Divergent Thinking: YA Authors on Veronica Roths Divergent Trilogy by Leah Wilson

Divergent Thinking: YA Authors on Veronica Roths Divergent Trilogy Reviews

• 
  Tiffany York

  Review: When I first saw this book on NetGalley, it only took me a matter of seconds to put in the request for it, and I was thrilled when that request was accepted. I love the Divergent series (it probably borders on obsession these days), so I was eager to see what this book had to hold. NOTE: This book should not be read until AFTER you complete the series. It talks about things that happen throughout the whole series, so it is not something that you would want to read first, unless you want the ending of the series spoiled for you. As this book is a series of essays from twelve different Young Adult authors, I will give you a little glimpse of what each writes about.
  
  Before I do so, here is a quote from the introduction of the book, which I believes sets up the purpose of this novel quite well. This quote comes during the discussion of Divergent being compared to The Hunger Games.
  
  "But where the Hunger Games engages with control on a societal level, the Divergent trilogy is more focused on the personal. Where the Hunger Games tells a story of rebellion and social change as much as it does about its protagonist's efforts to subvert others' use of her, Divergent is interested in a different kind of freedom--from exploitation, yes, but also from the labels society puts on us and the subtle pressures of others' expectations."
  
  Rosemary Clement-Moore: Moore discusses the different personality types and how they play a role in the factions throughout the novels, but also in the idea that as humans we seem to have the desire to sort ourselves, even when we are not in a Dystopian environment. She then goes on to explain how the factions in the novel align with the Chinese elements. She concludes her novel by discussing how all of the super heroes we cheer for HAVE to be divergent themselves.
  
  Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Barnes continues on with Moore's conversation and completes the discussion of personality traits and how they seem to play a role in how Roth determined the factions and what they would stand for. Barnes talks about the Big Five (which I had not actually heard of until I read it, very interesting). She breaks down the factions based on the personality types, and then goes on to explain what being divergent REALLY means.
  
  V. Arrow: This was one of my favorite essays in the novel as it had maps and visuals, and a lot of fun things to think of. Being from Chicago, Arrow tried to figure out where all of the book took place in the city of Chicago; what seemed to be left from the Chicago we all know, and what had obviously changed. It was interesting to listen and try to discover where the different headquarters may have been, and how close they all seemed to live as they traveled back and forth together.
  
  Maria V. Snyder and Jenna Snyder: This mother and daughter duo go on to talk about how we are able to make choices over again, but that it did not always seem that way in the Divergent series. In real life, we are able to choose different things if we are not happy with the way our lives are going. In Divergent, the choosing ceremony seems to be the only time they get to do this, and it is a BIG deal. It was interesting reading their two different points of view on the same topic.
  
  Elizabeth Norris: Norris speaks in her essay about the true meaning of bravery, and what it takes to be classified as someone who is brave. Fear is something that is spoken about quite a bit throughout the series, which makes sense as Tris joins Dauntless, where she is supposed to be brave and fearless. Norris discusses how our fears can be what pushes us forward in order to make the most difficult decisions.
  
  Blythe Woolston: Woolston goes on to continue the idea of how fear affects us, but she focuses her attention and essay more specifically on Tris and how some of her decisions are based on the fears that she has. She talks about how fear is something that we are taught and develop, and that it can be very contagious. It is all in our minds, after all.
  
  Mary Borsellino: Borsellino focuses on the different family dynamics that we see in the series, and this was a very interesting essay to read as well. Of course, it goes back and forth between Tris' parents and Tobias' parents, and she brings up some wonderful and insightful ideas about it all. While there is so much happening in the novels, Borsellino points out that family remains a pretty important aspect through everything that happens.
  
  Debra Driza: Driza discusses the secrets and lies throughout the series....I am sure that you can only imagine how intriguing her essay is. I won't give anything away on this one.
  
  Dan Krokos: Krokos focuses most of his essay on Allegiant, so I will not be sharing much in case my readers have not gotten through the series (I really do not want to spoil anything). What he says is very interesting though, and is a very good read when through with the series. He goes on to talk about the differences (and horrible qualities) of the two groups that we meet in the final book.
  
  Julia Karr: Karr goes back to focusing on the factions once again, but it is not about the psychology and personality traits like we read earlier in the book. Instead, she focuses on "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" about being divided into factions. After all, while it might be nice to be in a group, that does not mean that everything is perfect. We all know that very well.
  
