Divergent (ARC)

Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Young Adult - Dystopian
Publication Date: May 3rd 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages:  496
Date Scoot Read: March 2011
Source: won ARC in giveaway

Scoot's Rating: 10 – Amazing! Loved it. Read it now!

Synopsis (via Goodreads): In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, 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 to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating 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 a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Scoot’s Review:
The dystopian world of Divergent is split into extreme factions where each community fosters one personality trait above all others.  Beatrice has grown up in the world of Abnegation where selflessness is the first and only priority of life.  Despite having grown up in a fully selfless community Beatrice struggles with the confining lifestyle and when the day of decision comes Beatrice has a hard choice to make; stay in abnegation with her family or leave for a new faction and never see them again.  While learning some hard truths about herself, the decision Beatrice makes has a snowball effect across her life and the supposedly perfect world around her.  One word: WOW.  What can I say... this book was a stressful, heart pounding read, but in the best of ways. The story just sucked you in.  The factions and their extreme behaviors, watching Beatrice (Tris) and the other candidates train for their new factions, the slow but real romance. I LOVE LOVE LOVED it.  The story pacing was excellent; it started out quiet and then built up to a non-stop tempo. The novel had tragedy and betrayal at every turn.  It was a heartbreaking and heartwarming read all at the same time.  The characterization was great; you easily came to know each person’s unique qualities and they all felt real – some were pretty scary – but real.  Seeing the world through Tris’ eyes was easy and I enjoyed her strength and will.  Tris didn’t let anything stand in her way from what she wanted or what was right.  Four was a complex character that I enjoyed slowly peeling back layers on to find the true person underneath.   Even with the depth and heart pounding plot of this first novel it seems like we have just seen the tip of the iceberg (a very awesome tip) and there is so much more waiting for us to come.  I can’t wait to read more of the story. Bravo Veronica Roth on her debut novel! Make sure to grab a copy for yourself when it comes out on May 3, 2011!