Reviewed by Shravan
February 7, 2024
Divergent is such an amazing series to read. I enjoyed every single page and was always wondering what would come next. Its genre is dystopian, and it fits that. I have nothing but good things to say about it, the level of detail, description, and adventure is amazing. So, my rating for this series is 5 Stars. However, there is a lot of violence and methods of harm in this series, so I would give this series an age rating of 10+.
In this series, Beatrice, or Tris must choose from one of the 5 factions in the city. Each one is known for its different characteristics. Dauntless - brave. Amity - kind. Erudite - intelligent. Abnegation - selfless. Candor - honest. There are also factionless people who chose to reject the factions or failed to pass initiation. They live in the streets, separated from others.
At the age of 16, everyone takes a test to see which faction they belong in. Ultimately, it is their choice, but failure to pass initiation into their faction means becoming factionless. Tris’s family is from Abnegation, but she chose to enter Dauntless. But she is completely unprepared for what she is about to face, including people who are willing to kill - just to ensure their passing into the faction.
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Common Questions About Divergent
What age is Divergent appropriate for?
Divergent is recommended for ages 10-14 (Grades 5th-9th). I'll be honest — these books have significant violence, intense psychological themes, and character death. They're best for mature readers aged 11 and up who can handle darker content. If your kid loves dystopian but isn't quite ready for this level, The City of Ember or The Giver on BookVine are great starting points.
What order should I read the Divergent books?
Read them in this order: Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant. There's also a companion book called Four: A Divergent Collection that gives you Tobias's perspective — it's best read after the main trilogy. The story gets more intense with each book, which I think is what makes it so hard to put down.
Is Divergent appropriate for a 10 year old?
It can work for a mature 10-year-old, but parents should know it contains violence, intense emotional scenes, and deals with war, betrayal, and loss. Consider your child's comfort level with darker themes — some 10 year olds handle it fine, while others might find it too heavy. The Hunger Games is in a similar category if you want another reference point.
Should I watch the Divergent movies or read the books first?
Read the books first — at least get through the first book before watching the movie. The books give you so much more of Tris's inner thoughts and the faction system details that the films just can't capture in two hours. When you read first, you get to picture dystopian Chicago and all the characters in your own way rather than having the movie's version stuck in your head. The plot twists hit way harder on the page too.
Divergent is recommended for ages 10 - 14 (Grades 5th - 9th) with Lexile scores ranging from 700L to 830L.