TC Staff Are Raving About Debut Novel "Divergent"

Divergent

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, 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 to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating 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 a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

 

 April says: ( a bit of a spoiler here)

"Our society has ended.  And from the ashes comes five different factions--each with their own air-tight theory on how society should be run.  Amity believes that through peace society will succeed. Candor believes truth is the only way.  Erudites feel intelligence, research, and science will lead to a perfect society.  Dauntless hold to bravery as the only option.  And Abnegation demonstrate that selflessness is the best choice.  Sounds like a hoot, right?

Born into an Abnegation family, Beatrice just doesn't seem to fit into the faction's beliefs.  So when her chance to change her fate arises, she chooses Dauntless, those fun-loving daredevil folks who would never give up their seat on the bus or take the stairs or wear gray the shade of cloudy days.  Beatrice renames and re-brands herself as Tris, first among the Dauntless initiates.  She skates through the different levels of initiation, trying to overcome the nickname "Stiff", and trying to prove that a member of Dauntless is nothing like a member of Abnegation.

Trouble is...  Bravery isn't too far from selflessness when one really looks at it. Written with more weight than most of the YA dystopian novels out there, Divergent isn't about one girl who can't choose between boys while her society tumbles down around her.  It's about a girl who happens to find herself as her society tumbles down around her.  Sure, there is some romance, but Tris stays true to herself and doesn't falter a bit once she has made up her mind.  Not wimpy or weepy in the slightest."

Jackie says:

"This book is amazing, especially since it's a debut novel by a very young new writer.  It pulls you into a perfectly planned world--just as it begins to fall apart.  In this world, you must decide your allegiance to one of the five factions of society when you are 16 based on a creepy drug induced hallucination/simulation that is meant to show your aptitudes.  But Beatrice's didn't come out clear cut--she's warned by her tester that she is a "Divergent", someone who crosses faction lines, which is a very, very, very dangerous thing to be in this society.  I will not tell you more because I do not want to spoil one moment of the thrill ride that this book holds for its reader.  This is a tale of coming of age, adventure,  breath-stealing action, psychological suspense, young love, society, ideals, peer pressure, family and so very much more.  It's the first book of a planned trilogy, which is a good thing because once you have entered this world of Roth's, you do not want to leave it.  This is going to be a HUGE hit, perhaps even big enough to break the vampire thrall that still lingers over YA lit!  I know that I could NOT put it down!" 

Join The Dark Days of Supernatural writing challenge for this book, which begins tomorrow.  You can find details on inkpop.com.