Things we know about Mary:
1. I love dystopian literature in an unhealthy way.
2. I’m a sucker for a love story.
Veronica Roth must have gotten that memo because her book, Divergent, is right up my alley.
So good, guys.
Of course, it’s set in the future, in a place where the United States used to be (specifically, Chicago) and young adults, once they turn sixteen, are made to decide how they will live the rest of their lives. There are five factions (smaller cities) inside Chicago and at sixteen, you decide what faction you want to be loyal to. Most stay in the faction they were born in, but if you choose a different one, it’s the same as turning your back on your family. You will no longer have contact with them or their community.
So for Beatrice, deciding to leave Abnegation, a selfless community, and become Dauntless where risk and violence rule, is enough to turn her world upside down. Once she makes it to the Dauntless compound, she has to prove herself (which isn’t easy when you’re the smallest initiate) and get high enough in the rankings to be accepted in to the community.
There’s twists, secrets, love, betrayal, and so many edge-of-your-seat moments that I stayed up way past midnight multiple nights (on school nights!) to get this book finished. I couldn’t get enough of it.
And then when it ended, I immediately picked up the second book in the series, Insurgent, because I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters and the story.
Sure sign of a good book, folks.
I would say this one triumphs my love of the Matched series by a long shot and is only ranked below The Hunger Games series because that series was my introduction to dystopian literature and I have to be loyal to it. It’s that good guys. Read DivergentRIGHT NOW.
DISCLOSURE: AFFILIATE LINKS USED.
Ohhhh I loved, LOVED Divergent AND Insurgent! I think the third comes out in October!! So good!!!
I put Divergent right where you did in the dystopian lit ranking! Except mine is tied with The Hunger Games because I think Insurgent was better written than Catching Fire. But I love this series so much and can’t wait for the movie or the third book!