The Selection (The Selection, #1)

by Kiera Cass

she sold her and her father to the palace.

the PALACE BOUGHT PEOPLE???????? WHAT IS THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY IS THERE SLAVERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She had no choice when it came to losing the man she loved.

that is NOT THE FOCUS HERE SHE WAS SOLD!!!??????????????????? WHAT IS GOING ON IM GOING INSANE

it’s an honor to be a maid in the palace.

DONT YOU NOT HAVE WAGES??????????WHY IS SHE TRYING TO CONVINCE US SLAVERY IS HONORABLE WHAT IS THIS

Compared to this morning, it sounded like the work of Southerners.

this is racist and i am not even joking

promised myself that, if I could help it, Lucy wouldn’t have to go through that again.

so why do you think things like this are happening? is it possibly because you live under a fascist monarchy?

there were also people whose sole job was to keep the windows clean.

she’s so stupid it’s unbelievable did you think they cleaned themselves ??????

Maxon said, following them with his eyes, completely fascinated with their behavior.

yeah those damn maids and their strange behavior!!! DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF ???????????????

Anything I really want to play, I can do from memory.”

what does this mean does she never learn new music or is she saying she learns by ear

I was still America.

i can’t do this anymore

(Were the shoes really necessary? No one was even going to see my feet.)

It meant a great deal to me that she chose a place beside me as opposed to a spot in the second row. She was faithful. She’d make a great queen.

you’ve known her for 2 days and how do you know what makes a great queen she’s so self important and ANNOYING .

Olivia had gone so far as to wear orange. I’d admit that I didn’t know that much about fashion, but Marlee and I both agreed that someone should have intervened on her behalf.

someone should intervene and kill america on my behalf

Just before Gavril’s microphone reached Maxon’s face, I caught his eye and gave him a wink. That tiny action was enough to make him smile.

????

A penny in a jar to show my daughter one day, to tell her about my first boyfriend—the one no one knew about?

fuck you and this jar and your imaginary daughter

In my experience, true love is usually the most inconvenient kind.” I

yeah in all of your ancient 17 years i genuinely hate you i wish the worst for you

I shouldn’t take it out on Maxon. He was as much a victim in this as the rest of us, though in a very different way.

WHAT!?????!!!!!!!!!?????????!!?!???!!???!???????????!!!??!!!!??!!???!

I put my hands on Maxon’s chest to emphasize my point.

how does that emphasize your point

“As long as he dies with a Two on his gravestone, I guess he doesn’t care.”

as long as you die i don’t care you don’t even need a gravestone as far as im concerned

“You could have landed yourself in jail, America.”

JAIL FOR BREAKING CURFEW AS A 15 YEAR OLD!!!!!!!!!??????

“I only really ever hug my mother. Is this okay?”

dude

“WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF the United States during the Third World War?” Silvia quizzed us. This was one I didn’t know, and I averted my eyes, hoping Silvia wouldn’t call on me. Luckily, Amy raised her hand and answered. “President Wallis.”

President Wallis was the president before the Chinese assault and continued leading the United States throughout the war,”

“When the United States couldn’t repay their massive debt, the Chinese invaded. Unfortunately for them, this didn’t get them any money, as the United States was beyond bankruptcy. However, it did gain them American labor.

The American State of China had the appearance of its original country, but was merely a facade. The Chinese were pulling strings behind the scenes, influencing any major political happenings, and steering legislation in their favor.”

ohhhhhhhhh ok right

“The entirety of what was North America banded together to fight Russia, since it seemed clear they had their eyes on more than just the ASC. And fighting Russia was easier because China was attacking them as well for attempting to steal their territory.”

this is like if you asked a 10 year old to make up a third world war

The alliances the ASC acquired had formed a united front, and the United States’s reputation was so damaged, no one wanted to readopt that name. So a new nation was formed under Gregory Illéa’s name and leadership. He saved this country.”

i find it extremely hard to believe that this entire time no one used a nuclear bomb

“In some ways, we’re kind of like him. I mean, we get to serve our country. He was just a private citizen who donated his money and knowledge. And he changed everything,”

you don’t have to write the history if you’re going to be this bad at it

I never thought to question the lack of truth until it had been placed in front of me.

because you are a shell of a person

This was the thing I’d been bothered about since the beginning, that Maxon was looking for nothing more than a pretty face. Now that I’d met him, I was sure that wasn’t true, but it got to me that people thought that Maxon was like that.

why does she defend him like this

glittering medals across his chest.

so what are these medals for? he hasn’t fought in the war or done anything of use

he’d poke or tickle me,

??????

