Divergent

So for a summary plot line (and complete cast of characters) of this first installment of Veronica Roth's trilogy, see the Wikipedia entry. If you liked the Hunger Games, etc. you will enjoy this. On the day when every 16 year old must choose a faction in which to live and work for the rest of their lives, Beatrice abandons Abnegation and chooses Dauntless, leaving behind her parents, her brother Caleb, and everything she has ever known. The simulation which is supposed to accurately assess personality type and help people correctly choose a faction found Beatrice to be both Abnegation and Dauntless, in other words, a Divergent, although the test administrator entered her results as Abnegation to "protect" her. Beatrice chooses the name Tris to accompany her new life and, surprisingly given her small stature, moves into the top ranks of initiates among the Dauntless. Her divergent mind gives her the ability to manipulate the fear-inducing simulations all initiates are put through, giving her an edge. She also falls in love with one of her instructors and the two of them temporarily foil a truly evil plot by the Erudite faction to use mind control computer programs to turn the Dauntless into killers and eliminate the ruling Abnegation faction. Although written for YAs, it has well-developed characters, an interesting premise, and fast-paced plotting. I will undoubtedly read the next two installments, Insurgent and Allegiant, so I guess I'm not quite done with my YA reading binge :-) Apparently this has just been made into a movie which is due to come out this month (March , 2014).