“Divergent” is a dystopian science fiction novel written by Veronica Roth. It is the first in the Divergent trilogy and was published in 2011. In 2014, a movie adaptation was made and is available to watch on Hulu.
The book takes place in a futuristic society where everyone is divided into five factions, each with different values and ways of living. The factions are Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless and Erudite. Abnegation favors selflessness, Amity favors kindness, Candor favors honesty, Dauntless favors bravery and Erudite favors intelligence.
People are born, raised and live separately amongst these factions. However, once a character comes of age, they have one chance to decide whether they want to stay in their faction or switch to a different one. Along with this choice, they are given a test to determine which faction would be best suited for them – but the test ultimately does not decide where someone will end up.
The main character, Beatrice, was born and raised in Abnegation. However, her whole life she felt like she had never fit in with the people around her. After her coming of age test, she leaves confused because she is “Divergent.” Beatrice panics because she is told to keep this a secret otherwise she will be in danger. Ultimately, she makes a brave decision to switch to Dauntless.
The book explores Beatrice’s journey through the initiation of the toughest faction, how she develops as a character, and the underlying mystery behind being “Divergent.” This story’s writing, though a little simplistic, captivates the audience throughout the entire book. It does a very good job of developing several plots at the same time, and not revealing any of the mysteries too fast.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction. Even though it is almost 500 pages, it is an easy read that moves quickly. It was a very enjoyable read.