Divergent by author Veronica Roth, also known as the book that is off the charts, has been distinguished on the New York Bestseller list. It is the first book in the trilogy series of novels for young adults that further expands the look and feel of the dystopian genre in young adult fiction. It has a feeling similar in comparison to the book Hunger Games and The Maze Runner yet it has many differences. Divergent looks more into the personality of its characters from the inside and the resulting struggles they deal with when figuring out their identities and futures to a completely different level.

Goodreads says in one of its reviews, “One choice. One choice decides your friends, defines your beliefs, and determines your loyalties…forever. Or, one choice can transform you. In Veronica Roth’s debut novel, Divergent, a perfect society unfolds into a dystopian world of electrifying decisions, stunning consequences, heartbreaking betrayals, and unexpected romance.” I believe this statement accurately portrays Divergent in a nutshell. The novel is so intriguing and captures your interest beyond anything you can imagine to the point that you will not want to put the book down until you are finished. (I would know from experience.) It is not only for young teens, but for adults as well who are looking for a novel filled with action and a little bit of romances. The 500-page novel keeps you on your toes from the beginning all the way through until the end, one suspense filled page to the next.

In the book Divergent, talented Veronica Roth creates a book that takes you to another world of adventure. The reader follows the main character during her testing, evaluation and then following initiation into one of the factions of her choice. Beatrice, or what she prefers to be called Tris, is a sixteen year old girl. At this age all members of her community must decide who they are and where they fit into society as this choice define their lives from then on. The factions, whose names correlate to their virtues, include Abnegation (selflessness), Dauntless (bravado), Amity (peacefulness), Candor (honesty) and Erudite (intelligence). Children who fit into more than one faction are considered Divergent, which is where the name of the book comes from. Being raised in Abnegation was challenging for Tris as it is a faction that is centered and focused entirely around selflessness. For this reason, Tris never truly felt good enough or self-sacrificing enough to fully fit into this community, so being able to choose her faction at age sixteen is a big commitment. She wants a new home, but she doesn’t necessarily want to leave her family behind. Because if and when you choose a new faction at sixteen, you rarely or never see your parents again making this an extremely serious decision. One of the most important days for Tris occurs when her community makes their faction recommendation by the use of a simulation test. It is the day that Tris makes a startling discovery. After the simulation, it is reported to her that she is Divergent, meaning she falls into more than one faction, which is considered extremely dangerous and needs to be kept a secret. The twist in Veronica Roth’s spine-tingling novel makes it an up and down ride of emotions as readers follow Tris’s swift decision as well as a journey that undoubtedly changes her life forever.

The world that Roth creates for the reader is so unique and different yet terrifying at the exact same time. It takes place in Chicago, one of my favorite places to be in, and her descriptions of what the once beautiful city has come to was surprising. Roth creates an unforgettable and eerie world that truly stayed with me throughout the novel. The character Tris was pretty intense, daring and outspoken as well as she fits in with the world Roth created. I can see why many people are saying that this book is along the same lines as The Hunger Games as Tris and Katniss have many similarities in how their characters are portrayed. By one thing I wasn’t really prepared for was all the violence, which sounds silly, but it is true. I mean when I read the Hunger Games there was some violence but the violence in Divergent had a different feeling for me. It really kept me on my toes as I never knew what exactly would happen next. There was a lot of bloodshed, death, and definitely a lot of fighting making it extremely action packed and attention grabbing. I didn’t mind it as it made the book so much better, but it simply took my by surprise.

The writing was appealing and quite impressive as Roth was only twenty-on years old when she wrote this book! She definitely knows how to keep her readers in suspense. This book is one of the most suspenseful books that I’ve read in a long time and I think fans of The Uglies, The Hunger Games, and The Maze Runner will truly enjoy Divergent as they all have that similar feeling of a dystopia. I realize the movie already came out but I still highly recommend you read the book first as they are always better than the movies!

For me, I finished the entire 500-page novel in a day. It is now and will be my favorite book until another book can top this one which will be extremely hard to beat! I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an action packed read that will keep them in suspense for hours that also enjoys in a little bit of romance to top it off. Believe me, once you pick it up you will not want to put it down. I guarantee it!