“I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. I am Divergent. And I can’t be controlled.”
-Tris
Definitely my favorite line from Divergent, by Veronica Roth, a young adult dystopian about a society split into factions based on personality. The quote captures Tris’ edgy personality.
Divergent has been hailed as the next great young adult dystopian novel, so I was naturally attracted to it. I would have read it earlier, but I had been on my library’s waiting list for it for a month.
The novel follows Tris, a 16-year-old in a post-apocalyptic Chicago where society is split into five factions based on personality traits (daring, smart, selfless, peaceful and honest).
Each 16-year-old selects his or her faction, each of which specializes in a division of labor to help the society’s welfare (protection or government, for example). The decision stays with them for their entire life- and they must leave their family behind.
There’s a great coming-of-age tale and first love in the novel (and thankfully no love triangle). Overall, it is strikingly similar to The Hunger Games. Tris at times seems exactly like Katniss (rebellious, strong-willed), so fans of The Hunger Games will not feel out of place.
The novel does an incredible job of showing the importance of family. Both Tris’ parents are dynamic characters who change throughout the story, something that many novels gloss over.
I plan on starting Insurgent, book two in the trilogy, within the next few weeks.I will end with another great quote from the novel, this by Four, a Dauntless imitation leader:
“I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren’t that different.” -Four
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