Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Veronica Roth’s Divergent presents to the reader a dystopian society that requires an unreasonable suspension of disbelief. The entire premise is bonkers.

Each individual is sorted into one of five different factions based on personality types — smart but evil, kind but boring, brave but reckless, selfless but insufferable, and honest but rude.

If you do not fit into one of those categories — then too bad! You are now homeless, and you will have to work as janitors or train drivers for scraps.

Speaking of trains — the train is always running and never stops. Only the Dauntless faction are brave enough to jump on and off as it speeds past. What kind of public transport system is this?

The rest of the city’s public infrastructure is also cause for concern. Chicago’s buildings and roads are crumbling. The lake has dried up and is now a barren marshland. Yet, there is somehow a working Ferris wheel with a still running back-up generator, and the Hancock Building has a fully functioning elevator which allows bored Dauntless initiates to travel to the roof SO THAT THEY CAN GO ZIP LINING. Who rigged up this zip line? How in the world is the zip line maintained and in constant working order?

Tris has a bit more spunk than some of her Dystopian YA counterparts. However, her inner turmoil of possibly fitting into more than one faction is insufferable and repetitive. Am I brave or am I selfless? Am I selfless or am I brave? Or am I both? Does being…