Divergent, a la Shmoop.
Divergent, a la Shmoop.

Beatrice Prior here, and I’m from Chicago.
Beatrice Prior here, and I’m from Chicago.

No, not that Chicago. THIS Chicago.
No, not that Chicago. THIS Chicago.

Yeah, I live in the future. Wicked, right? So… stuff has changed since back in the day.
Yeah, I live in the future. Wicked, right? So… stuff has changed since back in the day.

Now the city is divided into five groups – Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless and Erudite.
Now the city is divided into five groups – Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless and Erudite.

The members of each group are charged with
The members of each group are charged with

upholding a different virtue.
upholding a different virtue.

I was born into Abnegation, which is sworn to protect… selflessness.
I was born into Abnegation, which is sworn to protect… selflessness.

Which isn’t easy, I’ll be honest – I kinda like myself. One day each year, every 16-year-old in the
Which isn’t easy, I’ll be honest – I kinda like myself. One day each year, every 16-year-old in the

land gets together and takes a test that determines which group they’re going to wind up in.
land gets together and takes a test that determines which group they’re going to wind up in.

Very Harry Potter-Sorting Hat-type stuff.
Very Harry Potter-Sorting Hat-type stuff.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Dumbledore popped
Wouldn’t be surprised if Dumbledore popped

out from behind a curtain. We get to either stick with the fam, or branch
out from behind a curtain. We get to either stick with the fam, or branch

off in a new direction.
off in a new direction.

Unfortunately for me, I didn’t fit neatly into just one category.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t fit neatly into just one category.

Nah… my results put me somewhere in Abnegation/Erudite/Dauntless territory. But because it was inconclusive…
Nah… my results put me somewhere in Abnegation/Erudite/Dauntless territory. But because it was inconclusive…

I was labeled “divergent.”
I was labeled “divergent.”

You’d think it would be a great thing to be a jack of all trades, but… not around
You’d think it would be a great thing to be a jack of all trades, but… not around

here. I’m not even supposed to tell anyone I’m divergent. Honestly, I’d rather have
here. I’m not even supposed to tell anyone I’m divergent. Honestly, I’d rather have

been diagnosed with the measles. On Choosing Day, I threw everyone for a loop
been diagnosed with the measles. On Choosing Day, I threw everyone for a loop

and joined forces with Dauntless, the group that was all about bravery.
and joined forces with Dauntless, the group that was all about bravery.

My brother Caleb went with Erudite. Nerd.
My brother Caleb went with Erudite. Nerd.

A new faction deserves a new name, so I christened myself “Tris.” It’s a cool name in the
A new faction deserves a new name, so I christened myself “Tris.” It’s a cool name in the

future, just trust me.
future, just trust me.

I met some chill peeps in the new digs – namely, Christina, Al and Will.
I met some chill peeps in the new digs – namely, Christina, Al and Will.

And, of course, my story wouldn’t be complete without a few jerks to keep things interesting.
And, of course, my story wouldn’t be complete without a few jerks to keep things interesting.

This guy Peter and a couple of his friends were on my case the whole time, always telling
This guy Peter and a couple of his friends were on my case the whole time, always telling

me I didn’t belong. Ah, well, no biggie. Just need to get a hold of a voodoo doll,
me I didn’t belong. Ah, well, no biggie. Just need to get a hold of a voodoo doll,

that’s all. And then…school was in session. We were
that’s all. And then…school was in session. We were

taught by someone named “Four.” Yeah… “Tris” isn’t sounding so weird anymore,
taught by someone named “Four.” Yeah… “Tris” isn’t sounding so weird anymore,

is it?
is it?

We were told we had to pass an initiation. If we didn’t, we’d get kicked out and
We were told we had to pass an initiation. If we didn’t, we’d get kicked out and

would have no faction. So… no pressure. The name of the game was bravery, and there
would have no faction. So… no pressure. The name of the game was bravery, and there

was to be no backing down.
was to be no backing down.

We had to fight each other with guns and knives. Did I mention that play time was over?
We had to fight each other with guns and knives. Did I mention that play time was over?

But elsewhere, trouble was stirring. The gang over in Erudite were… rousing some rabble…
But elsewhere, trouble was stirring. The gang over in Erudite were… rousing some rabble…

They had started making some pretty serious accusations about a couple of the folks from
They had started making some pretty serious accusations about a couple of the folks from

Abnegation…
Abnegation…

…including someone in the government, whom they accused of abusing his son…
…including someone in the government, whom they accused of abusing his son…

…and…my own parents. The reports suggested that my brother and I were raised poorly,
…and…my own parents. The reports suggested that my brother and I were raised poorly,

because we both abandoned our original faction.
because we both abandoned our original faction.

On the upside…at least they avoided any nasty physical abuse charges…
On the upside…at least they avoided any nasty physical abuse charges…

So while all that was going on, we moved into
So while all that was going on, we moved into

simulations, where we had to face various fears.
simulations, where we had to face various fears.

