Divergent

Back of the Book: In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, 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 alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating 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 unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

With all of the hype from the upcoming movie, this book is being dubbed the next Hunger Games. While I agree that it is another fantastic dystopian teen novel, this story is vastly different while still being entertaining and enthralling.

Beatrice “Tris” Prior grew up in the faction of the selfless, Abnegation. While Tris doesn’t see herself belonging anywhere else, she learns a shocking secret—she is Divergent, meaning she belongs to more than one faction. While Tris decides to harbor the secret and choose the faction of the brave, Dauntless, she doesn’t realize she must undertake a mental, physical, and emotion trail in order to keep her place in the new faction. Tris struggles to keep her secret and fit in with those who shun her. However, the more she learns about the other factions, the more twisted they seem to become.

While Divergent appears to be another cookie-cutter dystopian teen novel, the relatable characters, unique worlds, and driving action keeps the reader engaged. The concept of the factions truly intrigued me. The setting is entirely new to young adult fiction, and it is really fascinating. Like the Hunger Games, Divergent focuses on a female narrator who doesn’t need a guy to save her. Tris is resourceful, intelligent, brave, and a character to look up to. Although I’m still curious as to how these pages are going to come across on the screen, I’m confident that this book will be a favorite for years to come.

The Hunger Games

            From an old Greek myth springs a fantastic page-turner revolving around life and death. Suzanne Collins gave the old legend of King Aegeus of Athens choosing seven men and maidens to be sacrificed to the Minotaur a face-lift in this new, bestselling novel.

            Katniss, an illegal hunter living in a dreary district, fears the upcoming Hunger Games, an event she’s dreaded since birth. A male and female from each district surrounding the Capital must fight to the death in a gruesome arena while the rest of the citizens watch and pray their children might survive.

            Katniss must face her fear, a dangerous strategy plan, and uncharted feelings for a friend as she attempts to survive the ultimate challenge. The ultimate sacrifice. The Hunger Games.

I didn’t want to read this book. I didn’t want to go along with the crowd, who protested that this book was worthy enough to be a best-seller. The book seemed too different for my taste, considering I usually pull a thick fantasy volume off the shelf. After about three weeks of my best friend and my father nagging me to purchase it, I finally did.

They were right to nag me.

The Hunger Games can only be truly described in one word: impossible. Katniss is impossible. The Capital is impossible. The Hunger Games is impossible. Suzanne Collins (The Underland Chronicles) wove an incredible story. The intricacy and intimacy of the novel is mind-blowing. I cannot recommend a better page-turner.

My parents dragged me shopping while I read this. I spent the outing reading on a bench meant for trying on shoes. I couldn’t put it down. It’s that addicting.

Although I did love the book, I found the main character a bit hostile at times. The author intended to make her this way, but at times she agitated me. The story is science-fiction, but not as drastic as some novels can be. It takes place in the future, but the technology isn’t so far from ours and it is easy to understand.

This novel is incredible, and I would recommend it for anyone craving a good book. But beware: once opened, it will be impossible to put down.