Divergent (Divergent Series #1)

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Overview

Paperback features over fifty pages of bonus materials, including a sneak peek of Insurgent, an author Q&A, a discussion guide, a Divergent playlist, faction manifestos, and more!

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,...

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Divergent (Divergent Series #1)

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More About This Book

Overview

Paperback features over fifty pages of bonus materials, including a sneak peek of Insurgent, an author Q&A, a discussion guide, a Divergent playlist, faction manifestos, and more!

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.

Veronica Roth is the New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, the first in a trilogy of dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

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Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

BookPage
"You’ll be up all night with Divergent, a brainy thrill-ride of a novel."
BookPage
“You’ll be up all night with Divergent, a brainy thrill-ride of a novel.”
BookPage
“You’ll be up all night with Divergent, a brainy thrill-ride of a novel.”
Susan Dominus
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.
—The New York Times
Publishers Weekly
In this edgy debut (definitely not for the fainthearted), first in a trilogy, promising author Roth tells the riveting and complex story of a teenage girl forced to choose, at age 16, between her routinized, selfless family and the adventurous, unrestrained future she longs for. Beatrice "Tris" Prior lives in crumbling dystopian Chicago, where citizens are divided into five factions—Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite—depending on their beliefs, passions, and loyalties. When Tris forsakes her Abnegation family to become one of the wild, fearless Dauntless, she must confront her deepest fears, learn to trust her fellow initiates, and guard the ominous secret that she is actually a Divergent, with the strengths of multiple factions, and is therefore a target of dangerously controlling leaders. Roth's descriptions of Tris's initiation process are as spellbinding as they are violent, while the tremulous romance between Tris and her protective and demanding instructor, Four, unfurls with heart-stopping tenderness. For those who loved The Hunger Games and are willing to brave the sometimes sadistic tests of strength and courage Tris must endure, the reward is a memorable, unpredictable journey from which it is nearly impossible to turn away. Ages 14–up. (May)
VOYA
In a dystopian future, war-ravaged Chicago is divided into factions, each believing that there is a singular quality that will lead to a perfect society. At sixteen, teens must choose which faction they will join, and they are given a test to see what will be the best fit for them. Beatrice Prior received the results to her aptitude test only to discover that there is no one belief that guides her: she is wise, selfless, and brave. She is a divergent. Beatrice decides to leave her selfless abnegation family and undergo the rigorous and dangerous initiation required to become a dauntless warrior. When the erudite faction manipulates the dauntless into waging a war, only Beatrice and the other divergents will be able to stop them. Divergent is similar to Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games (Scholastic, 2008/VOYA October 2008): a dystopian future society divided into factions, with a young female protagonist who must fight in a war. While Divergent will attract fans of Hunger Games, Roth's nonstop action, excellent voice, and simple yet accessible writing style will draw in many new readers to the genre. 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. The budding relationship between Beatrice and her trainer will entice those with a taste for romance as well as action. This is a fast-paced and fun read. Reviewer: Devin Burritt
VOYA
Beatrice lives in a little community in Chicago. There are many unique decisions to make in her community. At age sixteen individuals have to make their biggest decision, one that determines their future. They must choose to join one of five different factions: Candor-honest, Abnegation-selfless, Dauntless-brave, Amity-peaceful, and Erudite-intelligent. The characters are believable people. The book is very thought out, and once you pick it up you want to know more. Reviewer: Leah Kihn, Teen Reviewer
ALAN Review
Beatrice Prior must make a decision—one that will change the course of her life forever. On Choosing Day each year, 16-year-olds across dystopian Chicago must devote themselves to one of five factions, each committed to the cultivation of a particular virtue. On one hand, Beatrice can remain in Abnegation and live a quiet life with her family; on the other, she can be true to herself and join a rival faction. Regardless of her choice, Beatrice must be careful not to divulge a secret she has been warned to keep—a secret that can unravel society as she knows it. Amidst budding friendships and oft-confusing romance, Beatrice struggles to come to terms with the decisions she has made and their unimaginable consequences. Despite its similarity to other dystopian novels, Divergent's depiction of adolescence rings true. Growing up isn't easy, and growing up with a terrible secret is just plain hard. Reviewer: Alex Ivey
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up—In a future Chicago, the population is divided into five factions—Abnegation, Candor, Dauntless, Erudite, and Amity—each of which believes its opposite is the root of human evil. Sixteen-year-olds are tested for aptitude and must choose whether to remain in their birth faction or select another. They are aided in this selection by a simulation in which their decisions indicate which faction best suits them. Occasionally, though, the simulation indicates multiple choices. These individuals, known as Divergents, are perceived as threats by leaders who want members to behave and think in specific ways. Beatrice Prior is a Divergent, born into the selfless Abnegation faction but fascinated by the outrageous Dauntless. She chooses to become an initiate there and leaves her family behind, little knowing the challenges she will face. Despite her slight build and her meek upbringing, she must demonstrate her courage in physical combat and in simulations designed to present her with her deepest fears. Only 10 initiates will be accepted, and there are those willing to let cruelty take the place of courage. Beatrice comes to realize that another faction plots against Abnegation and that it may take a Divergent to save them. Roth paints her canvas with the same brush as Suzanne Collins. The plot, scenes, and characters are different but the colors are the same and just as rich. Fans of Collins, dystopias, and strong female characters will love this novel.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Kirkus Reviews

