Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books, 327 pages, June 7th 2012.
From: Bought from The Works bookstore
Format: Paperback
Add to: Goodreads
Synopsis: In a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels the Selection is the chance of a lifetime: to compete for gorgeous Prince Maxon's hear. But for America Singer it means turning her back on her secret love, and leaving home for a prize she doesn't want.
Then America meets Maxon and all her plans start to crumble. Can he life she's always dreamed of compare to a future she never imagined?
Review: 4.5 stars- In this age of reality TV shows about stupid things “The Fried Food Restaurant” or “What I do on a Friday night”- shows I normally refuse to watch. When I read that The Selection was basically about a reality TV show to choose a new Princess, I don’t know what made me want to read it. I did like the cover. My initial thought was that it was a girly chick-lit. book. But when I read the review on the back from Kiersten White describing it as a “dystopian fairytale” I knew I have to give it a read.
When the letter arrives America Singer doesn’t want to enter the Selection. Her family are struggling musicians and entertainers “3 steps up from dirt” in Illéa’s caste system and even just being chosen as one of the chosen 35 selection ladies would give her family a chance of a better life. America is not the slightest bit excited by the chance of becoming a Princess and marrying Prince Maxon. Not thinking that she’ll be chosen out of the thousands of applicants, America reluctantly signs up after a bit of persuasion from her true love Aspen.
When America is chosen to take part in the Selection process her life becomes a whirlwind. She is primed for TV appearances and moved into the palace of King Clarkson and Queen Amberly. Things will never be the same again.
When America meets Prince Maxon Schreave for the first time, things don’t go too well. But they soon develop a friendly relationship. Their honesty with each other brings a unique quality to their relationship and the rest as they say......is history. I’m going to let you read it for yourself, because I wouldn’t want to spoil The Selection for anyone. All I will say is it has one hell of a cliff hanger. I need book 2 NOW!
Although there has been some criticism about the names of characters in this book; I personally thought they added to the fairy tale theme.
I like how each girl in the Selection was an individual- each had a different skill or quality.
I hated Celeste from the start and I knew she was going to be trouble. I like how America tries not to judge people on first impression. She tries to look for the good in people, this may be a flaw on her part but I think this made me relate to her more. May and Marlee are characters that I also loved and I think Maxon and Aspen tugged at my heart-strings just a few times.
Whatever you may have read about the author, her publicist or The Selection itself- give it a read.
Whether you like it or not, you’ll have read what i’m going to class as a modern fairytale. I love tradition in a story. I think most books you have to dig deep to find it. This is a Cinderella style story and I personally really enjoyed it.
I also like how American didn't judge people and wanted to get to know the who the other girls were instead of seeing them as the "competition." And that cliffhanger....that was one of the craziest I've read in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI recently read this and really enjoyed it, it was a very light read. I just knew Celeste was going to stay in, to make the story more interesting supposedly, but I kind of wanted to push her out a window! Great review, not too fussed about the cliffhanger, but I will definitely read the 2nd one.
ReplyDeleteWas there always pink on the background? I do not remember that at all. I really liked the lightness in this book and enjoyed the second too; hoping The One ends the way I want it too (with Maxon :)
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