The definition of the word Divergent is “tending to be different or develop in different directions.” Imagine living your entire life under the influence of one virtue: honesty, kindness, intelligence, selflessness, or bravery.  This is the premise of the newly adapted  to film dystopian Novel, Divergent, by Veronica Roth.  The Divergent series takes place in a futuristic version of Chicago that is divided into five factions of society:  the Candor who value honesty more than anything, the Erudite who value intelligence above all, the Amity who value peace and kindness, the Abnegation who devote their time to serving others, and the Dauntless who strive to be brave at all costs.

 The plot focuses on a young girl named Tris Prior who is born into the Abnegation faction, but does not feel that she is selfless enough to stay.  All sixteen year-olds take an aptitude test to determine which faction they fit into, and are given the opportunity to change factions, but this decision is a betrayal to their families and irrevocable. Tris’s action-packed journey begins with her choice on the choosing day and the people she meets as a result, including a very brave love interest who happens to be named Four.

 With several comparisons being drawn between this novel and the widely popular dystopian trilogy, The Hunger Games, some are apprehensive about jumping on the “Divergent train”, but try to be “dauntless” and open to “four” reasons why the Divergent trilogy should be read: the Film, Outstanding characters, Unexpected plot twists, and Romance.

 1. The Film.  The unique plot has been made into an exciting action film, which is in theaters now.  The movie did excellent at the box office, receiving $22.8 Million at its release on Friday, March 21.  The Divergent movie has been highly anticipated for a while now, since the novel was written in back 2011 when Roth was just 22 years-old.  Movies for the other two novels Insurgent and Allegient have already been planned for March of 2015 and 2016.  Senior Sohanee Khan believes that the film has the potential to be embraced in the same way as the Hunger Games trilogy.

 “I actually think it [Divergent] might [be embraced like the THG], only because it’s like the next Hunger Games, but not really. They just need something to boost up the whole fandom I guess,” said Khan.

 2. Outstanding Characters.  The characters in Divergent are all so different and carefully written to depict the values of each of the five factions. Because of this, there is a character with which each unique reader can connect. Sophomore Olivia Emery felt the closest connection to the Abnegation faction.

 “It’s hard to choose, but maybe Abnegation because I do a lot of volunteer work, which the Abnegation do a lot, and I like to try to put people before myself,” said Emery.

 Junior Nathalie Nguyen was inspired my multiple factions, but knows that her strengths would show in some more than others.

    “I would want to live in Amity, Abnegation, or Erudite; I do like Dauntless, but I would be dead before initiation even started,” said Nguyen.

  3. Unexpected plot twists and lots of action.  Just when you think the Divergent plot is going in one direction, everything changes. Between the train jumping scenes, Dauntless fights, and the intense action scenes, there is nothing slow about this story.  All of the action and twists involved with the plot make this story more than a chick-flick or a girl-book. Sophomore Malik Crowe said that he would choose the Dauntless faction. Crowe considers the idea of being the best the biggest parallel between Divergent and THG, and loves all of the action in Divergent.

 “I’m going to see the movie so I hope it’s as good as the book; I hope there’s as much action as there is in the book so I can actually see it on the screen,” said Crowe.

4. Romance. Everyone loves a little romance, even if they refuse to admit this. The romance of Divergent is different than that of the Twilight or THG trilogies because there is no love triangle, simply a growing bond between the main characters Tris and Four. Many readers of the series prefer there not to be a triangle, such as Nguyen.

 “I never like it when books add love triangles because it diverts people away from the main plot, unless it’s a romance novel,” said Nguyen. The romance of the novel can appeal to everyone, even more so to the people who see the beautiful Shailene Woodley and dashingly handsome Theo James on the big screen.

 For THG fans out there, do not be reluctant to read or watch Divergent as the trilogies do not need to be rivals.  Roth and Suzanne Collins, author of the Hunger Games, have different writing styles and sophomore Michael Deely, who said that he would join the Dauntless faction, thinks that people can be a fan of both trilogies.

“I would say they’re different enough that you don’t really have to compare them,” said Deely.