  Janine K. Spendlove: This section or essay of the book is titled "The Downfall of Dauntless." If you started out as a Dauntless fan in the series (even if it is just because Tris chose the faction, like me) then you will enjoy reading this section as it tells us all about Dauntless, and how things turned bad for them and why.
  
  Elizabeth Wein: Wein talks about the Factionless. She titles her section "Emergent" which is what she thinks the Factionless would have named their Faction, if they were to be one. Of course they're not because that would defeat their purpose. Wein discusses how we come to see the Factionless differently as we read through the novels, from pitying them to realizing that they knew what they were doing, and were managing to survive.
  
  I really, really enjoyed reading this book myself, which is why I gave it a 4 rating. I find it very interesting to read about the psychology and biology that goes into the book; how while everything is fiction in the books, they are based off things that are very real within the world. The only concern I have is that it is labeled Young Adult, and I am not sure how many young people would actually enjoy reading a book with this much information. Still, I do believe that some of them will pick it up and enjoy it just as much as I did.
• 
  Ilana

  Title: Divergent Thinking
  Author: Leah Wilson
  Publisher/Year: BenBella Books Inc 3/4/14
  Length: 256 Pages
  
  Overview
  
  Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant) has captured the hearts and thoughts of millions of readers. In Divergent Thinking, YA authors explore even more of Tris and Tobias’ world, including:
  
  � What Divergent’s factions have in common with one of psychology’s most prominent personality models
  � The biology of fear: where it comes from and how Tris and the other Dauntless are able to overcome it
  � Full-page maps locating all five faction headquarters and other series landmarks in today’s Chicago, based on clues from the books
  � Plus a whole lot more, from why we love identity shorthand like factions to Tris’ trouble with honesty to the importance of choice, family, and being brave
  
  With a dozen smart, surprising, mind-expanding essays on all three books in the trilogy, Divergent Thinking provides a companion fit for even the most Erudite Divergent fan.
  
  My Thoughts
  
  I know what you're thinking - i've actually seen the comments online so far as to why we need to have a book that dissects what we've all come to love, and apply it in ways that are far outside of the reasons for the series to begin with. I have to say, while i like to be a skeptic, i pride myself in being a thinker, not a philosopher, but someone who likes to play devils advocate, who loves dystopia for some sick and twisted reason and likes to apply all that i've read into what is going on now and what i'm fearing for my kids in the future.
  
  Divergent Thinking takes us outside of the fiction and applies quite a few bits of the story into theories and life situations that make you want to keep thinking. We get various essays/thoughts/stories by YA authors that are applying things and making you think.
  
  The introduction starts off really re-hashing what's gone on in the series - picking out game changing moments and drawing comparisons into what we've seen throughout. We get to think about what makes Divergence something to fear, we talk about what brings Allegiant closer to our society, drawing the link that we need and then think a bit more about where it ties back to life.
  
  For example, the first segment is is by an author named Rosemary Clement-Moore where she's talking about the faction system and how it's really grounded in what we have in life right now, and what it means. She has a section where she equates the meanings of the factions into elemental signs. she dissects the idea of choosing your faction to even pick up lines of 'what's your sign'. honestly, it's not earth shattering insight here, but it makes you think.
  
  There's even a section called Choices can be made again by Maria V Snyder and her 16 year old daughter Jenna. what's interesting here is that they are drawing constant similarities between Tris and Jenna. ....and what life was like then and what it would be for Jenna now. While i want to enjoy this section a lot, i feel like i'm forced to think about it too much like a ping pong. not everything needs to be directly related. but all in all, it's interesting.
  
  all in all, while not a dystopian novel, it makes you think, and it brings things full circle. Dystopia is just about post-apolcolypic stuff right? where we are in the future? so it's based in the 'now' or what will be the past - so it's nice to think about it from time to time.
• 
  Hazel

  My rating: 4.5
  
  This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
  
  For fans of Veronica Roth’s Divergent series here is a book that delves deeper into the trilogy. Commonly referred to as “the next Hunger Games” Leah Wilson has compiled together several essays that treat Divergent in its own right. Divergent Thinking: YA Authors on Veronica Roth’s Divergent Trilogy is full of a variety of ideas each expressed by a different well-known author.
  
