Review: The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Selection #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published April 24, 2012
Hardcover, 327 pages

Overview:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review:

I hadn't heard much about The Selection before I started reading it, but the synopsis reminded me a little of Princess Academy--a bunch of teenage girls are trained to become the princess, one of them will marry the prince, etc. What amazed me about The Selection was that while the basic structure of the plot has been seen before, the overall story was very fresh and original.

The Selection takes place somewhere in futuristic North America after a fourth world war. The United States have been recreated into the kingdom of Illéa, whose social structure is based around castes. Ones are royalty; Eights are the mentally unwell and homeless. The main character, America (named after the spirited fighters who tried to keep the country from collapsing) is born a Five: her family works as musicians and artists. She has fallen in love with a servant from a family nearby, a Six. I particularly enjoyed reading about the specifics of the different castes; for example, Fours and Fives can get along well because they're just above the serving class, but it's unusual for two people to get married from different castes. Not much is revealed about the lowest castes (Seven and Eight) or about Twos and Threes, but I suspect we'll find out more in future books. (There's a list of specific jobs contained within each caste, located here on the author's website.)

One thing I didn't like about this book was the character Aspen, America's secret boyfriend, a Six. The two can't have a public relationship because they're from different castes, so they sneak out to meet each other at night. Even though his circumstances are out of his control and he only wants the best for America, I thought Aspen came off as super possessive. What infuriated me more is that America lets him act this way, claiming his actions just showed how madly in love they were. For example, when her family urges her to apply for the Selection, she refuses; when Aspen begs her to apply, though, she agrees to it just to make him happy. Around Aspen, America is very passive; around everyone else, though, America is stubborn, fierce, and opinionated.

That relationship aside, I really liked the book. I loved the prince, Maxon, and his friendship with America. There's some mention of rebels from different parts of the country attacking the palace; I'm sure that storyline will be explored more in later books. I had a little bit of an issue with the ending--I thought it was rather abrupt, given the mass number of things that happen very close together in the last fifty or so pages. Regardless, I really enjoyed The Selection and will definitely be picking up the sequel when it comes out!

Overall rating: 4 of 5 stars.