The Selection

A single letter was more than enough to change her entire life.

In the country of Illéa, where a monarchy rules and society is split into multiple social classes, or castes, is a red-headed girl named America Singer. America is your average 17-year-old Five, in this case Five meaning her particular social caste. However, America has a secret, one that could land her in trouble: She's in love with Aspen, a person who is of a lower caste than her as a Six.

America and Aspen love one another deeply, and with hopes of soon being able to wed when they're of age and are financially ready, they can't wait to begin a life and family together. Their relationship becomes shaky with the arrival of one letter, though, and she and her family are made aware that she is eligible to enter in one of the grandest events Illéa has to offer — the Selection.

Prince Maxon Shcreave, a One and the soon-to-be King of Illéa, has now come of age and is looking for his new wife and future Queen. The Selection is a process that has been going on for generations and is how all Princes of Illéa find their brides.

Due to her age, America is qualified to enter the lottery for the Selection. With the arrival of the letter, America's mother becomes hopeful that her daughter will be one of the 35 girls chosen to participate out of all the eligible girls in the country should she enter, but with only Aspen on her mind and in her heart, America is opposed to the idea. As the deadline to enter draws nearer, her mother continues to try to persuade and even guilt her into applying by saying that their family needs the money that could be earned if she submits her form, but she still doesn't wish to do so. Only when Apsen persuades her to do so, claiming it would give him some peace of mind, and her mother bribes her with a deal does she decide to fill out the papers and turn them in.

The unthinkable happens as America's name and picture is shown during a television broadcast. From then on, her life turns upside down as Aspen leaves her and she leaves her province of Carolina to head towards the castle and Prince Maxon.

America meets friends and other Selected girls who aren't so nice. She meets royalty and lives the life of a One while she stays inside the palace walls. She and the other Selected endure the occasional rebel attack against the palace. She finds an unexpected friend in Maxon, and as time goes by, even begins to see him in a more romantic way. Though as she begins to get over the heartbreak Aspen had created and starts to like Maxon, she is torn and must start to make the hardest choice she's ever had to make — Aspen or Maxon?

The Selection by Kiera Cass is undoubtably hard to put down as her writing and America's character makes you wonder who she'll end up choosing. Will she fall for the prince charming or rekindle her old relationship with the boy she's always wanted? America's relationships with other characters are also very interesting and the way Cass portrays the others around her character gives the book a sense of realism. The book itself is rather short and the ending leaves a bit to be desired, but it is hard to look away from. I recommend The Selection to anyone who'd like to have a quick, romantic read and to those who have also enjoyed reading Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.