  Although Divergent is a dystopian novel leaning heavily towards the science fiction genre, the essays in this book compare the storyline and its components with reality. Through the complex heroine, Tris, the reader learns about family values, friendships, secrets and lies – all of these things being something that is experienced within everyone’s lives.
  
  What are really interesting are the various authors’ perceptions on Roth’s use of factions - from this stem essays on personality types, life choices, psychology, bravery and science. Divergent Thinking is full of thought-provoking ideas that many readers would not have considered when first reading the trilogy. These authors make the reader think more about their own lives in relation to Tris and Tobias’. Most importantly Wilson’s compilation draws attention to the amount of research Roth must have done in order to create a dystopian future.
  
  What is particularly good about this book is that the authors treat the characters as people in their own right with their own personalities and opinions. Instead of criticizing the way Roth has portrayed someone they comment instead on how they disagree with a particular characters thought or action. This proves, in a way, the brilliance behind Roth’s writing. Through reading Divergent we are not only staring at a page of writing, we are drawn directly into the storyline.
  
  To be able to appreciate the essays included in this book readers need to already have a good understanding of the original novels, in other words read the trilogy first. There are also many spoilers for those who have not yet reached the final installment, Allegiant. It would also help to be a fan of Divergent as all these authors clearly are. Overall this is such a fascinating read. Some chapters are more interesting than others but that will also depend on the reader. If you prefer science and facts there are essays in here for you, likewise if you prefer a more personal touch there is something for you too.
  
• 
  Missy

  Even though there were some essays I didn't particularly found... let's say useful, most of them were really interesting. I don't regret buying this book and I recommend it to all the Divergent fans out there ;)
• 
  Beatrice

  Divergent Thinking was extremely interesting and it encouraged exactly that -- divergent thinking. I was challenged to view the trilogy that I had known and adored in ways that I had not previously considered. Involving concepts of psychology such as the Big Five personality traits and the likelihood of moral abandon in the face of authority, this compilation of essays was mind opening and a very refreshing take on Veronica Roth's work.
  
  Divergent Thinking explored a variety of aspects of the trilogy very efficiently, discussing topics ranging from the significance of honesty -- or lack there of -- in Tris' world and the emergence of the factionless as a force to be reckoned with. Each author provided unique insight on his/her selected topic, including a member of the Marine that analyzed the reasoning and repercussions behind the fall of the Dauntless faction. Furthermore, the characters of Divergent and its following sequels were examined under new lights, exposed even further beneath an analytical mindset.
  
  The end of each section in Divergent Thinking included a short description and resume of each author, including which faction he or she identified his/herself in. I found it to be a very interesting detail; one that fit in well with the book's general concept. Nevertheless the central idea of this compilation is, I found, that people cannot truly be categorized; that everyone has the potential of divergence; that we should strive for a balance of qualities and realize that residues of each of them are present within ourselves. A very introspective and motivating novel overall.
• 
  Ozana

  If you are really big fan of Divergent series this kind of book is for you..fractions, details and differences between them, dress code and way of behaving, thinking, divergent and diversity, why fractions exists...
  
  Everything that you already knew from the books,(assuming that you red them all - sure you are because you are holding this one in your hands) but you need prolong reading experience just a bit longer, (before they finish 3 or 4 more movies to exploit popularity of now lucrative franchise and leading actors, now big teen stars) until you grow up or another great - book to movies - series arrive.
• 
  Ariana

  This is one of those books that you grab because you are a fan of a series and you don't seem to be able to let go.
  
  One thing that people should know is that it is related to the whole series, as maybe people that will pick it up are fans of the first book but didn't get the chance to read the rest of it. Anyways, it was interesting to see the opinions regarding Divergent, the input on fractions, fractionless, choices, courage, fear, secrets and lies.. and so on.
  
  It is not actually my type of book, but hey it was an interesting experience.
• 
  Ash

  If you really know me, you would know that Teen books are not my forté. The majority of them bore me to tears which is why I stay away from them. However, there have been outliers: Melinda Metz's Roswell High series (although, I read them when I was 12--I don't know what I would think of them now), Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game, and The Perfectionists series and Veronica Roth's Divergent Trilogy.
  
  I saw Divergent Thinking, edited by Leah Wilson, at a bookstore years ago and had almost meant to read it. I actually forgot about it until it appeared in a random internet search. Divergent Thinking takes very popular Teen Fiction and Teen Fantasy and Adventure authors as they give their opinions on the Divergent Trilogy.
  
