IN FUTURISTIC CHICAGO SOCIETY IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE DIFFERENT FACTIONS. THESE FIVE FACTIONS INCLUDE ABNEGATION THE SELFLESS, ERUDITE THE INTELLIGENT, DAUNTLESS THE BRAVE, CANDOR THE HONEST, AND AMITY THE PEACEFUL. WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL TURNS SIXTEEN THEY MUST TAKE THE APTITUDE TEST, A TEST THAT WILL TELL THEM WHERE THEY BELONG IN SOCIETY. TRIS PRIOR DISCOVERS THAT SHE IS DIVERGENT, WHICH MEANS THAT SHE DOESN'T FIT INTO ONE CATEGORY. SHE LEARNS THAT BEING DIVERGENT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS, AND IT COULD COST HER HER LIFE. SHE SOON LEARNS OF A SINISTER PLOT TO EXTERMINATE ALL OF THE DIVERGENTS.