One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.
Hardcover, 525 pages
Published May 1st 2012 by HarperTeen
Four stars: A gripping, thought provoking sequel.
Insurgent picks up right where the heart pounding and riveting conclusion of Divergent leaves off. Four and Tris are on the train headed to the safety of Amity. However, once they reach the safe confines of Amity it soon becomes apparent that there are many deep and troubling issues plaguing the pair. Tris is reeling from the loss of her loved ones and feeling extreme guilt over killing a friend in self defense during the Erudite simulations. Four is bearing his own burdens, one of which is being forced to deal with his father, Marcus, since they rescued him during the raids. Even though Tris managed to stop Jeanine's Erudite take over, it is just a temporary reprieve. Conflict hangs like a heavy, dark storm cloud over the factions. Many leaders and citizens of Abnegation were slaughtered by the Erudite controlled Dauntless. The remaining members seek refuge with Candor and Amity. Dauntless is fractured, after the treacherous betrayal and subsequent departure to Erudite by many of its people. Candor and Amity must decide if they will stand up and fight against the takeover of Erudite or try to negotiate. Tempers flare and negotiations fail, leaving the Factions flailing. Meanwhile the hundreds of factionless are organizing and strategizing for their own take over. Will there be a resolution or will the Faction society shatter and fall due to the evil, corrupt and maniacal attempts by a select few to seize power and bend the society to their will?
What I Liked:
- Once again I loved being thrown into Ms. Roth's Faction driven society. This time I was excited to get inside the Amity and Candor Factions and learn more about their people, ideals and way of life, as well as meeting the many discarded and left on the streets, the Factionless. I am completely intrigued by this society that Ms. Roth envisions.
- What I love most about this series is the thought provoking ideas presented when one lives in a segregated society. As with Divergent, I found myself constantly questioning how I would fit in the world of Insurgent. Even before this book came out, many of the book bloggers were picking the Faction they identified best with and posting their choice on their blogs. No matter how hard I tried, I could not completely identify with one Faction. Part of me thirsts for knowledge so I can easily see myself slipping into Erudite, but I disagree with many of their ideas and detest the idea of wearing unnecessary spectacles just to look intelligent. I have always been a "straight shooter" meaning I don't beat around the bush, I come out and tell it like it is. I could certainly be part of Candor, but I can't say that I could be completely honest all the time, can anyone? In my younger years, I would definitely been tempted by Dauntless because I loved the thrill of adventure. Roller coasters, scary movies, running with scissors and coloring outside the lines, that was me. Unfortunately, as I have gotten older, I lack the same daring, thrill seeking behavior. I know for certain that I could never be in Abnegation because I am too selfish and hedonistic. What can I say? I like cake, especially chocolate, and I am going to eat it, too. Amity? Not a chance, I don't like group thinking. I am an individual unhappy to conform and go with the herd. My point is that this book makes me realize that is nearly impossible to label people and box them into groups and expect them to stay in the rigid lines of the group's ideals. Humans are too varied with numerous individual traits. It is unrealistic to expect a society built on these stringent expectations for its members to thrive over a long period of time. You can't continually take square pegs, thrust them into round holes and expect them to stay. At some point, one of those misshapen pegs is going to pop out. That is exactly what is happening in Insurgent, many are beginning to question the basis for their society, but the truth may be more frightening than what they know.
- I absolutely love Veronica Roth's writing. The way she builds her world, crafts her characters and provides us with such a stimulating and thought provoking read. She has this gentle way of surprising you with big profound thoughts, that make you pause, reread and think, "wow!" She pulls you into her books and absorbs you with her tale. If you have not experienced her books, what are you waiting for?
- This is a book of secrets. Everyone has secrets and during this read there are many revelations of big secrets. There are plenty of surprises and punches in this one!
And The Not So Much:
- The aspect that I struggled the most with in this book, was the big changes in both Tris and Four. Tris struggles the entire book with her loss and her extreme guilt over shooting her friend. It gets to the point where she can't handle a gun and she becomes reckless in her behavior. Four also is dealing with his own burdens. His past is back to haunt him and he must deal with it and make some big decisions. He is trying to rectify the boy he used to be with the man he has become, this is evident in the wavering back and forth with his name, at times he is Four and at others he is Tobias. He is finally accepting who he is and striving to establish his identity. The problem is that I felt like I was losing the characters I had grown to love in Divergent. I watched as my friends, became strangers, and worst of all, their relationship, which I loved watching develop, quavers and falters due to secrets and lack of trust. In the end, while I hated reading about the hesitating and changing, I appreciated the growth.
- This book left me with so many questions. Right from the beginning it was never clear to me exactly how the Dauntless splintered apart and what happened to all of them once they woke up and realized what had happened. All of this is just glossed over and the reader is left trying to fill in the blanks. As the story moves along there are so many new questions revealed and by the end, which is a cliffhanger, I was left frustrated due to the lack of answers and resolution.
- While I did enjoy this book, it lacked the same heart pounding, gripping, page turning feel that I felt with Divergent. The villains weren't as despicable and they play a diminished role. The book is more about change and building toward a climatic finish. Don't get me wrong, this is still a very good, strong book, but it lacks the excitement that was so prevalent in the first book.
Insurgent proves that Veronica Roth is a force to be reckoned with in the YA dystopian genre. Her thrilling and exciting Divergent series will excite and electrify you while it throws plenty of stimulating food for thought in your direction while you read. This book is a strong building block toward what is sure to be a riveting finish. Even though this book lacks the same heart pounding, adrenaline feel, it is still an exciting book. If you are a fan of The Hunger Games, this is a series that you must check out. I hate to think of the insufferable long wait that we all must endure while we wait for book three in 2013.
Favorite Quotations:
“I get the sense that if I were to whittle her down to her core, she would be Abnegation all the way through.”
“I am afraid that if I start to sob, I will never stop until I shrivel up like a raisin.”
“But mostly I miss the fears of the past few weeks, rendered small by my fears now.”
“They each have an equal role in the government; they each feel equally responsible. And it makes them care; it makes them kind.”
“He kisses me again, more insistent this time, his hands squeezing my waist. His breaths, my breaths, his body, my body, we are so close there is no difference.”
“How is it I know this little about the boy who says he loves me---the boy whose real name is powerful enough to keep us alive in a train car full of enemies?”
“I feel bare. I didn’t realize that I wore my secrets as armor until they were gone, and now everyone sees me as I really am.”
“No matter how long you train someone to be brave, you never know if they are or not until something real happens.”
“I think about wrapping his shirt around my fist and pulling him in to kiss me; I think about pressing myself against him but I can’t, because all our secrets would keep a space between us.”
“I think we cry to release the animal parts of us without losing our humanity.”
“People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.”