  This was a surprisingly intricate and deep analysis of Roth's Trilogy and bought up some very good and reasonable points about society, government, a sense of belonging, and morality. The way Wilson edited it was great. She started off with a very broad and exclusive approach with the essays focusing on the trilogy as a whole and the topography of the Chicago it took placed in.
  
  Slowly, the essays become more inclusive and intimate focusing more on character motivations and mortalities. I thought that Janine K. Spendlove's The Downfall of Dauntless was the best one of the group. Her focus was on the militaristic approach of Dauntless and how it is easy to lose one's way and humanity under the guise of following orders.
  
  The misstep was Debra Driza's Secrets and Lies. I felt that she had too much of a cavalier approach to a serious thesis: lying to others and one's self and the effects. I liked what she had to say as she being up good points. However, she injected too much humour into it effectively taking away the urgency of her argument.
  
  As a fan of Roth's Divergent Trilogy, it was very nice to read such a deep analysis of it. It validates my supreme love for it. It also showed me that the authors I readily dismissed because of their chosen genre are actually very eloquent writers that deserved more respect.
• 
  Erikka

  First of all, don’t read this book if you haven’t finished Allegiant yet—spoilers aplenty. I have read a book like this before—authors analyzing a work they find intriguing (in this case, Pride and Prejudice)—and I enjoyed it as well. I think seeing what others think, especially those who write for a living, can help open your own opinions and make you view the work differently. I’ll review each essay separately, as that only seems fair.
  
  From Factions to Fire Signs—an analysis of the innate human desire to sort ourselves. I think she does a great job exploring all of the ways in which we do this, starting from an early age. I also particularly loved one conclusion of hers: That we love to sort things but, paradoxically, love heroes who defy sorting. We may identify as a certain faction (Erudite, naturally, for me), but we value Tris because she’s a blend. Just as we value Mulan, Jo March, and even the Avengers when taken as a group—they are all Divergent.
  
  Divergent Psychology—a clinical analysis of the Factions based on the psychology concept of the Big Five. I do feel a few of the applications of Faction to trait are a bit forced, but overall she makes some very good points about the human condition (and this ties in very well with the previous essay about our love of sorting). Also a very interesting read, but might be dry to people who don’t enjoy psychological study as much as I do.
  
  Mapping Divergent’s Chicago—Answer one question: Are you from Chicago or one of those people who think Chicago is the city to top all cities (even if you aren’t a resident)? If yes, then please enjoy reading this essay. If you answered no, feel free to skip it. It’s pretty much an analysis of how closely Tris’ Chicago mirrors current Chicago. Not. All. That. Exciting. There is some cool analysis of gangs, though. So that’s something. Oh, and maps. Lots of maps. I love a good map.
  
  Choices Can Be Made Again—a parallel of Faction selection versus choosing a college. For a teen making this selection in their own lives, this might be an interesting read. For a grown woman who’s already graduated from two colleges and has yet to feel that “alma mater” bond to either (What did I say? Erudite. Don’t expect any Amity touchy-feeliness here), this essay was forgettable. I did like the format, though, with the mother and daughter team conversing about their thoughts; I also love the idea of a mom and daughter reading a book series together and getting so excited about it that they can talk endlessly about how much they enjoyed it. For a librarian whose mother doesn’t really read, there was some serious envy here.
  
  Ordinary Acts of Bravery—An analysis of the meaning of bravery, and how Dauntless doesn’t live up to their own manifesto of “…the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” It also explores bravery in terms of the other Factions. An interesting perspective, and one that I enjoyed reading.
  
  Fear and the Dauntless Girl—Why do we fear things? And what exactly is the mechanism behind fear? Is it simply being afraid of clowns, or being deathly afraid of unknown, unrecognizable faces? Or fear of those who refuse to show said faces? Her analysis of fears, both rational and irrational, was very intriguing. As is often said, it’s not a fear of falling; it’s a fear of that sudden landing at the end.
  
  They Injure Each Other in the Same Way—an analysis of the role of family in Divergent. To be honest, I skimmed it, because it was heavy in praise for Allegiant, which I thought sucked. I’m not a big “family comes first” person (more of a “you choose your own family” person), so anything having to do with family sacrifice and family dynamics really doesn’t speak to me.
  
  Secrets and Lies—discussing the big lie that Chicago is an experiment. To be fair, about halfway through Divergent I started to figure they were an experimental microcosm (blame the movie “The Village”—I go into every dystopian book with the preconceived notion of experiments and evil scientists), so the big reveal in Allegiant meant nothing to me. That being said, this analysis of that lie is quite an interesting read and is well written.
  
  Bureau vs Rebels—again, very heavily having to do with Allegiant, which I honestly skimmed most of, so this story wasn’t very impacting. For the eight people or so who liked Allegiant, you may like this—the writing is good, it’s just the topic that sucks.
  
  Factions: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly—Just as the title says, it breaks down the good, bad, and ugly parts of a factioned society. The benefits of fitting into a like-minded and accepting group, paralleled with the pain and indignity of being left out of said group or being a non-conformist, and again paralleled with the dangers of being easily manipulated by peer pressure and like-mindedness are all explored here. There are also substantial parallels between factioned societies in real history vs in Divergent and how eerily similar they are. It’s probably one of the best essays in this book, in my opinion.
  
  The Downfall of Dauntless—a military opinion on the fall of a faction and how it affects the world as a whole. She compares the Dauntless to a peacekeeping force, with the job of a police officer, but lacking the set of moral codes drilled into a member of the military; this volatile combination leads to their inevitable fall. She also pulls in her military training, history, and group dynamics to support her point. Being the daughter of a Marine, I know their personalities and cohesiveness, so her logic and reasoning was pretty solid from the perspective of such a dedicated soldier.
  
  Emergent—Can I just start by saying this is what I hoped the third book would be called? Because I have OCD and when two books end in “gent”, I expect the third one will? Seriously, you dropped the ball, Roth. This essay explores the role of the factionless in all three books, primarily as the driving force that ties all three books together (since Allegiant, except for when it involves the factionless, seems like a disconnected book). One of her best points is how we only see the factionless through Tris’ tainted POV; maybe if the first two books had presented them in a more straightforward and honest way, we would have seen what happened in Allegiant coming. She also supports the view I held through all three books, that the factionless are, in truth, the “normal” society—what we would look at as normal; they just happen to live in some crazy, twisted dystopia that makes them abnormal.
  
  All in all, this was a pretty cool book for fans of the Divergent trilogy—it makes you think, is well-written, and offers fresh ideas on the central tenets of the series.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Savannah Avery

  It was hard for me to give this book a rating since it was composed of so many different essays, but overall I decided to give it 3 stars.
  
  So some of these essays were incredibly boring and drawn out, however most of them were insightful and helped me really think about the divergent series.
• 
  Savanna Roberts

  Five Stars ~
  
  For all of the essays causing me to think more in-depth about the issues, truths, lies, and values (or lack there of) in the Divergent trilogy, and giving me a deeper appreciation for the series.
• 
  Kelley

  Sometimes I randomly browse NetGalley and request books purely on a whim, and this is one such example. Though I really liked Divergent when I first read it, my satisfaction with the series declined with each successive book (not that I ended up hating it or anything -- I rated
  Allegiant 3 stars). That being said, one of my favorite things to do with books is analyze and speculate. (And no, not like in English class; I like my reading, analysis, and speculation to be interesting and enjoyable.)
  
  I didn't really know what to expect with Divergent Thinking. All I knew was that it was a collection of discussions about the Divergent trilogy from various YA authors, one of whom is Dan Krokos. Once I started reading, I was excited by the analysis and discussions being done in each essay and surprised by how well the whole idea of this book matched up with what I like. I'd unknowingly picked up a book that was right up my alley!
  
  Divergent Thinking, as you've probably gathered by now, is a collection of essays that explore various concepts, themes, ideas, and more within the Divergent trilogy. This was interesting and familiar ground for me, because this could just as easily have been a series of posts on a blog somewhere. (I suppose it's worth mentioning that this book CLEARLY assumes the reader has read the entire Divergent trilogy, because spoilers abound. I will avoid spoilers in this review, though.) These essays varied in quality and interest for me, but that is probably to be expected.
  
  My favorites were the ones that dealt more with psychological and scientific analysis. The book starts off strong with Rosemary Clement-Moore's comparison of the factions to the multitude of personality tests and types we enjoy in our society. Jennifer Lynn Barnes followed that up nicely with her own interesting perspective on the psychology behind the factions. Even though I've never even been to Chicago, I was giddy with excitement as I read through V. Arrow's attempt to map out the Chicago we see in Divergent with the Chicago of today. Blythe Woolston's look at fear and its role in the series was fascinating.
  
  Some of them satisfied my curiosity in a different way, but didn't quite scratch my analytical itch. That's really fine, though; I'd just been primed and spoiled with the analytical ones (my preference) in the beginning. I liked the way Dan Krokos pit the Bureau and the Rebels against each other to see which one is really worse, Julia Karr's comparison of the faction system to other problematic groups in history (like Nazi Germany, for example), and the interesting parallels (and differences) that Janine Spendlove drew between the Dauntless and the US Marine Corps.
  
  The essays I didn't enjoy as much were the ones that seemed to have weaker arguments and less focus. Some of them felt like they were trying too hard or really reaching to expand upon their chosen topic of discussion. The contribution from Maria V. Snyder and her daughter Jenna read more like a mother-daughter conversation than an actual essay (that is, it felt like the kind of thing that only they would be interested in reading, not so much anyone else).
  
  In Conclusion
  I very much enjoyed this book! I was pleasantly surprised by this collection of essays. I do wonder, though, how many people will end up buying something like this (I have a feeling that compilations and anthologies don't get a lot of sales, but maybe that's my own bias?). Like I said: I would have been just as happy reading these essays on a blog somewhere; in fact, I might have even enjoyed that more, because then I would have been able to engage in discussions about them more easily.
• 
  Moon Shine Art Spot ~ Lisa

  My thoughts:
  
  
  I love books like this that have different authors direct the original texts with their psychological break downs and their ideas of how the Divergent books relate to modern day thinking, how something like this could happen, why it may be possible, what in our own mind, pulls us so strongly to the books. Let's face it, many of these books hit close to home and scare the shit out of us as far as what the future may hold, and the reality of how much of this "fiction" is actually present today, and being accepted. I was given this book to provide an honest opinion of.
  
  I read the different author's opinions and expansions in the story, and so many times they clarify, or put in words, what I was trying to unsuccessfully completely think through along with pointing out many angles that make me realize "oh, yes I see that too now."
  
  I love the fact that the writers in this book have some insight in to what they are discussing as far as dissecting the different elements / social make up, psychology of fear, etc. I loved the original Roth trilogy and even like the movies. It always amazes me how governments use tech or fear to overcome their citizens, but this has happened throughout history one way or another forever. SCARY. Written about in many classics that just happened to have some accuracy about the work.
  
  Love the insight and the opinions of others. This book is a great companion, after reading the Divergent Trilogy, to get your thinking juices flowing.
  
  
  
  Book description:
  
  Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant) has captured the hearts and thoughts of millions of readers. In Divergent Thinking, YA authors explore even more of Tris and Tobias’ world, including:
  
  � What Divergent’s factions have in common with one of psychology’s most prominent personality models
  � The biology of fear: where it comes from and how Tris and the other Dauntless are able to overcome it
  � Full-page maps locating all five faction headquarters and other series landmarks in today’s Chicago, based on clues from the books
  � Plus a whole lot more, from why we love identity shorthand like factions to Tris’ trouble with honesty to the importance of choice, family, and being brave
  
  With a dozen smart, surprising, mind-expanding essays on all three books in the trilogy, Divergent Thinking provides a companion fit for even the most Erudite Divergent fan.
  
  
  Contributor list:
  
  Elizabeth Wein
  Maria V. Snyder and Jenna Snyder
  V. Arrow
  Jennifer Lynn Barnes
  Mary Borsellino
  Rosemary Clement-Moore
  Debra Driza
  Julia Karr
  Dan Krokos
  Elizabeth Norris
  Janine K. Spendlove
  Blythe Woolston
• 
  Becca - PrettyLittleMemoirs

  As Reviewed on
  Pretty Little Memoirs with thanks to BenBella books!
  
  Having read the entire Divergent series (and you should read all three books for delving into some spoilers regarding the series), I was ready to delve back into the world of Tris and Tobias and examining Dauntless, among the many factions alike. The book was split into several different segments that one of the various authors would write, explaining a bit more about that particular element of the series. For example, Rosemary Clement-Moore expresses the personality types in Divergent and how they mold each member of the different factions.
  Divergent Thinking goes further into the world of Divergent than we've ventured, into the psychology and how real issues in the series are based in each faction, in sort of an analyzing and sometimes conversational way. So being a fan of the series, it was amazing to see how other people thought of the complex themes and perception of the dystopian Chicago world.
  I really loved how each contributor of the book felt about the series and how each of their opinions could change our own perceptions of the series and open our eyes to things inside the world of Divergent that we hadn't yet ventured to uncover. My favourite part of Divergent Thinking would be Debra Driza's part - she examined the secrets within the series and it really captivated my attention more than any other part.
  Many of the parts were comparing the fictional world to our real world and our issues compared to theirs, shining a light on things we had missed and satisfying our fangirl/boy hearts by opening our minds back up to the dystopia series. Fans of Divergent will adore this book - it will entertain your need for more in the world of Divergent, fascinate you with it's new discovered topics and add a dash of astounding Non-Fiction to your shelf even if you're more of a Fiction reader.
  Each author added something amazing to Divergent Thinking to bring together an almighty read worthy of a place on your bookshelf.
  
  As Reviewed on
  Pretty Little Memoirs with thanks to BenBella books!
• 
  Terri M.

  I was so excited to see a collection of essays about Veronica Roth’s Divergent series. I read a similar collection of essays for The Hunger Games series and I gained helpful insight into the novels. I was hoping for the same with Divergent Thinking.
  
  It took me a long time to finish Divergent Thinking. I found it difficult to engage with the essays as most of them focused on the psychology of Tris and/or the factions. The collection felt repetitious as many of the authors seemed to be examining the same points of the story over and over (why Tris is not Abnegation? Why did she choose Dauntless? What does it mean to be Divergent?). I was hoping for more examination of the political climate, how Tris’s World mirrors that of Nazi Germany and even our world when it comes to prejudices and long-held beliefs.
  
  My favorite essay was by V. Arrow called “Mapping Divergent’s Chicago.” V. works through plotting the location of each of the factions throughout Chicago and its suburbs. Maps are provided (although on the Kindle version they are difficult to read) along with strong arguments why the locations that were selected fit each of the factions best. With V.’s directions, you could safely created you own Divergent faction tour through Chicago minus jumping on and off the train.
  
  This collection of essays would be a good fit for anyone who is interested in the psychology of Tris and the various factions within the series. Otherwise, I would recommend passing on Divergent Thinking.
  
  
  This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
• 
  Manon

  Originalement posté sur
  Sous ma Couverture.
  
  Pourquoi j'ai lu ce roman ? J'avais entendu parler, il y a quelques temps, de ce livre qui évoquait toute la psychologie et l'analyse autour du monde de Divergent.
  
  Chaque auteur évoque un sujet important et essentiel à la dystopie, qui s'avère être un des éléments importants de nos vies ou de nos sociétés. Qu'il s'agisse de l'analyse d'un personnage et de sa psychologie, il est facile de se retrouver en eux, sur des thèmes évidents, mais que la psychologie rend complexes, comme le rapport entre les factions et les signes astrologiques / chinois and co., les choix que nous faisons à l'instar de Tris dans la Cérémonie du Choix, le courage et ses différents définitions, la psychologie et biologie de la peur, les secrets et mensonges dans la politique, la famille ou entre amis ...
  
  Ce livre m'a permis d'apprendre beaucoup sur Divergent, sur Tris et Tobias, leur personnalité, et de voir d'un autre oeil l'univers de Veronica Roth. Mais je crois que j'ai surtout appris des choses sur moi. Comme les auteurs, j'ai su me retrouver en eux, en savoir un peu plus sur moi-même.
  
  Divergent Thinking est donc un livre que je conseille si vous êtes de nature curieuse, un peu érudit dans l'âme en fait.
  
  Attention ! À ne pas lire si vous n'avez pas terminé la trilogie.
  
  Ce que j'ai le moins aimé : Une partie sur la comparaison Dauntless / Military Force, qui m'a moins intéressé.
  Ce que j'ai le plus aimé : Les aspects psychologiques.
• 
  thehodgenator

  I was surprised not by how much I enjoyed reading the essays in this book but by how applicable I can make them in my classroom. As an AP Language teacher, I am always looking for interesting non-fiction pieces, especially ones that connect to YA, and this book definitely meets those standards.
  