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.

Guaranteed to fly off the shelves. (Science fiction. 14 & up)

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780062024039
  • Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
  • Publication date: 2/28/2012
  • Series: Divergent Series , #1
  • Edition description: Reprint
  • Pages: 576
  • Sales rank: 29
  • Age range: 14 - 17 Years
  • Product dimensions: 5.30 (w) x 7.80 (h) x 1.60 (d)

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 4505 )
Rating Distribution

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(3571)

4 Star

(637)

3 Star

(157)

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(54)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 4524 Customer Reviews

  • Posted Sat Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends Book 1)

    Excellent read

    One of the best books I have read. It is a story that keeps you entertained for hours.

    209 out of 236 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Fri Mar 18 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Mockingjay (Hunger Games Series #3)
    The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Series #1)
    Delirium (Delirium Series #1)
    Catching Fire (Hunger Games Series #2)

    Stunning!

    This book took my breath away! It's been a while since I was so captivated by a book it was in my hand everywhere I went. I started this book early in the morning and refused to put it down until finished. I fell into the rhythm of Tris' voice and was surrounded by this dystopian world she lives in. From beginning to end you find yourself holding your breath in amazement of where this story is taking you. I will be recommending this title to all of my customers!!

    169 out of 190 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Mar 16 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    AWEsome Book

    This book blew my mind. Some people say that this is the new Hunger Games, but I personally think it's better. I have never read a book that literally stunned me, for a minute after I finished reading it i just sat there basking in the amazingness of this book. I loved the characters (especially Four) and the plot was wonderful. My ultimate favorite part of this book was Tris' voice. The way she narrates the book make it unlike any book I have read, but not at all in a bad way. The only thing that bugged me was the ending. The book is about 480-500 pages long, with the ending being about 50 pages. To me the ending didn't seem complete, but that is probably because it's a series and if the ending seems complete then no one will buy the next book. My ultimate favorite part of this book was Tris' voice. The way she narrates the book make it unlike any book I have read, but not at all in a bad way. All in all i can not wait until the next book in this trilogy comes out.

    143 out of 165 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Thu Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    My Book of the Year

    My thoughts....Wow, Divergent is perhaps one of the most intense, edge-of-your-seat, heart stopping books I have ever read. I got a huge adrenalin rush just reading it.

    I devoured this book. The advanced reader's copy came in just shy of 500 pages and I could not turn them quick enough. Divergent introduces readers to a world where society is divided into factions. You are born into a faction, then once you reach your sixteenth birthday, you have the difficult choice of staying with your family and current lifestyle, or leaving it behind to join another. Sounds easy, right? As fans of dystopian literature know, nothing is ever easy. The heroine, Beatrice, learns this the hard way.

    This book is centered around society and the characters' positions within the society. Readers will meet some people who they would want to call their friends, and others that make you want to watch your back. The heroine, Beatrice is incredibly strong. Her bravery and commitment take readers on a wild ride.

