"The tests don't have to change our choices."
In Veronica Roth's YA novel Divergent, society has been divided into five factions: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. Each faction is a miniature society of its own, complete with its own culture, wardrobe, sector of the city, and prized virtue. Sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior and her brother, Caleb, have come of age and must now take a test that will tell them which faction they belong in--whether they are honest, selfless, brave, kind, or smart. The next day, after a night of reflection, the two will join their peers in deciding which faction to live in for the rest of their lives. At least, that is the plan. But when Tori, Beatrice's test administrator, reports that her results are inconclusive, Beatrice's stable, organized world is about to come crashing down. Beatrice must now decide between faction and family, the consequences of which will teach her the true meaning of sacrifice.
Divergent is enthralling. From the very first page, we are introduced to Beatrice's strictly organized world, and thrown into this dystopian Chicago where everything is reliable. The Prior family belongs to Abnegation, whose members wear gray and own next to nothing in an attempt to be as selfless as possible. Beatrice is in awe of her brother, Caleb, who is selfless without thinking. His life is the perfect example of what she is meant to be, and what she can never achieve. When Caleb chooses a rival faction at the choosing ceremony, it becomes clear to Beatrice that she can't stay either. She chooses Dauntless, and is instantly swept up in a world of self-defense, vicious competition, heart-pounding train rides, and sheer terror as she struggles to conquer her fears and master her emotions.
The characters in Divergent
are great, and they fit the story perfectly. Each transfer perfectly models the
values of their original faction while showing hints of their affinity for
Dauntless. Beatrice, who renames herself Tris upon entering the compound, makes
plenty of friends who are supportive but distinctly flawed. They're easy to
connect with, and each adds a unique dynamic to Tris' story. The romance is not
insta-love, does not overwhelm the storyline, and the love interest is a
well-rounded character with scars of his own. The characters also go through
some major development as the story progresses, especially once initiation ends
and the main conflict takes over.
Roth's writing style really lends a sense of realism to the story. The plot is balanced and well-paced, with a feasible plot in a frighteningly realistic future. Tris is an unreliable narrator with a distinctive voice and complex emotions. While she sometimes wonders at the logic in devoting her entire life to one particular virtue, she doesn't start off with a problem following the rules. Dauntless changes her, both physically and emotionally. She goes through a great deal of maturation, and by the end of the book you can really tell how much she's changed. Tris' character is shaped by initiation, a cold-hearted villain, and unspeakable tragedies.
Although this book does not focus on violence, it does include some fight scenes and a few "iffy" moments. One of these includes a near-death experience, while the other features a butterknife and a rather vulnerable piece of facial anatomy. Nothing is graphic, however, and the violence is balanced out neatly by fun, character-building exercises and games that lend the story strength.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting YA novel featuring a strong female protagonist, well-written supporting characters, and a dystopia actually worth saving. The villain is ruthless, the romance is beautiful, the friendships are sweet, and the plot leaves you breathless. Veronica Roth has truly created a must-read with Divergent, a trait which earns it five stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment