In The Selection by Kiera Cass, a sixteen year old girl named America Singer lives in a dystopian United States. After going through a tragic war, the US emerged as the new nation of Illea, in which the caste system was enforced to keep order. America and her family are low in the system and struggle to live fulfilling lives. The Selection, in which 35 girls are chosen from the nation to compete for the prince’s hand, is right around the corner. Although America doesn’t wish to apply because she loves a boy named Aspen, she is eventually convinced to do so as a chance to help her family. As the competition continues, she must keep her love for Aspen a secret. But, she realizes that her future may hold something different than she imagined.
I enjoyed reading The Selection. It was a fast read because the language was very simple overall (I would have preferred more advanced word usage). I loved the setting and the characters, although I wished the author went more in depth on certain situations. I would have loved to learn more about the history of the nation and how it was brought about. It also would have been nice to get more information on the rebels. Despite this, I absolutely loved the characters! America is such a powerful, loyal, and caring individual who does what she knows is right. There were certain situations where she didn’t act “royal” enough (according to the palace advisor) but she stuck to her heart and always went out of her way to help others. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with her maids and how she supported them even when none of the other girls thought to help their maids. It was nice to see how America and Maxon’s relationship developed throughout as well.