The Selection

Imagine if you will, the tv show The Bachelor. Yes, the one where a bunch of girls go on tv to find "true love". Cynic that I am, I refuse to watch those shows. Well, much to my surprise, I totally loved this novel with that exact concept. 35 girls vying to win the heart of the Prince and become the Princess of Illea. When there is a Prince that needs a bride, they must choose from one of their subjects. Girls may enter "The Selection" in which one girl is chosen from each region. America does not want anything to do with this. She is in love with a boy in the caste below her and has every intention of marrying him. Aspen does not want her to have to struggle and fight for survival with him and insists she enters the selection for the good of her and her family. See, the girls in the 'selection' get all sorts of perks, from clothes to food to a change in caste status. Her family is desperate for her to go and when Aspen breaks her heart, she reluctantly agrees, thinking she won't have a chance. Of course, she is selected and finds herself in the palace and face to face with Prince Maxon, who is nothing like she imagines he will be. They become friends and as the process continues with rebels attacking the castle and Aspen showing up as a guard, America and her feelings get a bit confused. Does she still love Aspen or is she starting to have real feelings for Maxon? Of course there are the other contestants, evil, conniving Celeste and lovely Malloree. But the Prince only has eyes for America. As America finds herself one of the six Elite remaining competitors, she has to figure out where her heart lies. I'm sure this will all be resolved at some point in a sequel as we are left hanging at the end. I totally enjoyed this book and it's lack of supernatural elements. I know that it will find an audience in my classroom as well as in the YA world. Good fun Kiera Cass, I look forward to the next book. Until then, Happy reading my friends!