Book Review: Divergent

 

Book Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: YA - Science Fiction (Dystopia)
Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0

Review: Honestly, I was incredibly hesitant about starting this series. A friend of mine, before realizing I had no read the books and was very interested, told me how the third book ends. After that, I was not sure if I wanted to go through with reading three long books. Then my sixth graders had library day a week ago, and I decided to pick up the copy in the library (I like to model actual reading for my students, in hopes that they will do the same when they're supposed to read). Needless to say, I was sucked in pretty quickly and could not put the book down. I read about 100 pages throughout the day between my six classes being in the library, and then finished the rest of the book the following Saturday. It was such a quick read!

Honestly, the book is amazing. If you're not sure if you want to read it or not, just pick it up and start reading. Unlike a lot of books, especially in a series, the beginning was not slow at all. It jumps right in and keeps you hooked on everything going on. Along with that, the main characters are incredible. Honestly, with YA you usually have the male character who is near "perfect," and it's wonderful how Roth has created such a lovable male character in Four who is not "perfect." Honestly, my friends and I have decided he is one of the best male characters in a book that we have EVER read. He is not the only star, though. We agree that it is amazing to see all of these books that show strong female characters. While Tris has Four, she doesn't "need" him necessarily, and I love that. I LOVE that more books are showing girls (especially this age) that it's okay to love and help yourself first, without relying on a boy. Overall, Roth does a beautiful job in the novel.

If you are a fan of The Hunger Games, or any other sort of dystopian novels, then you are going to be a fan of Divergent. Roth creates a world so believable, that you hang onto every word, wondering what is going to happen to each individual character. So, I urge you to pick up the book; you will not be sorry.