I LOVED this book when I read it last year. It is the 1st in a 3 part series and has already been optioned by Lionsgate Summit Entertainment to be made into a movie (Release date of March 2014). All the students who have read the book since it came out have also loved/really enjoyed the book. This book takes place in a Chicago of the future, where the society is broken down into 5 factions. Each faction has it specific strength and job in society based on their strengths and abilities. The story follows Tris as she has to decide her future and what faction she will be a part of. The book has a lot of action and helps to make you think of what could happen if....
I just finished Divergent and, like Ms. Gerdes, I pretty much loved it. The protagonist, Tris (a shortened version of Beatrice) is a tiny but tough-minded, scrappy heroine who leaves the safety of her family's humble, selfless Abnegation faction for the daring and aggressive Dauntless faction. Like all kids in this dystopian world, Tris goes through a sorting ritual at the age of sixteen (without a sorting hat, however!) in which she chooses the faction with which she will spend the rest of her life. Leaving one's faction means a person will never see his or her family again (except for infrequent visiting days) so the decision to cross into a different faction is not made lightly, nor is it easy. There are some rare individuals - seemingly rare, anyway - who display the characteristics of more than one faction who are considered "divergent" and, at least in the minds of some leaders, these mixed-faction anomalies are dangerous. Divergents are dangerous because they don't fit a strictly circumscribed social ideal but more than that, they are dangerous because they possess special skills which allow them to quickly adapt, learn and grown in their new faction. The reader learns early on that Tris is divergent but, like Tris, we don't really understand the significance (good or bad) of being divergent until, alongside her, we experience all her scary, cool adventures. There are physical adventures as well as mental adventures which are just as cool. Ok, so there are some slower parts to the story: Do we really need to go through all seven of Tris's fears in the simulated fear landscapes in the third and final test to determine her ranking as an initiate in her faction? That was a little tedious for me, but it’s a minor complaint. What makes the story especially good is the rich world the author creates for Tris. For example, there is an interesting how-not-to-make-new-friends thread as Tris settles into her new faction. There is a really nice romance thread (a hot dude named Four is her heart throb and now mine, too ) and there is a nice love-hate family thread as well. Any book that uses the words dauntless, candor, abnegate and erudite hundreds of times has my interest but this book has so much more. I think this would be a great choice for summer read!
I second Ms. Segalla's review. The choice of faction that's central to the first part of the book as Tris decides on which faction to join and whether to forsake her family was gut-wrenching. I think our students could sympathize with the search for identity. The book is action-packed with the Dauntless faction doing many fearless, high-risk things, like jumping from trains and buildings and beating each other to a pulp. The romance thread works for me, and I like that the book is part of a series. I think this would be a strong choice for the summer read if we want to go the dystopian route.
I'm with all of you. I've been home sick all day, so I've decided to fill my time with summer reading. (And, like Margaret, falling in love with Four!) I really enjoyed Divergent and just downloaded #2. I think it's another good "middle-ground" choice - there is certainly some high-complexity language, but it's fairly easy to figure out what they mean even you don't know the word "abnegate," and the themes are very rich. I do think the violence in this book is more disturbing than some of the others, and there is a little "hot-and-heavy" scene with Tris and Four. I don't think it is a problem, but is worth pointing out, since we have done so for other books as well. Aside from being an awesome and compelling story, I really love the richness of it - the original idea of the five factions, the questions of whether we are better off with one positive trait or many, the question of whether we can really root out all of the evil within ourselves - so much to think about and so much worth discussing. I think this should be another top contender and have no objections to it being our selection.
I liked the book because it reminded me of the Hunger Games. I found this book interesting because it made me think about the different negative aspects of our society that each faction dedicates itself to fixing. i think this book would be a good school wide reading book because it appeals to both girls and boys because of the action and love scenes.
I enjoyed this book because I am a fan of dystopian novels. I especially liked the different factions and the way that they try to perfect society by remaining separate but equal. The novel expresses a change over time factor because it shows Tris developing her Dauntless characteristics while either replacing or perfecting her Abnegation characteristics. My favorite part of the novel is when Four tells Tris that she is at her bravest when she is selfless because it expresses the idea that all of the factions actually contribute toward one another, and in order to strive in one, you must incorporate the others. I also loved that Four was really Tobias. It was interesting that she left a comfortable life for a dangerous one. I did not, however, enjoy the cliffhanger at the end. I think the novel would be perfect for summer reading because it explores several different themes.
I enjoyed this book it reminded me of The Hunger Games which was a book I also enjoyed. I like the character Tris and specially number Four. I like the relationship Tris and Four share and also how Tris acted towards Peter even when he should of gotten the worst out of her.
