Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth, 2011 Harper Collins

     Tris Prior lives in a city held together by four factions--Dauntless the Brave, Abnegation the Selfless, Amity the Peaceful, Candor the Truthful, and Erudite the Intelligent. At sixteen every youth is tested and given the opportunity to choose a new faction and new life or to continue in their path.
     When Tris is tested, something goes wrong and her results have to be reported manually. The test administrator tells her that she's different--that she's Divergent and to keep it secret. Tris makes her decision and causes a rift in her family, but it is her decision and leads her into a moment of real happiness. But all around the initiation of new faction members tensions between the factions are rising. When everything shatters, Tris's Divergence is a useful tool and helps to keep her alive.
     Veronica Roth's first novel is a fast-paced read about a teenager trying to find her way in the world and to make her parents proud. While she struggles with the decisions that will change her life, Tris discovers herself and realizes things aren't always what they seem.
     There is a large amount of violence throughout the story, some of it more graphic than other points. Some language and mature content are sprinkled throughout. A suggested audience is seventh to eleventh grade, with a focus on 15-16-year-old. Divergence is the first of Veronica Roth's trilogy, followed by Insurgent.