Divergent

"I don't want to be just one thing, I can't be. I want to be brave and I want to be selfless, intelligent and honest and kind."

Divergent is a Young Adult title that reads easily, and is rather difficult to put down.

This is the story of Beatrice (Tris, as she later calls herself). She lives with her family in a future world near what, in years past, was Chicago. There are strict rules and laws in place that govern their society.

At the age of sixteen, every person takes a test that determines what “faction” they will belong in.

Abnegation: selfless

Amity: peaceful

Candor: honesty

Dauntless: brave

Erudite: intellectual

Once the test has determined what faction they should be in, each young person can choose. There is a ceremony during which each individual can either choose the faction that the test determined was best-suited for them, or they can go against the grain, against what they are taught, and choose another faction. Once their faction is chosen, they are no longer part of their old life. They no longer have any contact with their old life or anyone who was part of it.

“The future belongs to those who know where they belong.”

This seemed similar to me of when a young Amish person goes through Rumspringa. They have a certain number of years when they can “live English” but if they make the decision to leave the Amish church, they are “shunned” and can no longer contact their family and friends in the Amish church. In fact, their family treats it as if the person dies, and never speaks their name again.

After choosing their faction, each sixteen year old must to go through rigorous physical and mental training, evaluations and tests. If they fail, they will be tossed out as “factionless.” It is better to die than be factionless. Many factionless roam the streets, hungry and homeless. Groups made of Abnegation members often goes out to them, bringing food and clothing.

Tris took the test. However, her results were “inconclusive.” Instead of the normal one-faction result, her test shows Tris has a propensity for Abnegation, Erudite, and Dauntless. Confused, she asks the test-facilitator. She whispers Divergent, and quickly erases the test results, sneaks Tris out a back door.

Tris is filled with confusion. She thought her test would tell her where to go, where she would fit it; she thought her questions would have been answered. She was born into an Abnegation family but never quite felt like she fit – she had a very difficult time being selfless.

This story is somewhat similar to titles such as The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and The Giver.

These are all situations in which a young adult comes of age and has to decide for who they are going to be. Will they obey all the rules set in place by their elders, or, filled with conviction, move forward rebellious, wantonly abandoning the rules in pursuit of a higher, more worthy, purpose?

What decision did Tris make? You’ll have to read the book to find out! 

Divergent, 2011, Veronica Roth

This post is part of the 31 Days of Bibliophilia series.