    Divergent in non-stop action. Roth's writing takes readers to the edge and leaves them gasping for air. The world building leaves a vivid image. The plot keeps readers on their toes trying to answer questions. There is also a touch of innocent romance. Definitely something for everyone.

    Read this book, you will not be disappointed.

    90 out of 99 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    Intriguing as all HECK!

    Ever since i read The Hunger Games trilogy I have been looking for another book that is similar. I found That book and it is Divergent. I absolutely love the characters and the plot because they are so intriguing! I honestly couldnt put this book down. However It is not the best written book and is a bit unirganized at times, though that was easy to overlook because of the fantastic storylines. I hope that there will be a sequel or that this book series will become a trilogy. I cant wait to read more and find out what happens!

    57 out of 72 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Nov 03 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    One of the best books I've read!

    So my school librarian recommended this book and I looked at the cover and honestly I didn't think it would be interesting (sadly, I judge books by their cover). It was also huge and I just really didn't want to waste my time. But I am SO glad I read it. It was beyond amazing. At first it seemed really similar to The Hunger Games, but it is different and in a good way. I must say The Hunger Games was my favorite book, but this book is now my #1 choice. I love the plot and there is romance (which makes the book 10 times better!!). I promise you will not want to put this book down! I'm so happy I read it but now I must wait for the next book which comes out next year :( Hopefully it's worth the wait!

    51 out of 61 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jun 06 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    Highly Recommended

    This book is amazing! I could not put it down! This story grabs you on page ONE! It keeps you guessing but reveals enough though the story that you don't get frustrated with the plot. There is a strong female character that is relatable but has her own personality. I recommend this book to everyone who likes an adventure and plot twist that takes you by surprise. I hope this is followed by a book two very soon in Roth's future.

    35 out of 41 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Divergent movie

    If you loved the book then u would love to hear this divergent the movie comes out in 2015 it might sound like a long time but its worth it right???

    33 out of 47 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    Not so hot.

    After hearing so many rave reviews about this book and how it was so much like the Hunger Games, I was pretty excited.

    Then I read it.

    It's not that great. Not enough development where needed. Good plot, mediocre execution. I disliked the main character who I felt was weak and lacked depth. I also think that she was a sort of 'wannabe' in a way. She does change however the change from weak to 'tough as nails' wasn't quite so believable. I didn't connect. Cheesy romance. Predictable. Quick read.

    For people who liked the Hunger Games, I think some will like it and some will be disappointed like I was.

    For a debut novel, Roth didn't do a horrible job but it was amazing either.

    Bottom line: good not great. Not something that will withstand the test of time. A throw-away, something you'll forget about in a couple of months.

    31 out of 111 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sat Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2012

    A Warning Before You Waste Your Money

    Continuously over the last few months I have head nothing but raves about this book. The next Hunger Games, someone had said, better than the Hunger Games, I was told by someone else. Having read the premise of this book I was not impressed, but surely after so many rave reviews and barley any negative this must be an exception novel.

    Wrong.

    The plot was ill-thought out to the point I was left wondering afterwards if even the author knew truly what 'Divergent' meant. The characters, and I use the term loosely, drastically change to match what is happening in the plot. The author tries to explain why the characters have these dramatic turns, but it seems silly and unbelievable. The main characters constantly confuses strength with bravery, and while Roth acknowledged her character Tris is selfish and ruthless, no one else in the book seems to see this. Tris is constantly told how selfless she is despite there being no evidence to the contrary.

    There is nothing to figure out in this book. The 'twists' are so laughable Roth might as well be giving the reader four squares and a circle and hope no one can tell the difference until the end. The romance is one more predictable than that of Twilight, and the writing strays from simple to repetitive.

    There is nothing new or refreshing about these characters or this plot, and I think the most exceptional thing about this novel is that it's gotten so far sailing off of the dystopian high the YA genre is on right now.

    29 out of 100 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 EST 2011

    The following is a letter I wrote to the author:

    As a 17 year old girl who reads (or tries her best to) read one book a day, I wanted to read something great on Christmas. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GETTING MYSELF INTO! Your book was the best one this year. From the beginning when the reader is first introduced into a society when people only look in the mirror once every three months to the acknowledgment to God, I was captivated. When I read the word "the blade is stuck in Edward's eye" I gasped and dropped the book. I rarely read works that evoke such a physical response from me (the last time was when Dobby died). While reading I found myself sorting my friends into factions. I found myself thinking (Insert name of friend here) would be a member of Amity." My parents had to come retrieve my from my room to open my Christmas presents, because I was so enthralled with Divergent.

