The Selection (The Selection, #1) in The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books

Feb 26, 2013 Danae rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2013

So we are in future USA, now named Illea, after another world war that left the country starving. The result is that people are divided in castes. Each caste has a number.
The ones is the royal family.
Twos and threes are rich.
Fours can manage.
Fives, it's the caste of the artists, they don't starve but you can't call them comfortable.
And then we have sixs, sevens and eights who are poor and straggle with every day's bread.
Nobody can't skip between castes but women through marriage to a man fro So we are in future USA, now named Illea, after another world war that left the country starving. The result is that people are divided in castes. Each caste has a number.
The ones is the royal family.
Twos and threes are rich.
Fours can manage.
Fives, it's the caste of the artists, they don't starve but you can't call them comfortable.
And then we have sixs, sevens and eights who are poor and straggle with every day's bread.
Nobody can't skip between castes but women through marriage to a man from different caste, something that doesn't happen often. They have to find something to do suitable to their castes.
Our heroine is America, named after the old country, she is a five, and therefore a singer. She also plays the piano, violin and guitar.
She is very talented, and according to others she is very beautiful- she doesn't believe it (as every heroine these days).
She is having a secret realationship with Aspen. Aspen is a six.
When women get married, they become the caste of their husband. So Aspen feels guilty because if they got married America will have to stop singing and start serving as a maid.
Then comes the selection, every girl in the country gives her name, photos and biography so thirty five of them would be selected to go to the palace and compete for the prince of Illea and the throne.
America doen't want to put her name to the lottery, her mother convince her and she believes that she won't get picked until her name gets announced.
She goes to the palace and there she meets Prince Maxon and he isn't what she expected, (cliche but always working, at least for me).
It is a good book, like a fairy tale with a poor girl and a prince charming. Well classic fairy tales became classics for a reason.
It's not like hunger games. Not even close. I can see why someone would think that, Illea instead of Panem and the selection instead of the hunger games, it's ridiculous. But Katniss was a hero, America is a teenage girl with a more complicated love life.
And I loved Prince Maxon he is so sweet. <3 ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 01, 2013 Krystal rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cover-its-a-yes, dystopia-post-apocalyptic, birthstones-color-parade, new-author-book-challenge

OMG! I freaking loved it!I was really skeptical about this book. The ratings was really up and down there was no middle ground they either hated or loved it. But I am so with the group that loved it. This book has a great story line it also had a good pace. I really loved all the characters. So this book has a love triangle. Not really a big fan of those because they never picked the guy you want them to pick. It's ok to have options but come on do they have to make it so difficult. The whole bo ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2012 .:Alexis:.➳ we❥live❥and❥breathe❥words rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, amazing-covers, favorite-boy-characters, romance, love-triangle, fantasy, awesome-title-names

Prince Maxon! c;

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 08, 2012 Ilana rated it it was amazing

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 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.

My Thoughts

I don't know why i'm ever surprised anymore - but sometimes i still get that little shock/surprise. I just started/finished 'The Selection' by Kiera Cass and i really really enjoyed it. that's not where my surprise comes from since i kind of had a feeling that this book would be right up my alley, but it's more to the point that it's already being made into a TV show on the CW. i think that it'll do well, i just hope that it doesn't give people and impression of the plot line since book 2 isn't even out yet

the surprise that i keep getting though as well is that if you read about reviews on the book online, they call it very Hunger Games-esque and i'm not sure that i agree with that. Let's talk similarities:

it's dystopian
there's a class/caste system in The Selection that i suppose can be compared to the Districts in Hunger Games
There's a love triangle
to me, that's where the similarities end. now onto the differences:

there's a royal family who's trying to keep the new country in order amongst threats from rebels
the 'competition' aspect is about finding love - not killing each other
the main character 'America' doesn't consider herself to be super tough and have the ability to excel against her competition like Katniss did. she actually kind of even takes herself out of contention so that she doesn't have to fight (which is what i would do cause you know that's how the winner is always determined)
anyway, i'm anxiously awaiting the next book, and kind of wished that i lived in NZ or Australia since i think it's out there already, and and book 3 might be out there already too. here...book 2 not until next year i think....

so to take it back to the topic at hand - I'm rooting for the book vs. the TV show which i know that a lot of eager readers find to be the case too. ...more

Like · see review

Nov 16, 2012 Ellie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, ebook

When I first read the summary to this book, I expected it to be something similar to The Hunger Games but more into cattiness instead of actual brutality...and I wasn't wrong. The Selection began a little slow for me, but for some reason that took fed the girly girl in me and I started to like America the more she interacts with Maxon.

The whole concept does seem a little weak compared to other book series' but that's what I find charming about it. It's not pretentious in it being a princess comp When I first read the summary to this book, I expected it to be something similar to The Hunger Games but more into cattiness instead of actual brutality...and I wasn't wrong. The Selection began a little slow for me, but for some reason that took fed the girly girl in me and I started to like America the more she interacts with Maxon.

