During February’s YA Book Group meeting, we discussed the Divergent series by Veronica Roth and got an opportunity to watch an advance screening of the movie!

 

Basic facts:

It’s a YA dystopian trilogy (well, how many YA dystopians are not trilogies? =)

Summary: In a future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomoly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Divergent is the first in the series; Insurgent is book 2; Allegiant is book 3

The movie stars Shailene Woodley and will be released in theaters March 21, 2014 (USA)

What did we think?  –quick notes–

The group’s average rating is 3.5. With the multitude of dystopian novels released after The Hunger Games, *most* of us agree that this is one of the better ones… Although, we also thought the main character, Tris, was somewhat annoying, though it did not deter us from finishing the book.

divergent book pins
Mini book pins

 

We thought the movie was worth watching in theaters.  There were just a few minor details that disappointed, but it was generally well done.  Definitely much better than many other YA book adaptations the last couple of years.  In the opening scene of the movie, an abandoned ship was panned over–and none of us could remember why that was there…

faction buttons
faction buttons

 

Too brief?  Want more?  Join the discussion!

Want to join the YA Book Group?  Our next discussion is on Apr. 30 for Legend by Pasadena author Marie Lu.  Need a copy of the book?  Let us know that you’re signing up for the book group and we’ll put a book group copy aside for you at the Children’s Desk.  (626) 744-4066, option 4, or email Jane at jgov@cityofpasadena.net

 

Find the book in our library:  Divergent

 

For more teen book recommendations, please see our booklist: http://cityofpasadena.libguides.com/teenbooks