“Divergent” book review

BY CORTNEY GLAWE

Good reads Choice Award 2011 Winner “Divergent,” written by Veronica Roth, is on its way to the theaters in March. The story is set in futurist Chicago where the world is split into 5 fractions: Abnegation - the selfless, Amity - the peaceful, Candor - the honest, Dauntless - the brave and Erudite - the intelligent each representing a trait. Being sixteen is a little more important than being able to finally drive on your own. You have to make a choice that decides who you are for the rest of your life and this is where Beatrice Prior’s story begins.

When I came upon “Divergent” it sounded like “Hunger Games,” but with a new spin, and I was excited about it. Unlike the “Hunger Games” the world didn’t come off as believable or logical, and the history of why the world came to be that way wasn’t really explained. The Dauntless seemed more like reckless bullies then military soldiers like they were supposed to be. There was a lot of bullying in the book that seemed to be overlooked by the teachers. Either that or they never knew because the recruits never told them about it. If they were really brave, they would have told someone so it could be handled in a more appropriate manner, but I guess they are Dauntless so they don’t care about safety especially with that never stopping train of theirs. I get that Veronica Roth was trying to get the point across that they were brave but bravery goes farther than jumping off a never-ending train. If you get past all the ways the story didn’t seem very logical or how it liked to skim in-depth details then it can make for a good read.

For those of you who would like to give this book a try, it also has two follow up books “Insurgent” and “Allegiant.” I have not read them. Maybe they will explain more of the in-depth questions I wanted to know. As the first book in the series, I feel it should have laid out more foundation.  Instead the reader isn’t asking questions on they should have been answered details, but they ask questions like what's going to happen next?