Madeline Fletcher, Staff Writer
Divergent, a new thrilling book, by Veronica Roth has people rapidly flipping the pages in a reading frenzy. Divergent is similar to The Hunger Games Book Series. Divergent had me jumping out of my seat, biting my nails to the quick, as I was drawn into Beatrice's world. But was it a book that had you biting your nails too hard, especially if you are as young as even eleven years old? Divergent is suggested for readers thirteen years of age and older. As a seventeen year old reading the book, I thought that it was unbearably violent and very racy at times.
When reading the book, I noticed that the importance of parents and family is diminished; while selfishness is worshiped and rewarded throughout. Not to mention the fact that suicide and murder occur with little remorse or thought, and children violently beat each other with peer approval. There is sexual contact between two teens without any commitment. This book includes young people drinking alcohol to the point of intoxication.
Is this what we want our future generation to be like? Certainly this book glamorizes reckless and dangerous behavior.
“The book was appropriate for me and I am 18 years old. I hear about sixth graders reading this book and I think they are being exposed to corrupt matters,” Newtown High School graduate Julia Trudell said.
Others have a different take on things however. “I think if young kids reading this book have their parents’ permission, there is no problem. It is the same thing as if you were raised being able to watch rated R or PG-13 movies at a younger age than said to be appropriate,” NHS senior Carly Sullivan said.
I want to highlight one thing in the book that I found to be very disturbing. By the end of the book, Beatrice watches a family member get shot and die. She is then forced to shoot and kill one of her good friends. I felt betrayed by the author that she would make something this cruel and disturbing happen. Although I knew that it was an intense book going in, I did not know that something this cruel would be written into the story plot.
If I were a parent of a child reading this book, I would not feel comfortable with the subject matter. However, from Veronica Roth’s standpoint, this world is already a bad place. It is corrupt and dangerous and why should she have to tone this writing down to make it more appropriate for others? It is the idea of Realism.
Most love this dystopian style and the angst it brings them as they see what happens! If this is your style, then Divergent is a good book for you! It is much like Susan Collins’ book series, The Hunger Games and even George Orwell’s 1984.
Although it may not be appropriate for young children, it is up to them (or their parents’) whether they chose to read it or not. I recommend the book to teenagers and adults interested in this dystopian motif.
Photo credit to www.novelnovice.com.