I enjoyed reading this book, it compelled me to read the sequel. I felt that i could relate to the character in which where she felt out of place and took a risk to find a place where she be happy. I enjoyed that the author gave us a brief description of the factions to see where they stand. After reading the first book I had a few question that were answered in the second and felt that I was experiencing the change that Tris was facing within the novel. The author made the story flow very well and showed characteristics of how we humans are and how we deal with different situations. I especially enjoyed the early plot twist where her brother on how he switched factions, to me this felt so spontaneous. I think this would make a good summer reading especially for the incoming freshman because it is like our previous reading, but while saying that I feel like our current classes would say just that, that it is too much like the hunger games. I do see many differences in the two books that would challenge my earlier statement on how our current classes would find it on the boring side, since it starts off slow in my mind, like that she has a choice in all her actions and is doing it for her own will and not just to protect someone else and how she is developing into someone who she feels like is the right person and not just dealing with life, even though in some parts it seems that way.
Overall I enjoyed this novel do to its similarity to the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry. Both are dystopian which I do fond to books that revolve around that subject. The different factions are remarkable, reminds me of possible cliques at school which allows me to relate to the faction that caught my attention, Dauntless. When Tris chose this one fraction in the beginning, I saw myself in her, the way she chose her own path despise her family's wishes. Choosing a life on the edge rather than a bland Abnegation faction lifestyle. However, it reminded a little too much of The Giver, since only rare individuals become divergent, or the receiver/ the giver. It too reminded me of the Hunger Games, the divided community, the ceremonies. I would recommend to be a summer reading book, The Hunger Games was a hit, so I'm sure a book similar to that would be a hit as well.
I believe "Divergent" by Veronica Roth is a captivating, extraordinary, and very detailed novel. As I began to read it I realized this was going to be a great book considering the fact that it takes place in a futuristic time period and not to mention it’s in Chicago a place known for a lot of famous sites etc. I would recommend this as the summer reading assignment. This novel will capture audiences who liked the hunger games; it's not as violent but very moving. I would not recommend this book for those that hate trilogies because this is one of those books. As any other novel it starts off slow and progresses to the point where you won't want to stop. It's an awesome novel.
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I LOVED this book when I read it last year. It is the 1st in a 3 part series and has already been optioned by Lionsgate Summit Entertainment to be made into a movie (Release date of March 2014). All the students who have read the book since it came out have also loved/really enjoyed the book.
ReplyDeleteThis book takes place in a Chicago of the future, where the society is broken down into 5 factions. Each faction has it specific strength and job in society based on their strengths and abilities. The story follows Tris as she has to decide her future and what faction she will be a part of. The book has a lot of action and helps to make you think of what could happen if....
I just finished Divergent and, like Ms. Gerdes, I pretty much loved it. The protagonist, Tris (a shortened version of Beatrice) is a tiny but tough-minded, scrappy heroine who leaves the safety of her family's humble, selfless Abnegation faction for the daring and aggressive Dauntless faction. Like all kids in this dystopian world, Tris goes through a sorting ritual at the age of sixteen (without a sorting hat, however!) in which she chooses the faction with which she will spend the rest of her life. Leaving one's faction means a person will never see his or her family again (except for infrequent visiting days) so the decision to cross into a different faction is not made lightly, nor is it easy. There are some rare individuals - seemingly rare, anyway - who display the characteristics of more than one faction who are considered "divergent" and, at least in the minds of some leaders, these mixed-faction anomalies are dangerous. Divergents are dangerous because they don't fit a strictly circumscribed social ideal but more than that, they are dangerous because they possess special skills which allow them to quickly adapt, learn and grown in their new faction. The reader learns early on that Tris is divergent but, like Tris, we don't really understand the significance (good or bad) of being divergent until, alongside her, we experience all her scary, cool adventures. There are physical adventures as well as mental adventures which are just as cool. Ok, so there are some slower parts to the story: Do we really need to go through all seven of Tris's fears in the simulated fear landscapes in the third and final test to determine her ranking as an initiate in her faction? That was a little tedious for me, but it’s a minor complaint. What makes the story especially good is the rich world the author creates for Tris. For example, there is an interesting how-not-to-make-new-friends thread as Tris settles into her new faction. There is a really nice romance thread (a hot dude named Four is her heart throb and now mine, too ) and there is a nice love-hate family thread as well. Any book that uses the words dauntless, candor, abnegate and erudite hundreds of times has my interest but this book has so much more. I think this would be a great choice for summer read!
