Divergent
Veronica Roth, 2011
★ 4.13 from 4.5m ratings on Goodreads
A girl raised to put others first joins the faction that prizes bravery, and learns how much of herself she is willing to risk. Quick, plainspoken and tense, the story follows Tris through tests of bravery while questions of identity and freedom keep the mood uneasy.
Feels like serenity, unease and joy. About identity, freedom and adventure.
Who it’s for
You may like it if you enjoy fast YA dystopian action, initiation trials and a romance that develops under pressure. Some readers find the faction world-building thin and the setup familiar, so go in expecting logic gaps.
Why read it
If you want a quick, tense read about identity and courage, this offers a direct, high-stakes story.
A page from the book
The person who can tell you have cried and still make you feel dangerous.
I sniff, wipe my face one more time, and smooth down my hair.“Do I look like I’ve been crying?” I say.“Hmm.” He leans in close, narrowing his eyes like he’s inspecting my face. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. Even closer, so we would be breathing the same air—if I could remember how to breathe.“No, Tris,” he says. A more serious look replaces his smile as he adds, “You look tough as nails.” What readers say
Readers are sharply divided: many found the fast-paced action, initiation trials, and Tris–Four romance entertaining and absorbing, while others were frustrated by the faction world-building, logic gaps, and heavy resemblance to other YA dystopias.
Veronica Roth.Roth wrote Divergent while she was a student at Northwestern; it was published soon after she graduated, when she was in her early twenties.
Books that feel like this
More by Veronica Roth
Insurgent
Veronica Roth, 2012
In a city divided into five virtues, a young woman hunted for being all five must decide what she will sacrifice to stop a war.
Allegiant
Veronica Roth, 2013
In a fractured city, Tris and Tobias face what loyalty costs when courage stops looking heroic and becomes the work of getting through a day.
Where to get it
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Questions readers ask
- Is Divergent for me?
- You may like it if you enjoy fast YA dystopian action, initiation trials and a romance that develops under pressure. Some readers find the faction world-building thin and the setup familiar, so go in expecting logic gaps.
- What is Divergent like?
- Quick, plainspoken and tense, the story follows Tris through tests of bravery while questions of identity and freedom keep the mood uneasy. Feels like serenity, unease and joy. About identity, freedom and adventure.
- What should I read after Divergent?
- If you liked Divergent, try Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins), The Giver (Lois Lowry) and The Maze Runner (James Dashner).
A taste of the feed
What is the cost of convincing a system it is fragile?
“I think we’ll make this whole situation a lot simpler by agreeing not to lie to each other,” he says. “What do you think?” I think my tongue has frozen and speech will be impossible, so I surprise myself by answering back in a steady voice, “Yes, I think that would save time.” “Whatever problems anyone may have with the Capitol, believe me when I say that if it released its grip on the districts for even a short time, the entire system would collapse.” [...] “It must be very fragile, if a handful of berries can bring it down.”
Catching Fire · Suzanne Collins
A word that sounds like mercy is used for the worst punishment.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WILL BE RELEASED, the voice had said, followed by silence. There was an ironic tone to that finally message, as if the Speaker found it amusing; and Jonas had smiled a little, though he knew what a grim statement it had been. For a contributing citizen to be released from the community was a final decision, a terrible punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure.
The Giver · Lois Lowry
The faces above him are only boys. His heart doesn't get the message.
And then, as if the lens of a camera had sharpened its focus, the faces cleared. They were boys, all of them—some young, some older. Thomas didn’t know what he’d expected, but seeing those faces puzzled him. They were just teenagers. Kids. Some of his fear melted away, but not enough to calm his racing heart.
The Maze Runner · James Dashner
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