Please don’t let it be spiders, please don’t let it be spiders…
Please don’t let it be spiders, please don’t let it be spiders…

I pretty much owned the simulations… in part thanks to the whole Divergent thing,
I pretty much owned the simulations… in part thanks to the whole Divergent thing,

which gives me some mad skills.
which gives me some mad skills.

Of course, there will always be haters. Peter, Al and this guy Drew attacked and tried to
Of course, there will always be haters. Peter, Al and this guy Drew attacked and tried to

dispose of me, but Four came to my rescue.
dispose of me, but Four came to my rescue.

Al felt bad about it after the fact, but…I sure wasn’t about to forgive that two-timer.
Al felt bad about it after the fact, but…I sure wasn’t about to forgive that two-timer.

Apparently he took that a bit hard, because he killed himself by leaping into a chasm.
Apparently he took that a bit hard, because he killed himself by leaping into a chasm.

Which majorly bummed me out. Our final phase of the initiation was the
Which majorly bummed me out. Our final phase of the initiation was the

fear landscape. Sounds like a painter’s worst nightmare.
fear landscape. Sounds like a painter’s worst nightmare.

Here we got to face a combination of all our greatest fears.
Here we got to face a combination of all our greatest fears.

Because I was in tight with Four by now, he actually gave me a leg up by letting me into
Because I was in tight with Four by now, he actually gave me a leg up by letting me into

HIS fear landscape.
HIS fear landscape.

I also found out that his real name was Tobias… and that he was the son of that Abnegation
I also found out that his real name was Tobias… and that he was the son of that Abnegation

leader who’d been accused of abusing his…son. Ah… all the pieces were coming together…
leader who’d been accused of abusing his…son. Ah… all the pieces were coming together…

There were seven fears in my fear landscape, including drowning, being on fire, being eaten
There were seven fears in my fear landscape, including drowning, being on fire, being eaten

alive by crows… you know, the usual.
alive by crows… you know, the usual.

Wouldn’t you know it, when all was said and done, I was ranked first!
Wouldn’t you know it, when all was said and done, I was ranked first!

That’s the good news… the bad news is that, right after the test, Erudite had each
That’s the good news… the bad news is that, right after the test, Erudite had each

of us injected with a serum that would make us attack Abnegation.
of us injected with a serum that would make us attack Abnegation.

But let’s focus on what’s important… FIRST, people!
But let’s focus on what’s important… FIRST, people!

This serum was intended to turn us all into mindless zombies… but fortunately, it doesn’t
This serum was intended to turn us all into mindless zombies… but fortunately, it doesn’t

work on us Divergent folk. i.e. me and Tobias.
work on us Divergent folk. i.e. me and Tobias.

We tried to make our getaway, but those Erudite guys are TOUGH. For nerds.
We tried to make our getaway, but those Erudite guys are TOUGH. For nerds.

They captured us, injected Tobias with a new serum that would override his Divergence…
They captured us, injected Tobias with a new serum that would override his Divergence…

…and sentenced me to death. Man, I ALWAYS get the short end of the stick.
…and sentenced me to death. Man, I ALWAYS get the short end of the stick.

But just when things were looking their bleakest… my mommy saved the day!
But just when things were looking their bleakest… my mommy saved the day!

Guess I got the Divergent thing from her, because she was one, too! Her own mad skills
Guess I got the Divergent thing from her, because she was one, too! Her own mad skills

allowed her to rescue me from my glass cage, and we made a break for it.
allowed her to rescue me from my glass cage, and we made a break for it.

But… seems like my good news always comes with a dose of crappy.
But… seems like my good news always comes with a dose of crappy.

While making our escape, my mom was shot and killed. No time to shed tears though…
While making our escape, my mom was shot and killed. No time to shed tears though…

I tracked down my dad, my brother, and Tobias’ dad, and the four of us made tracks back to
I tracked down my dad, my brother, and Tobias’ dad, and the four of us made tracks back to

Dauntless, to see if we could put a stop to this thing.
Dauntless, to see if we could put a stop to this thing.

Ready for more crappy? My dad was killed, too. Now I’m a Divergent orphan, which is
Ready for more crappy? My dad was killed, too. Now I’m a Divergent orphan, which is

like THE WORST.
like THE WORST.

Anyway, we found Tobias, who was under the spell of that new serum, and he tried to end
Anyway, we found Tobias, who was under the spell of that new serum, and he tried to end

me. But he shook himself awake at the last second, and I was spared.
me. But he shook himself awake at the last second, and I was spared.

Together, we were able to stop Operation Kill Everyone, ridding my fellow Dauntless peeps
Together, we were able to stop Operation Kill Everyone, ridding my fellow Dauntless peeps

from their mind control.
from their mind control.

Then a bunch of us hopped a train out of town, to see if we could find any other survivors.
Then a bunch of us hopped a train out of town, to see if we could find any other survivors.

Don’t you just love a happy ending?
Don’t you just love a happy ending?