How can a teacher make school interesting? According to Chuck Joseph, read a book that grabs students by the spine!
Divergent is the first of a three-book series written by Veronica Roth. This book is detailed and action packed; it puts students on the edges of their seats. It is a unique read as it deals with what is called a dystopic society; the society is divided into four factions. Each faction stands for certain things (such as the Faction called Candor, which stands for honesty). Members of the society belong to one of the four factions and, if not, they are faction-less so live on the streets. The book is set in a city that is broken and beat down. The roads and sidewalks are cracked.
The book is written from the point of view of the main character whose name is Beatrice but, when she gets the choice to change her faction, she goes by Tris. Joseph says he liked how Tris is as a person; Tris “has backbone”, she is selfless and cares a lot about her friends. She is the type of friend he would like to have.
The action-packed book deals with war, power struggles and even a tiny bit of a teenage love story. Students at Eke Me-Xi are waiting on the edge of their seats to read the next book in the series, called Insurgent. Joseph is so excited that Ms. Walkus lent him her daughter’s copy of Insurgent for him to get an early start on the read!
Chuck Joseph is a Grade 9 student at Eke-Me-Xi Alternative Learning Centre in Port Hardy. His book review was compiled with the assistance of reporter Aidan O’Toole and teacher Laura Kline.