Divergent by Veronica Roth

Book Summer (Via Goodreads): Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place her in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

Book Review:
Let me start by saying this poor book has been sitting on my shelf for a rather long time, just waiting to be read. I have heard so many good things about Divergent, I was hesitant to pick it up. I thought it might be too good to be true. Past experiences have made me somewhat leery of books that get rave reviews. In the case of Divergent, I needn't of worried. It was FANTASTIC. Within the first few sentences, I was hooked. Roth's world building was phenomenal. I loved the backdrop of Chicago (my hometown) as the setting. I found the idea of splitting up society into factions rather interesting and unprecedented. Tris was a strong feminine voice. She carried her strength and curiosity beautifully. I enjoyed going on this journey with her as she struggled to find her rightful path in the "dauntless" world. Four was a great counterpart. I enjoyed the slow build of their romance. Often I find that YA romances start to quick in a story, which can be a little over-the-top and cliche. This was definitely not the case in Divergent. The dystopian perspective was spot on, almost eerily so. All in all, Divergent was an engaging read which I will be recommending for many years to come. I can hardly wait for the follow-up, Insurgent!

Favorite Quote:

“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
This cover is definitely eye catching. The flames juxtapose nicely against the blue background. I love the Chicago skyline in the background! :)

Review: