Insurgent (Divergent #2)

 
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Insurgent (Divergent #2)
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Age Range
14+
Release Date
May 01, 2012
ISBN
978-0062024046
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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.

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.

Editor reviews

Worth the Wait
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5.0
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My students and I had a countdown to the date Insurgent came out in bookstores. It was definitely worth it!

Insurgent delves deeper into the faction filled world Veronica Roth created in Divergent. The factions are at odds with one another as Insurgent starts where Divergent ended. Tris is more in the dark than she has ever imagined. The moment she discovers an answer to her question, new ones are created. There are secrets, deceptions, and manipulation.

The fast paced nature of the story line makes this a page turner which I gladly gave up sleep for! The reader finds out more about each character. I love how Veronica Roth builds each character. They aren't the cookie cutter stereotypes. Tris isn't just the strong heroine trying to survive . She has doubts, she isn't always fearless and sometimes she makes mistakes. Tobias struggles with his own demons in Insurgent as he tries to figure out his own motives.

This is one of the best sequesl to come out for a series. Often second books work as a bridge to the third. They usually are slower paced and work solely on providing background and setting the reader up for a climatic action packed third book. Not so with Insurgent. This second book is strong in its plot, character development and leaves the reader wanting more.

Highly recommend going back to Divergent to refresh your memory on names,etc since the book jumps right into the action. Divergent fans will not be disappointed.

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HOLY FOUR That was a good sequel!
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4.7
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"Grief is not as heavy as guilt, but it takes more away from you."

I have been anxiously awaiting this sequel since I finished reading all 487 pages of Divergent in less than 24 hours last May! I was NOT disappointed! In fact, I treated this like the opening of a midnight movie and began reading as soon as the digital copy was released around 1:00a.m. and finished 15 hours later.

Insurgent picks up right where Divergent leaves off and is full of action, intensity, lies, betrayal, romance and heartbreak. It had me feeling all the emotions! I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to punch, kick and jump off stuff. *puts on Dauntless t-shirt*

Tris and Four/Tobias are trying to navigate their way through the war that has begun between what's left of the factions. He has ideas about which side they should choose but Tris is conflicted about who to trust especially after secrets are revealed that leave her questioning everyone around her. The only thing she knows for sure is she'll have to fully embrace her Divergence if there's any hope of saving those she loves or herself.

She is struggling with her guilt and grief (over her parents and Will) and it's affecting all of the decisions she makes as well as her relationship with Four/Tobias. (This broke my heart for her.) As she learned in Divergent, our choices can transform us but they also have the ability to destroy us and everything that's important to us.

The relationship between she and Tobias feels strained most of the time. There are things they withhold in an effort to protect one another but instead of helping it only hurts them. It's obvious that he loves her and would do anything for her but he feels a responsibility to help and serve too which is all the more reason to *hearts* him. (I LOVE YOU FOUR!!) The things these two characters have to endure both together and individually, are truly heartbreaking. *CLUTCHES CHEST* However, they also share some pretty swoon worthy scenes too. *fans face*

War and grief are ugly monsters but have way of both tearing people apart and bringing them together at the same time. They reveal sides of us and those we love that can shock, surprise and disappoint and have us questioning just how well we know each other, if at all? It's in those moments that friendship and love are tested, sides are chosen and forgiveness is offered or denied. It's also in those moments when we find out exactly what we're made of.

I was prepared for an intense sequel but I was NOT prepared to have my heart in my throat the entire time I was reading. *cries* There are a few twists and surprises and plenty of loss but you can't have growth and new life without loss. I am soooo excited to see how it all ends!
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Action Packed Sequel
Overall rating
 
4.0
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INSURGENT picks up right where DIVERGENT leaves off, and the conflict escalates quickly. Tris, shocked and grieving and unable to forgive herself for shooting Will, must pick up the pieces of her friendships, and of herself, while working to uncover the plot that destroyed her original faction. Factions are divided against themselves, leaders keep secrets, and the truth that awaits them will leave their society in shambles.

Insurgent is action-packed from the first chapter all the way to the end. There are plot twists, fights, simulations, and some truly frightening experiences in store for Tris and her friends. It's certainly a page-turner of a book. Tris grows more as a character in this book than she did in Divergent, and I appreciated that. She thought more, struggled more, and was less willing to make decisions simply because it was a Dauntless-type of decision to make. I think she's close to understanding the true meaning of bravery and self-sacrifice, the two character traits that form the lifeblood of her original faction and her chosen faction.

As much as I enjoyed the action and plot twists, I was less enthusiastic with the world-building and the character development and motivation. While Tris grew steadily through the story, Tobias/Four seemed to digress and do or say things that are out of character for the Tobias I fell in love with in Divergent. The crux of the conflict between Tris and Tobias could easily be solved with an honest conversation or two and that made their continued difficulty (and the HUGE choice Tris makes in the end) hard to believe. I wanted a deeper, more meaningful, conflict to drive their story. As for the world-building, we still only get a tiny piece of what caused the factions and what is outside the fence. And it doesn't feel strong enough, or fleshed out enough, to carry the kind of weight a series like this deserves. I wanted to be truly shocked and terrified, but instead I was left scratching my head.

However, that being said, I do think fans of Divergent will enjoy Insurgent as well. I strongly suggest re-reading Divergent first as we are plunged immediately back into the world, and I was often lost as to which secondary character was which for the first several chapters. No clues are given as to their physical appearance or their relationship to Tris, and that left me distracted and floundering as a reader. Reading Divergent again would make reading Insurgent more enjoyable from the start. :)

All in all, it's a fast-paced, action-packed page turner with some nice emotional moments sprinkled throughout. Fans of Ms. Roth will most likely enjoy the ride.
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Overall rating
 
4.6
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4.5(26)
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4.5(26)
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4.6(25)
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Great Sequel!
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5.0
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I found this book really great! It had everything from action to sacrifice and drama. I loved how Tris's character has developed and how brave she was when she was willing to sacrifice herself. There were countless times that Tris put herself in danger for the greater good and that's what makes Tris different from other characters. There was also more of Tris and Four which was awesome and also more about the other factions like Amity and Candor. Veronica Roth really knows how to take her readers on a journey that is unpredictable and unforgettable. As in Divergent, Insurgent was hard to put down an in no way a disappointment! I would recommend Insurgent to those who loved Divergent!
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I can't even
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5.0
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I can't even right now. Oh my gosh. This was so awesome! Good gah at the suspense! It's like I was on a roller coaster and it was just building, going up, up, up. I thought I was going to explode and/or have a heart attack! It's kinda funny because I was just going on and on reading and thinking "I can't take much more! I can't take it!"
What'd I do? ... Kept reading! Haha!
I have so many mixed emotions though because this showed a whole new side of Tris, and honestly, I didn't like it. It made me so angry at her. I mean, helllooooo you have this great guy who really cares for you. Why keep things secret? She was just keeping everything from him and I really didn't understand why. Was it because of where she came from or what? Scared he wouldn't love her the same? I have no idea. I think if it was in front of my face (which I'm sure it was) I still wouldn't get it. Oh well. Amazing awesome hella epic book anyway!
There were so many things that happened that just sideswiped me. I'm still kinda reeling after this book. I think it'll take me a while to actually get over what just happened.
That ending though!
A cliffhanger! REALLY?! That is NOT fair!
I have GOT to get my hands on the next book before I go insane.
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not as impressed
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4.0
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I had really high expectations for this book perhaps to high but I did enjoy all the twists and turns I kept needing to find out what happened next but the story did start to bore me after awhile. All in all it was a good book and very action packed with the read if you liked divergent.
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It was great and now I'm ready for the next.
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"If you tell me not to, I will."
"Well...me too!"
-Basically Tris and Four."

Yes. Their relationship drama gets the best of this book.

But the action is even better.

Most of it made me mad, some of it made me sad, and the rest of it was awesome.

It was great and now I'm ready for the next.
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Worth It
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5.0
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I wanted to read Insurgent so bad after finishing with Divergent. Roth did not disappoint with the sequel. Well-written. I love that Insurgent begins right were Divergent left off. I definitely love this book with the action and turns and twist. The characters were more developed making it a much interesting story. The introduction to new characters( Erudite members) was so interesting. The ending left me wanting more, come on, a secrets revealed at the final half of the book, then the final secret was amazing, just Wow. Love it, Veronica Roth really knows how to leave the reader wanting more. Allegiant were I come. 5 can get enough of Four Stars.
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A Great Sequel!
(Updated: August 19, 2013)
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4.7
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Where to begin with one of my favorite books of all time, Insurgent... Insurgent is mainly about Tris and Tobias on their quest to rally up allies for the upcoming clan war with the Erudites. It expands upon Tris's life in the Dauntless faction and her boyfriend Tobias trying to stop the evil Euridites from controlling the groups through a mind-controlling program. When most of the factions do not believe them they turn away and try to get their forces back in Dauntless prepared. Soon enough most of the factions are under the Erudite's control and it is very difficult for the Dauntless members to raid the faction. When the members are faced in a tough situation many of the Dauntless are also under their control. It was all up to Tris, Tobias, and a select few to save Chicago from a disaster. Who knows what the Erudites will do once they are finished? World domination? When Tris discovers the main producer of the system is someone close to her she must decide what to do. Soon enough the relative makes the decision for her. She ends up trapped with Tobias watching as her mind gets probed. Then a miracle happens. The relative took the theme of the book, One decision can destroy you, seriously. So what will happen next? It is up to you to figure out....