ReplyDeleteI second Ms. Segalla's review. The choice of faction that's central to the first part of the book as Tris decides on which faction to join and whether to forsake her family was gut-wrenching. I think our students could sympathize with the search for identity. The book is action-packed with the Dauntless faction doing many fearless, high-risk things, like jumping from trains and buildings and beating each other to a pulp.
ReplyDeleteThe romance thread works for me, and I like that the book is part of a series. I think this would be a strong choice for the summer read if we want to go the dystopian route.
I'm with all of you. I've been home sick all day, so I've decided to fill my time with summer reading. (And, like Margaret, falling in love with Four!) I really enjoyed Divergent and just downloaded #2. I think it's another good "middle-ground" choice - there is certainly some high-complexity language, but it's fairly easy to figure out what they mean even you don't know the word "abnegate," and the themes are very rich. I do think the violence in this book is more disturbing than some of the others, and there is a little "hot-and-heavy" scene with Tris and Four. I don't think it is a problem, but is worth pointing out, since we have done so for other books as well. Aside from being an awesome and compelling story, I really love the richness of it - the original idea of the five factions, the questions of whether we are better off with one positive trait or many, the question of whether we can really root out all of the evil within ourselves - so much to think about and so much worth discussing. I think this should be another top contender and have no objections to it being our selection.
ReplyDeleteI liked the book because it reminded me of the Hunger Games. I found this book interesting because it made me think about the different negative aspects of our society that each faction dedicates itself to fixing. i think this book would be a good school wide reading book because it appeals to both girls and boys because of the action and love scenes.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book because I am a fan of dystopian novels. I especially liked the different factions and the way that they try to perfect society by remaining separate but equal. The novel expresses a change over time factor because it shows Tris developing her Dauntless characteristics while either replacing or perfecting her Abnegation characteristics. My favorite part of the novel is when Four tells Tris that she is at her bravest when she is selfless because it expresses the idea that all of the factions actually contribute toward one another, and in order to strive in one, you must incorporate the others. I also loved that Four was really Tobias. It was interesting that she left a comfortable life for a dangerous one. I did not, however, enjoy the cliffhanger at the end. I think the novel would be perfect for summer reading because it explores several different themes.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this book it reminded me of The Hunger Games which was a book I also enjoyed. I like the character Tris and specially number Four. I like the relationship Tris and Four share and also how Tris acted towards Peter even when he should of gotten the worst out of her.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this book, it compelled me to read the sequel. I felt that i could relate to the character in which where she felt out of place and took a risk to find a place where she be happy. I enjoyed that the author gave us a brief description of the factions to see where they stand. After reading the first book I had a few question that were answered in the second and felt that I was experiencing the change that Tris was facing within the novel. The author made the story flow very well and showed characteristics of how we humans are and how we deal with different situations. I especially enjoyed the early plot twist where her brother on how he switched factions, to me this felt so spontaneous. I think this would make a good summer reading especially for the incoming freshman because it is like our previous reading, but while saying that I feel like our current classes would say just that, that it is too much like the hunger games. I do see many differences in the two books that would challenge my earlier statement on how our current classes would find it on the boring side, since it starts off slow in my mind, like that she has a choice in all her actions and is doing it for her own will and not just to protect someone else and how she is developing into someone who she feels like is the right person and not just dealing with life, even though in some parts it seems that way.
ReplyDeleteOverall I enjoyed this novel do to its similarity to the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry. Both are dystopian which I do fond to books that revolve around that subject. The different factions are remarkable, reminds me of possible cliques at school which allows me to relate to the faction that caught my attention, Dauntless. When Tris chose this one fraction in the beginning, I saw myself in her, the way she chose her own path despise her family's wishes. Choosing a life on the edge rather than a bland Abnegation faction lifestyle. However, it reminded a little too much of The Giver, since only rare individuals become divergent, or the receiver/ the giver. It too reminded me of the Hunger Games, the divided community, the ceremonies. I would recommend to be a summer reading book, The Hunger Games was a hit, so I'm sure a book similar to that would be a hit as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe "Divergent" by Veronica Roth is a captivating, extraordinary, and very detailed novel. As I began to read it I realized this was going to be a great book considering the fact that it takes place in a futuristic time period and not to mention it’s in Chicago a place known for a lot of famous sites etc. I would recommend this as the summer reading assignment. This novel will capture audiences who liked the hunger games; it's not as violent but very moving. I would not recommend this book for those that hate trilogies because this is one of those books. As any other novel it starts off slow and progresses to the point where you won't want to stop. It's an awesome novel.
ReplyDelete