“Localize troops in the southeast of Sota and all along Tammins. Don’t go as far south as Midston, it’d be a waste. See if we can intercept them.”

sota mention

“Oh, it’s the girl who doesn’t know when to shut up,” Celeste said in mock amusement.

i’m pro celeste

Maxon came up to me and grabbed my wrists.

completely unwarranted

you’re cross with me because I’ve been engaged all week, aren’t you? I didn’t mean to neglect our friendship, America.”

is he british???????? why on earth would he be british

“Well, compared to the fancy-pants tutors someone like you has, the education system for Sixes and Sevens is terrible. I think getting better teachers or better facilities would do them a world of good. But then what about the Eights? Isn’t that caste responsible for most of the crimes? They don’t get any education. I think if they felt they had something, anything at all, it might encourage them.

THEYRE HOMELESS WHY DONT WE START WITH THAT INSTEAD OF EDUCATION

I watched his face grow pale and realized I didn’t want to see him upset. I needed to turn this around, make it positive.

context here is that he is for some reason completely unaware that people are starving in this country which makes no fucking sense

“I know you were all promised compensation for your participation in the Selection.” His voice was full of a ringing authority that I had only really heard once—the night he let me into the garden. He was much more attractive when he was using his status for a purpose. “However, there have been some new monetary allocations. If you are a natural Two or a Three, you will no longer be receiving financing. Fours and Fives will continue to receive compensation, but it will be slightly less than what it has been so far.”

he’s so kind and benevolent! just like her!

“Ouch!” I cried, grabbing my arm.

YEOWCH!!!!

will be at least three months before we can set this up properly, but around the new year, there will be public assistance for food in every Province Services Office. Any Five, Six, Seven, or Eight may go there any evening for a free, nutritious meal. Please know that these women before you have all sacrificed some or all of their compensation to help fund this important program. And while this assistance may not be able to last forever, we will keep it running as long as we can.”

i have no words for how fucking stupid this is

Most of Illéa is comprised of these lower castes, and we have overlooked these people far too long. That is why I am moving forward and why I am asking others to join me. Twos, Threes, Fours . . . the roads you drive on don’t pave themselves. Your houses aren’t cleaned by magic. Here is your opportunity to acknowledge that truth by donating at your local Province Services Office.”

man what is this

While my mom was pregnant with me, I kicked a lot. She said she had a fighter on her hands, so she named me after the country that fought so hard to keep this land together.

“Whoever he marries will be a lucky girl. And whatever happens to me, I will be honored to be his subject.”

you know NOTHING about this man stand UP

You’re too beautiful for your own good.

this book is overcompensating for americas supposed beauty

“I’m so sorry. I’ve never kissed anyone before. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m just. . . I’m sorry, America.” He breathed a heavy sigh and ran his hand through his hair a few times, leaning against the railing.

this is the worst paragraph i’ve read all year and i mean 2024

“Where are you from? I love your accent,” I said. Some of the other girls from the South sounded similar, and their voices seemed incredibly romantic to me. “Honduragua.

what the hell

“The president of the Infrastructure Committee is sick, so the meeting was postponed.

oh no not the president of the infrastructure committee GROW UP.

And there was Aspen.

ugh

“Oh, well, you are a Five. I guess you can’t afford the magazines anyway.”

america the least you could do win these arguments why is she killing you

might be a Five, but I wasn’t worthless.

yeah unlike those pesky eights