Insurgent is probably one of the best sequels ever made. It covers the characters and sticks to its topic. Although it is an amazing sequel, it is not as good as Divergent. When I first picked it up I knew I would finish it only in a matter of time. I had received both Divergent and Insurgent at the same time so right after I read Book 1 I could not wait to get my hands on Book 2. I was so involved my mom had to take it way from me every night so that I could get some sleep! Once you start reading Insurgent you will never want it to end. It is a wonderful story!With all these guidelines for success it is no wonder why Insurgent is a New York Times #1 Bestseller! I can not wait to get the third book in the series, Allegiance.
Good Points
-Great Plot
-Wonderful if you liked the Hunger Games
-An amazing sequel; was able to cover each topic without doing the same thing
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GREAT BOOK!!!!!!
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5.0
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This was a great book by Veronica Roth! She did a wonderful job with writing, and everything. I can't wait for the 3rd book in the trilogy.
Good Points
The evil master mind is dead
Tris did not die
everything
V
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2nd in a series that connected me more with the characters and left me wanting more.
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4.0
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So... I had already forgotten stuff, and this one picks right up where Divergent left off, so it took me a few pages to get back into the story and slowly remember little details. LOL. At first I was like who IS Tobias, then I was like DUH. I was just used to him being called Four.
Tris was a wild card in this one though. I know its guilt, fear, and the different factions warring in her head, but at times I liked her and others I wished I could smack some sense into her. She takes risks without thinking about the gain and sometimes that puts those she loves in more danger because of it. But she is still strong, and loyal. Everything she does, she does it out of love, loyalty and her view of the greater good. It is just hard though when she is taking those risks and being self sacrificing because you know that it won't go down a good road.
It was hard reading about Four and Tris in this one though. They had moments where they seemed to really belong together and then the next second they are lying to each other and constantly hiding things. So I am torn because I overall really like Four and he is a bright spot for me, and I know I can't expect anyone to be perfect especially in a world that is so torn, but there are some moments where I didn't like that side of him that I saw. On the other hand, there were some very hot moments between them then more that were so sweet, so I hope we are just seeing both of the characters grow and change and that they will come out the other side.
There is some really dark stuff in this book, and more characters don't make it until the end. So it is very emotional and Tris hardly ever gets a moment reprieve.
And, oh holy traitor. I can't say much obviously without spoiling but I COULD NOT believe it. I could've strangled him. There were some that I expected, but this one. NO.
I loved learning and seeing more of the factions in their day to day and also how they respond when faced with violence and when it is time to make a stand for what it right.
The ending sent me for a loop and I can't wait for the next book.
Bottom Line: 2nd in a series that connected me more with the characters and left me wanting more.
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Insurgent Review/Summary
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4.7
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"My conclusion," she explains, "is that you display equal aptitude for Abnegation, Dauntless, and Erudite. People who get this kind of result are..." She looks over her shoulder like she expects someone to appear behind her. "... are called... Divergent."

Insurgent is a science fiction novel. If you liked The Hunger Games, you will love Insurgent. I suggest that you read Divergent, the first one in the series, first though. They are both written by Veronica Roth. She writes these books in a way so that you can feel the emotions that the characters feel, like embarrassment and sorrow. Divergent is about five factions, or groups, that inhabit a city. The purpose of these factions is to prevent wars and other conflict. When a child turns sixteen they can make the choice to stay in their current faction or move to a different one. The five factions are Amity (The Peaceful), Abnegation (The Selfless), Candor (The Honest), Erudite (The Brilliant), and Dauntless (The Brave). The main character, Beatrice, lives in Abnegation and she will make a decision that will surprise everybody, even herself. Without giving too much away, there is a war that affects every faction in one way or another. The second book is all about the after effects of that war. So go out today, and get copies of these mind blowing books!
MC
Top 1000 Reviewer
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Insurgent
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4.3
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Roth's second installment is a thrilling sequel to an eye catching beginning. Roth's style has definitely improved in this book and I read it from cover to cover in one day. Tris has gone through a lot, losing her parents and Will's death especially effect her attitude. Most of the book I was pretty annoyed with her to be honest, but in a good "i need to keep reading to see if she gets over this" kind of way. Four's character I love in so many ways, his persistence, his protectiveness over Tris, the way he understands her. Again Roth keeps us on our toes, never really revealing everything until the very last second, and then blowing us out of our seats with surprises. I am anxiously awaiting the final installment in this series.
RB
Top 1000 Reviewer
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