(by Kiera Cass)
"Imagine that. The one thing I could hold over the head of the Prince of Illéa, the very thing I was here to forget."
THE SELECTION
Review (mild spoilers):
*****/5
This book seriously surprised me. I was dreading reading it because I absolutely despise shows like The Bachelor and I thought it was just an attempt at recreating that concept, but with royalty. Boy, was I completely wrong! I cried twice before Chapter 9.
The main character, America Singer, is a part of caste Five in an alternative America, called Illéa. She is absolutely, head over heels, in love with her secret boyfriend, Aspen. Aspen is a caste below her, and marriage into lower castes are uncommon. You're quickly swept into not only their stolen romantic moments after curfew, as their parents are oblivious to their affection, but also into the very segmented society that resembles Panem from The Hunger Games. Each caste is defined by their specific skill set. For example, Fives are artists and musicians. Sixes are workers and servants such as cooks, drivers, and seamstresses. Twos are celebrities and models. Ones are royalty and religious leaders. In this caste system, the wife takes the caste of the husband, which comes up early in the book as America and Aspen discuss their potential future.
The Selection only happens when the male heir to the throne comes of age. All eligible women between the ages of 16 and 20 would be sent a letter inviting them to fill out the application to be a part of the Selection process. The Selection itself featured a series of tests such as dinners, planning events, and giving interviews on their national television broadcast. The prince, Maxon Schreave, is the only one allowed to seek each contestant out per the rules. Most girls dreamed of this day, but not America, because she had everything she wanted with Aspen.
Until she got selected anyway.
America's journey through the first part of the Selection was not what I expected. Cameras didn't follow them everywhere. There are rebel groups determined to take a stand against the caste system and the royal family, the two groups employing very different methods to get their point across. Some members of her competition come and go without much remorse from the reader, but others become so vibrant it feels unfair that they are all fighting for the same thing. America is determined to remain as long as possible for the financial benefit it provides her family, but she is not going to fall in love with Maxon or try to charm him.
Seriously, this book was so good, I was so surprised!
THE ELITE
***.5/5
Book Review: (mild spoilers)
CW: this book deals with themes of child abuse and physical abuse/public humiliation
This book unfortunately fell into the trap that a lot of middle books in a trilogy do: the characters are basically milling around waiting for something to happen until the last book comes out. As was discovered at the end of The Selection, Aspen is now a Two and working as a guard in the castle. That was a twist I had not expected in the first book, but now it is the bane of my existence because I both hate love triangles AND when the main character is withholding secret relationship information from the other part of the triangle. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to slap, shake, or otherwise kick some sense into America for being so obnoxious. Because in one minute she would be having a secret meeting with Aspen, rekindling some of their original relationship, and in another she would be angry at Maxon for showing affection to another girl, which is literally his role in the entire Selection.
There were, however, some important plot points from this book that improved its rating and added to America's character growth. When another contestant is found out to be carrying on a secret relationship as well (which was expressed in the first book as a crime similar to treason), America is even more torn. The six remaining girls of the Elite fight against having to work together on some tests and perform individually on others, since only one can win Maxon and the crown.
This book also brought the rebels into more of the forefront, adding drama that wasn't the love triangle. This book really brought the story from a dystopian matchmaker drama to a story where the state of the nation was truly in peril, and people had and would die until it was resolved. While this book was difficult to read at times for me, I couldn't stop reading it because of the political state of the nation.
THE ONE
****/5
The culmination of the story! We made it at last! I enjoyed this book far more than The Elite, but it was nowhere near as good as The Selection. This story entrenched the characters deeper into the rebels plot, seeking understanding with the group of demonstrators who didn't want to commit violence and seeking protection against those who sought destruction, regardless of who was in their way. You could feel the tension on every page, which is a testament to the skill of the author.
The King and Queen continue to become more prominent parts of the story, including both moments that make you seethe and moments that make you melt. You continue to learn the importance of the nation's history, and the caste system and how they all came to be. The world-building in this book is excellent and vital to the story. Even the other contestants become even more alive, where you feel as if you know them all and love them, even for all their faults.
You're enveloped in America and Maxon's story right up to the climax of the novel, when the plot twist slapped out of left field and left me gaping! So much happened over the course of a few pages and I was shocked and breathless. Cass is truly excellent at writing prose.
My biggest complaint, however, was the resolution of the relationships. I felt that America and Aspen reached the end of theirs in a sudden and unfulfilling way, still with very little communication and a lot of convenience. I felt like it got wrapped up in neat little bows without America actually having to tell him anything. It was a shock and a surprise to me and I felt it could have been better handled.
Likewise, the final moments of America and Maxon's romance before the end of the book felt a little off. They weren't bad, they just didn't feel as natural or as true to their characters as it could have been. The love triangle resolution just felt rushed and I'm still dissatisfied with it, even a month later.
Parental Guidance: (major spoilers)
I would 100% let my daughter read these. I would definitely want to have a discussion with her after reading the first book, because Aspen and America spend several scenes making out. America mentions in her internal dialogue how most kids get married young because waiting is so hard. Getting pregnant out of marriage is a crime, however the culture has not done a good job with teaching the teens to be conscious and careful.
There is little to no language in this book and America truly is a good character. The scenes that highlight child abuse in The Elite are more dealing with the aftermath as opposed to watching it. but the scene where two characters are whipped in public for breaking the rules of the Selection is watched by America and the other contestants. The One has some violence and character death, while not in gruesome detail, can still be tough material.
a quick note: One of the early scenes in The One is one of the most realistic relationship scenes I've read in a romance. While it is embarrassing to watch America put on a slutty dress and attempt to seduce Maxon when she obviously has no experience doing that, it was absolutely natural for Maxon to laugh. Sure, that's embarrassing and can mess with a girl's self-esteem, BUT there are lots of moments in relationships where you try something new and it fails, miserably, and you can't help but laugh at the absurdity.
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