The whole concept does seem a little weak compared to other book series' but that's what I find charming about it. It's not pretentious in it being a princess competition, with an added layer of political turmoil on top. I like the fact that the book focuses on the inner issues that the Selection girls are going through instead of the general political issues. We see two sides of the coin, with America championing the "poor" and Maxon representing the privileged. It was nice to see them interact with each other with very few hitches. The whole "we're two different so we can't be decent with each other and get along at all" is starting to get old with these young adult romances.

It's set in a fantasy world, an alternate reality where China invaded the US, but it's still somehow realistic in the issues that the characters tackle. There's the castes, pageantry hoopla, the complexities of "reality shows", all presented in a realistic plate.

The characters represent different personalities that one might encounter in an actual pageant, but what struck me the most was Prince Maxon. His personality was genuine and regal, almost too perfect except for certain times when he loses his cool and that just adds more to his realism. Aspen and America breaking up seemed a little underwhelming, and then having to hear that America's suspicions were wrong was a little frustrating but I stand by her decision in the end. She's not just doing this for her family, but also for herself and the best thing she can do is to see herself through it.

I'm really excited to read the second book, and i'm hyping myself up for The One. The whole concept seems a little unconventional as far as dytopic/fantasy Young Adult books go but I guess that's what I like about this series. ...more

Like · see review

Nov 27, 2012 Janhavi♥herondale rated it it was amazing

The Selection! SIGN ME UP!! This book was just plain AWESOME!! Maxon and America was just cute together....and Aspen...UGHHH *vomit* he makes me sick....he breaks up with america and then..BOOM.. when america is in the selection..that bitch aspen is like...AMERICA I LOVED YOU ALL ALONG!! yeah right!! And on the other hand we have Maxon he's dreamy, adorable, strong, an leader, and totally a ladies man!! :) he takes care of america and holds her when she's alone...(cough cough...aspen you should ...more

Like · see review

Mar 01, 2013 kento rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, reviews, 2013

Actual rating: 3.5

Like everyone else, the reason I read this book was because of its cover. It's gorgeous and eye-catching and I loooove it! Who doesn't anyway?

While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of The Hunger Games (I haven't seen The Bachelor yet). They may be in some ways similar, but I should say this doesn't involve killing the people you compete with.

The story revolves around America Singer, a seventeen-year-old girl who, by the pressure of her family and her secret lover A Actual rating: 3.5

Like everyone else, the reason I read this book was because of its cover. It's gorgeous and eye-catching and I loooove it! Who doesn't anyway?

While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of The Hunger Games (I haven't seen The Bachelor yet). They may be in some ways similar, but I should say this doesn't involve killing the people you compete with.

The story revolves around America Singer, a seventeen-year-old girl who, by the pressure of her family and her secret lover Aspen(view spoiler), reluctantly joins the Selection, a competition for the crown and for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon of Illea. Even though she is against it, America obeyed so as to give her family a chance to experience a life Fives weren't meant to have.

She then stays at the palace develops a close friendship with the Prince. Because of their closeness, America had a chance to get to know Prince Maxon even more, learning that he was a lot different from the person at first she thought him to be--boring, stiff, and a pervert. She then starts to like the Prince (slightly), but still she couldn't forget about her love for Aspen.

The characters were okay, some were likable and some were not. The heroine, America Singer--I like her. Besides her being a redhead, her strong-willed personality made me admire her. And then there's Prince Maxon--smart, attractive, and a true gentleman (IDK but while I was playing the book scenes in my head I imagined him to be Logan Lerman, only he's not a blonde like what the book describes). Who wouldn't like him? And of course Aspen. I can't blame him for feeling insecure but I really don't like him. Obviously I'm Team Maxon!

The book was great though quite predictable. It was a fast, enjoyable read, but for me it lacked something. Maybe I was looking for more conflict or action. The rebels occasionally invading the palace seems not enough. I know this book is more of a love story but I think there should be something more exciting besides those kisses, hugs, and cheesy lines. ...more

Like · see review

Apr 12, 2012 Ifrah rated it really liked it

Hunger Games meets The Bachelor.
I just wish the pace was a bit faster, the ending more exciting, and the ending was more conclusive instead of a "coming up next" thing. the ending is done in a way where you cant just read this book and feel like you've read a story. It is done in a way where you gave to read the other book to find out what happens. ...more

Like · see review

Jun 13, 2012 Yassie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-paperbacks, 2012-reads

Pageant dystopian? I love it! It's really different from the rest, at least it gives you hope and a chance to dream... Although I think the palace is hiding something that the rebels are after, if that's the case, I'm looking out for that twist that'll surely change the storyline... ...more

Like · see review

Sep 09, 2012 Angele | adominiquereads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, owned-books, dystopia-utopia, royalty, r-arranged-marriage

I haven't expected this. I should I have read it sooner before! And now, I'm regretting it.
Sure, it's like Hunger Games meets The Bachelor thing, but I wasn't disappointed. It's not what I've expected. ...more

Like · see review