A Sci-Fi Hunger Games?
When I first read Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy, it reminded me of a sci-fi version of The Hunger Games.
We have a dangerous government, citizens with limited resources, a ceremony when kids become 16 (I know, in The Hunger Games, it’s for 12-18 year olds but close enough); a 16 year old heroine who defies the odds; and, ultimately, whose choices and actions propel the world she knows into turmoil and change.
I remember coming away thinking, “This is just a different Hunger Games…” And I preferred Katniss’s story.
How Divergent Stands Out
This second time around, however, I became more aware of the differences between Roth’s and Collins’ worlds. Divergent stood out and apart in more than one way.
A Difference in Themes
In my interpretation at least, the questions the authors ask and the themes they focus their efforts on are actually not very similar at all. And, what I didn’t remember from my first read was how much Roth focused on science and genetics, especially in the last book Allegiant.
Roth debates good and evil in individuals. She considers science’s involvement in social issues and government, as well as government’s control and reach over those same social dilemmas.
Through the factions she instates (Abnegation, Candor, Erudite, Amity, and Dauntless), she questions what it means to be:
- Selfless to a fault
- Honest until you’re unkind
- Smart but arrogant
- Peaceful but passive
- Brave but cruel
She also explores how family and friendship plays into our choices and beliefs. How do our circumstances influence us?
She tackles:
- Forgiveness
- Death
- Abuse
- Fear
- Phobias
- And how all the above things sharp us into who we are
I applaud Roth for tackling these weighty issues.
What I Didn’t Love
However, I found myself rather disinterested in the story as a whole.
I thought Tris, Tobias, and many other characters were unlikable.
Most of the characters I enjoyed were the supporting cast – Christina, Uriah, Fernando, Cara, et cetera.
In some ways, Tris is relatable, but more often than not I felt she was simply unkind. While I do think that’s important to her character and story, I personally prefer kindness to seriously flawed heroics.
The romance between Tris and Tobias is refreshing in the sense they don’t lose their heads around each other. They build each other up, talk through their issues, and make each other stronger. However, I got tired of the constant lying and backstabbing it felt like they – and most everyone else – did throughout the series.
Divergent is the Best Book
The first book was definitely the most interesting to me, with Insurgent and Allegiant falling behind. I had a hard time keeping up with all that was going on in the latter two books as we went to new places, met a ton of new characters, and had a bunch of genetics talk. I ultimately skimmed a decent chunk.
A Super Picky Complaint
Also, I know this is super picky of me, but it really bugs me when a story starts out from one character’s perspective but changes by the end.
Tris is our first-person narrator for Divergent and Insurgent. But in Allegiant, it alternates between Tris and Tobias.
It feels like the author didn’t think ahead well enough to realize she would need two narrators to tell certain parts of the plot. I wish Roth had kept it just Tris or had used the alternating perspectives throughout the trilogy. Picky, I know.
Content Note
The third book had a lot of language, while the first two had none. I don’t appreciate adding in a bunch of foul language after your teenage readership is secured…
Final Thoughts
So I am left with mixed feelings about this young adult series. As I read, I was skimming. But, there were still moments where I had to applaud Roth and could appreciate the effort she took to tell her story. I think Divergent just isn’t my cup of tea.
But it just might be yours.
Copyright Veronica Roth and Katherine Tegan Books. Image from Amazon.com.
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