  This book covers a lot of interesting questions, several focusing on how factions work not just in the series but in life as well. We naturally “faction” ourselves off, and the authors explore and connect how “factions” define who we are as people as well as how they define the characters in the series. This was one of my favorite things to read throughout the book.
  
  I really enjoyed several things about this book, and I can see teachers using excerpts of these essays within their own classes. You do not need to read the series to use the material, but it will help. Most of your students will probably be familiar with the series/film at the very least.
  
  Ideas explored in the essays include connecting the factions to pop culture (Hogwarts/Star Wars/Batman/Superman), the “Big 5” of psychology, mapping out of the factions in Chicago, a mother/daughter conversation about choices that can be made again, bravery, fear as a biological response (cross-curricular with science teacher), etc.
  
  The essays are wide-ranging, do not need to be read in order, and really are just an interesting look at the series.
• 
  Taylor

  I received a free ARC from Net galley in exchange for an honest review. Overall, I was pretty disappointed in this collection of essays. I was excited to read it because I read the first two books in the trilogy and loved them. I also enjoyed this publisher's collection of essays on The Hunger Games. However, this book just fell short of my expectations. I found myself skimming through essays after deciding I didn't like the writing style or became bored as it dragged on. There was one essay that was a definite exception to this rule, Fear and the Dauntless Girl. I would also recommend reading the entire series before these essays because they definitely give away the third book. I was a little sad about this, I thought the essays would focus on the first book like the Hunger Games version, but this one seemed to focus on the final book.
• 
  Alice Yu

  Divergent is a book which really caught me up. I never knew a reader that disliked divergent, and i'm glad how well these analysis went for readers. It explores in themes such as psychology, sociology, conception of self, definition of sin and bravery, pursuit of knowledge, and to make the right choice. I believe that it is not only suitable for divergent fans, but also for readers which have not yet read the divergent series( but you will be spoiled！！！！！！！)
  Their analysis and opinions were well elaborated showing deep understandings of the concept in hand at the same time making it much easier for other readers who still hasn't got some thinking Veronica was trying to express. All elements were included into thought, breaking down every single piece of evidence in the novel.
• 
  Tasia

  I received ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
  
  I knew from the moment I seen this on on NetGally, I knew that I needed to read it. I adored the Divergent trilogy and was excited to read other people's opinions and thoughts of it.
  
  Overall, I thought this book was quite good and quite interesting. It's a bit nerdy of me, but I enjoy reading essays--especially those that dig into the depths and psychology of books. This was certainly the book for me!
  
  I think this is a great resource, especially for teachers. I would definitely recommend it.
• 
  Megan

  This book is for anyone that LOVES the Divergent series. Each author supplements and explores the already deep stories of Tris and Tobias throughout the series. I loved each and every essay and the new perspectives brought to the story by those who are also passionate about the messages that Roth and the series are giving readers. My favorite essay is that which locates all the faction locations, school, etc.. as it is laid out by Tris throughout the series. I would highly recommend this to anyone who LOVES the Divergent series.
• 
  Dee/ bookworm

  Divergent Thinking was a fascinating read. The authors really studied all of the Divergent series by Veronica Roth! They dissected and drew parallels with our society as well as historical societies and references. The writing by each author was insightful and well written. Whereas this could be dry material, with the writing it was brought to life. It was incredible the depth and precision they gave in their studies. I wonder if Veronica Roth had any idea what an impact her novels would have on the literary society!
• 
  San Juanita

  I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway :D
  
  I enjoyed reading it and it certainly makes you think. It made me look at the Divergent trilogy and how it compares to modern psychological traits. It helps understand some questions in regards to the purpose of the factions and why it was so important for people to fit in into just one faction.
• 
  Marcia

  I read this book as part of the research I am doing for my master thesis, which is about the current popularity of the dystopian genre amongst adolescents.
  
  The essays in Divergent Thinking: YA Authors on Veronica Roth's Divergent Trilogy gave me some interesting insights in this series and I enjoyed the different point of views :)
• 
  Abby

  A collection of essays about the Divergent trilogy... I have read 4 books of essays like this by Smart Pop and I usually like them. This one seemed much more hit and miss and I found that I liked the scientifically based ones more than the more prose type ones.