Divergent

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Author's Website: http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/

ISBN: 978-0-06-202403-9

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Copyright Date: 2011

Genre: Dystopian

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15-18

Awards: New York Times, 2011. Publisher's Weekly starred, 2011. School Library Journal Starred, 2011.

Plot Summary: In this dystopian world, everyone is born into one of five factions. Abnegation (selflessness and service), Candor (truth), erudite (intelligence), Amity (peacefulness) and dauntless (the brave). On your 16th birthday you are given an aptitude test with a recommended faction. You can choose to stay in the one you were born into, or make the switch to another. Beatrice has always felt like she didn't belong in Abnegation and chooses Dauntless on her 16th birthday. However, her aptitude test comes back as Divergent which is dangerous and she is advised not to tell anyone. She begins her training at dauntless which includes jumping off of buildings, moving trains and combat fighting. She soon learns that Divergent means she possesses qualities of all of the factions which the leaders find to be very dangerous (i.e. hard to control). Her Divergent nature is what helps her to save the day, when all of the dauntless are turned into brainwashed soldiers ordered to kill the abnegation.

Critical Evaluation: Roth succeeds in producing a fast paced novel with sympathetic and realistic characters. Her writing is clear and concise and this story provokes deeper thoughts regarding human nature. 

Reader's Annotation: In a world where you must choose one of five factions to belong to, Beatrice quickly realizes she is different than the others, making her special and susceptible to danger. 

Booktalking Ideas: Equality, Free-will, Oppression.
Challenge issues if any: There is some gun violence at the end of the story but it is not unnecessarily graphic.

Why did you include this book: This is a quick paced, action novel that is sure to provoke deeper thoughts about humankind. 
Quote: “We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”