Veronica Roth's brave finale captures the spirit of her Dauntless heroine. Insurgent concluded with an old recording from Edith Prior--an ancestor of Tris discovered in those final pages--saying that once Divergents are in abundance, it will be time for the five factions to be released from their isolated lives in Chicago, out into the unknown world to rebuild it. Caleb Prior, Tris's brother, betrayed his sister in the last book when he allied with former Erudite faction leader, Jeanine Matthews, to withhold Edith Prior's recording from everyone--an action for which he faces dire consequences in Allegiant. Tris and Tobias alternate as narrators in this final installment, and their respective world views and choices often splinter the peace between them. They agree, however, that they must leave the city and go beyond the fence where all the divisions fall away for a chance at a better life. Others wish to leave, too, but out of fear want to maintain the established factions; they call themselves the Allegiant.
Themes of discord and unity challenge the faction ethos on a grander scale, and even Tris and Tobias constantly wonder how they'll define themselves once the fight ends. Roth digs deeper into Tobias's childhood and inner torments in his chapters. The transformations these characters have undertaken since Divergent have prepared them for war, but many surprises await them on the battlefield. This solid ending upholds the high standards established with the first two volumes in the series. --Adam Silvera, children's bookseller