteen years old, when they finish schooling and take the test to give them guidance as to what faction they belong to. Beatrice Prior, the main character, is one such teenager. However, when Tris is given the test, she does not fit into any one of the five factions- she fits into three. This kind of multi-dimensional personality is known as "Divergent", and is looked upon as a horrible evil and danger to society. Urged to keep her results secret, Tris chooses to join the Dauntless, and trains to become a protector of the city. There she meets Tobias, also known as Four, who trains her and who she later falls in love with. But not all is easy going for Tris in her new life. Hostility and fierce competition drive her and the other initiates apart, and in the shadows, the Erudite are planning an attack, one that could put them ahead of all the other factions- unless Tobias and Tris are able to do something about it.
When I first started reading Divergent, I simply could not put the book down! The classic battle between individuality and conformity is made even more haunting by the physical dangers associated with rebellion. Tris is a character that everyone can relate to on some level- she isn't perfect or selfless, she has fears and is a people-pleaser. The romance between Tris and Tobias is truly one that everyone roots for, as he becomes her solace in the dark and undecided world she is currently living in. I would recommend this book to teens looking for an alternate reality that doesn't go to far into fantasy but is still exciting and new.
Review by Meagan H: Mechanicsville Library
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