    THANKS FOR THIS UNEXPECTED GIFT

    25 out of 32 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue May 31 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    more from this reviewer

    This book will not disappoint!

    The population of Chicago has been divided into five factions: Abnegation, Candor, Dauntless, Erudite, and Amity. When the age of sixteen is reached, each teenager is subjected to an aptitude test and must then choose whether to remain with the faction they were born into or choose the faction that best suits them determined by the aptitude test. Beatrice "Tris" Pryor has been born into the selfless Abnegation faction. However, Tris has always been in awe of a different faction. Will she have the courage to leave her faction, her parents and the only home she has ever known? I live for the far away places a book can take me, but there are few books that I lose myself in so completely that I become one with the lead character. Divergent was such a book. My own personal upbringing made me feel such a strong connection to Tris and her overwhelming need to break free from her faction, while at the same time maintaining her respect and love for the faction she was raised in. I greatly admired the courage she had when faced with the incredible decision she had to make. Then there is Four. I could devote pages and pages and then a few more pages to Four. Four is the kind of "hero" I love to love. He is confident and strong with an underlying tenderness that leaves you wanting more. I like how Four and Tris relate to each other. The way he believes in her when no one else seems to left me breathless. I love how the book made my heart pound and kept me captivated until the very end. I will issue a Kleenex warning as some parts are quite sad and extremely touching. Long after I finished the book, I could not stop thinking about the world Veronica Roth created or her wonderful characters, and there are plenty of characters to love in this story aside from the lead characters. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for them next!

    24 out of 36 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu May 10 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    I love this book! It's my new favorite.

    I honestly liked this more than the hunger games. Thats just me, so no hating, got it? It has romance, drama, adventure, wit, sassiness, and humor. Must read. I would recomend this to fans of the hunger games, harry potter, percy jackson, twilight, and thirst. I love all of those books, but divergent is my new favorite.

    20 out of 25 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Borrow it, dont buy..

    Honestly, i don't understand how this book got so many raves advocating the brillance of the plot and character development and theme and blah, blah, blah. I've never written a bad review before for a book, but this book was terrible!

    We'll start with the characters. The main character, Tris, is a complete Mary-Sue! People are always raving about how brave and smart and strong she is...but she really isn't..what does Tris do to earn this praise when all she really did was try to survive. As for character development- its lacking all together! Tris doesnt develop at a natural pace..its just like all of the sudden shes a super human bad ass with bravery and strength..no. just no. Main characters shouldnt be as flat and annoying as Tris.

    Romance- completely predictable and FLAT. I feel like the author knew that her plot was overall lacking excitement -it wasnt progressing so she just decided "oh hey, we'll add a some romance and that will keep people from getting bored!" Wrong. Maybe that would have worked if the boy wasnt some cardboard cut out of pretty much every leading male character; a hottie with a tragic past. How original. The whole romance thing became a main theme for this story, where i was expecting it as more of a side dish.

    Writing in this story is severely lacking variety. Especially when describing characters. How many times can you say "tris is short and skinny and plain looking." Before you realize thats pretty much ALL we know about tris? The author used vague and unremarkable (in the denotation form) descriptions of pretty much everything.

    The long and short of it is, in my opinion, this book is NOT worth buying. The general plot idea is original and interesting, but the writing, characters, and plot "twists" are predictable and boring. This book is great for younger readers with an undeveloped taste for advanced literature. (Im only 15, if your wondering.)

    17 out of 51 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    Eon
    The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Series #1)
    Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices Series #1)

    One of the Best Books I Have Ever Read!!!

    I LOVED this book. The words suck you in, and they flow so well together. I'm not even a fan of science fiction, yet the way this book was written left me not wanting it to end. I couldn't put it down. I'm recommending it to every single one of my friends. Read this book. It's breath-taking, exhilarating, exciting, and so much more.

    17 out of 21 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jan 03 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Love it!

