Review: The Selection

As next year will be the 10th anniversary of the publication of The Selection, I’ve decided to review the most heartfelt dystopian you’ll read all year. For a cosy afternoon reading, look no further than the smart, stubborn and secretive protagonist America Singer as she deals with battlefield romances and class injustices.

America has now become Illea, a country where people are divided and forced to choose professions from their caste (as sixes are forced to merely be indoor servants while twos are wealthy public figures), rebels are intent on taking down the young American monarchy.

In the midst of all this, Prince Macon of Illea (formerly known as America) comes of age, and is made to participant in a traditional competition called ‘The Selection’ is held, where 35 young women come to the palace, and he must choose one of them to become the next Queen.

America Singer, a five, is not happy when her mother asks her to put her name in for the selection. She happens to adore her caste’s profession of music and the arts, she simply wants to make music and keeping sneaking out past state curfew to see her boyfriend Aspen, a six, in secret. After striking a deal with her moth, America gives in and signs up for the selection. To her shock, she’s selected.

When America enters the selection and meets Maxon himself, she begins to see the guy underneath the crown, and starts to wonder if he’s really as bad as she always thought. Americas time as a selected is further complicated as Illea sees its rebels on the verge of starting a civil war, against the monarchy. America harbours secrets and dreams that go against the selection and the rules. With her heart and mind torn, America starts to realise what she dreamed of and what she never imagined for herself will collide and change the course of her life and Illea, for good.

What makes America an interesting protagonist is that she is not the romantic heroine who’s falls in love with the prince and gives her old life up for tiaras and state dinners. She remains true to her life, and wishes to marry, if at all, for love and not for wealth or class. Although, as she settle into palace life, America comes to discover that she’s more capable than she thought, and doesn’t try to change herself to attract either Aspens or Macon’s attention.

She’s honest and unapologetic about where she came from and what she wants, once she’s made her mind up. After all, the first time she meets Maxon she yells at him and reveals she’s not here for him, but the longer she stays the more compensation her family receives and taking care of her loved ones is at the core of America’s character, along with the motivation to remain America, not a five, not a two, not a selected, simply America.

The Selection series is best described as a dystopian fairytale, full of romance, injustice and secrets with a female lead who’s anything but a damsel in distress. This series is perfect for readers who want something where a young adult romance that looks at learning to love yourself, and taking a leap of faith into the unknown, even if you’re scared of the whole worlds against you. You won’t be disappointed after reading The Selection!