Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Roth, Veronica (2012).  Insurgent.  New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

Tris is back trying to stop the coming war.  But is it worth the loss of those she loves?


This is book two to the Divergent trilogy and I liked it!  I think Divergent was better, but this one is still worth reading, because there is more character development and you figure out more of the story and how Tris deals with the choices and actions she made in the first book.  It shows how the dystopian world is falling apart and hints at something bigger (book #3...).  It kind of reminded me of The Giver (Lois Lowry) or Running out of Time (Margaret Petersen Haddix).  I really enjoy these dystopian novels because it shows a different world and makes me wonder how they ever got to where they are.  It makes me grateful to live in the free country that I live in!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Roth, Veronica (2011).  Divergent.  New York: Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins Publishers).

Divergent is what you don't want to be - it may lead to your death, or so they are taught.  But what if being Divergent is the only way to save those you love?


I really liked this book.  I have heard it being compared to The Hunger Games a lot, and I can see the similarities (a dystopian society with a female lead who is different than the norm), but it is very unique in how it is set up.  I thought it was well-written and although it looks long, it is a really fast read that is easy to get through.  It is full of action and decisions that must be made.

I love the catch-phrase on the cover: "One Choice Can Transform You."  It is crazy to think of a society where your behavior is dictated for you.  It kind of reminded me of The Giver (which is one of my favorite books!), because the faction you are in dictates how you act - selfless, brave, caring, knowledgable, or honest.  But you can only be one, or you become something society does not want - Divergent.  If you don't succeed in joining a faction at 16, you essentially become an untouchable ("factionless").  This book is the breaking point of the society that was trying to limit everything that would harm someone in the society, but it begs the question - when is there too much control on people?  And what happens when someone becomes so greedy for power that they don't care how they step on climbing the ladder to the top. A second installment comes out next month, and I am excited to read it to see how things turn out!