    One of my all time favorites now. Everyone needs to add it to their must read list.

    16 out of 22 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon May 14 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Not great. I heard great reviews for this book, but I have to d

    Not great.

    I heard great reviews for this book, but I have to disagree. The story is simple and relatively boring and unbelievably illogical. I can't for a second imagine a world where every person is divided into one of five groups based on their personality. No one has only one defining characteristic. We would all be divergent. Which is why I found it hard to believe that Tris' experiences were so unique and special. All of the characters were exactly the same - just words and vague descriptions. There is nothing distinctive about their words or thoughts or actions. Everyone is the same. Especially Tris. Reading about her was like eating cardboard for breakfast; she lacked flavor, interest, spunk. We were supposed to believe that she was brave, but she didn't do anything brave at all. She did everything because she had no choice - the same as every character in the story.

    A lot has been made of Veronica Roth's writing and her success at a young age. I thought her telling of the story was lacking, especially given that she was a creative writing major at the time she wrote the book. I got the feeling that she read a lot of young adult books and wanted to write a book just like them, so she quickly developed a plot and penned it without any more thought process. I wondered if she put any thought into it at all. There were absolutely no explanations for anything, including how the factions came about, and she only explored about 5% of the potential she had in her storylines. I don't think she knew how things worked or why things happened, so she just didn't explain it to the reader. It felt like having someone explain a movie to you that they didn't understand, where you couldn't ask any questions. Roth only gave us what she wanted us to know, making her seem uneducated in her own creation and leaving the reader wishing for more. The writing was the worst part: I did this. I said this. I felt that. I saw that. It was just a collection of actions and words, without any feeling or thoughts or inner dialogue. She described NOTHING, not even Tris' private thoughts, even though it was written from her point of view.

    Only read this if you don't mind boring, illogical books that don't measure up to the hype.

    15 out of 38 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jan 02 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Its amazing

    I loved Divergent it is a great book filled with adventure ad romance through out the whole storry and if that is what you are looking for then i think you will love Divergent. I rated it with five stars because of the action and the romance ad it kept the pages turning for me!

    13 out of 21 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed May 18 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    Excellent Book. Psychology meets Dystopian Society...

    I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read the next... Anyway, I saw that a lot of people were comparing "Divergent" to "The Hunger Games", and I just wanted to put my two cents in. "The Hunger Games Trilogy" were the first books that I ever took a chance on to read about a future "dystopian society". I was pulled in immediately and obsessed (still am). I was depressed when I finished the trilogy. I then read "The Giver", & "Matched" (both dystopian), and a few other books which were not set in the future, but it was not until I read "Divergent", that I was pulled in so much to a book. I don't really think that anyone should compare it to THG as far as story lines go - they are both very thought out & intelligent, but also quite different in their own sense. The similarities between "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent" are simply that they are both books written for YA, and they are both set in a dystopian society. But, that being said - if you liked "The Hunger Games" and need a good read to hold you over until the movie comes out next year - then read "Divergent". I can't wait to read more!

    12 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon May 21 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Not worth the money

    Hearing Divergent's comparisons to the Hunger Games, i must say i expected more from the book. It starts off interestingly enough, and the faction idea seemed fresh and interesting. But as i read on, i saw that divergent is not worth the hype (though i congratulate the author on her success) tris ends up being a "mary sue" of sorts, appearing "plain". But oh, once she gets into dauntless she becomes brave and beautiful! And of course Four falls madly in love with her-- i would expect no less from a cookie cutter heartthrob with a "tragic" past. I could have dealed with the flat characters, dwindling plotline, and cheesy romance if only the ending was good. But it was not. Tris ends up losing many people very close to her (i wont reveal who because of spoilers) unnecessarily. The book, like a lot of YA these days, ends on a cliffhanger. This book left such a bad taste in my mouth that theres no way im purchasing the second book. If i do read it, i may just borrow it from a lendme or library. Its not worth the money. I don't understand all the hype for this series at all. I juat hope that readers will be able to move on to another book with stronger charactera and compelling storytelling. (If you havent read the hunger games already....) i think the people comparing the hunger games to divergent and tris to katniss need to really rethink thwir choice of literature.

    10 out of 26 people found this review helpful.

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