Open World Learning Community '14-'15 discussion

Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Divergent by Veronica Roth, the first book in a trilogy, is an action-packed novel that fits perfectly on the dystopian science fiction shelf alongside The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner. Divergent is set in a futuristic Chicago with crumbling buildings and “Marsh Michigan” where the Great Lake used to be. The residents of this city are divided into five groups, or factions, based on their personality. Instead of a driving-test, sixteen year olds must work through a computer simulation that observes the way they behave and then suggests the best faction for them to join.

The action starts when Tris, the main character, gets some surprising results on this test, and ends up joining a faction that values fearlessness and courage above all else. Tris participates in a gruelling initiation to enter this faction and learns about herself and some of the evil things happening in the city.

Divergent kept me on the edge of my seat, and I just had to keep reading to find out what happens next. The central idea of the book, that people can’t easily fit into categories, was very interesting and it kept me thinking the entire time. The futuristic Chicago felt alive, and Roth used descriptive language to make the world come alive. Describing Millenium Park, Roth writes, “it is a stretch of bare land and several rusted metal sculptures– and it is a stretch of bare land and several rusted metal sculptures– one an abstract, plated mammoth, another shaped like a lima bean that dwarfs me in size.”

My biggest complaint with Divergent is that I was much more interested in the action and adventure than the romantic plot that takes place between Tris, and Four, one of the leaders of her new faction. I found myself skimming over entire pages to get back into the action. Instead, I got dialogue like following scene with Four speaking to Tris, “‘I might be in love with you.’ He smiles a little. I'm waiting until I'm sure to tell you, though.’” However, this was a minor complaint, because the rest of the plot was so interesting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in science fiction, and thinking about ways that our future could be different than today. Divergent has also been made into a major motion picture, which wasn’t very good. I am glad that I read the book first, and I recommend that you do the same.



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