The selection

Liel Kantorovich

The Selection

Written by: Kiera Cass

Level: N (native)

The life of America Singer are going to change. From the simple low class way of life, America starts a big adventure while moving to the vibrant, frightening and mysterious life of the palace, the house of the royal family. America finds herself In places she did not think she would reach,  And even encountered an unexpected love story with the prince of the country.

Plot – The major conflict, the basic situation, three major complications,climax and denouement

At America’s home, Carolina, she is in love and dating secretly with Aspen Leger, her childhood friend. Their country, “Illea” is divided into castes. “One”, are the Royalty and religious figures, such as prince Maxon. “Two” are Celebrities; including athletes, singers, actors/actresses, models, politicians, police officers, firefighters, guards and military members. “Three” are Businessmen including inventors, teachers, philosophers, scientists, doctors, veterinarians, nurses, dentists, architects, librarians, engineers, therapists/psychologists, film directors, music producers, lawyers, and writers. “Four” are Jewelers, real estate agents, insurance brokers, head chefs, construction managers, property/business owners, and farmers. “Five”, as America, Artists and Performers; including stage actors, classical musicians, singers, dancers, photographers, sculptures, and circus performers.The income of caste five is dependent on the seasons of the year and the holidays, caste five were able to live but with great modesty. In five homes there was never much food, just enough. In winter, sometimes they even starved.

Aspen, Americas lover is in caste “Six”: Workers; including secretaries, waiters/waitresses, housekeepers, seamstresses, store clerks, cooks, and drivers.  Aspen is only two castes from the bottom – being relatively poor. “Seven” are manual Laborers; including gardeners, construction workers, farm hands, gutter/pool cleaners, and “trash collectors, ditch diggers, mover.

“Eight”, are the “untouchables”; including mentally/physically unwell people, addicts, runaways, illegitimate, and the homeless.

In “Illea”, the castes are a complicated and difficult subject. People do not tend to mingle and marry out of their caste, especially not in the lower classes. The relationship of Aspen and America creates a lot of secrecy and risks in the story. America and Aspen can not marry, and thus separate from each other, resulting with America registering to participate in the contest for the heart of the Prince Maxon. America comes to a charged and sad competition, and tries to do everything to leave as soon as possible. At first, when America comes from simple life, it is very hard for her to get used to the luxury and prestige of life in the palace. She soon discovers that the palace has a dark intrigue in it that she has never encountered before. With time, America understands that the palace is not such a threatening place, and even finds surprising friendships in it. Most of the book focuses on America’s life in the palace, its relationship with Aspen and Maxon and the triangle of love that has been created between them.

In my opinion, the climax of the story was when America and Maxon became friends. It took some time to America, but she understood that she doesn’t have to be deterred from everything unknown in the palace.

Because the book is the first of five, there is no real denouement: it is the opposite. After America and Maxon become friends, they kiss, which complicates their relationship. America is not sure what her feelings for Maxon are. And while she is trying to understand that, her past lover, Aspen, arrives to the palace as a guard. America can’t decide who she likes more , Maxon Schreave or Aspen Leger.

“I’m not choosing him. Or you. I’m choosing me.” — America Singer to Aspen Leger.

page -325

America Singer

America singer is the main character of the book. Like her red hair, America is bold brave and ambitious. She tends to have a short temper, and she is very stubborn, as her mother.

“she couldn’t stand when i was stubborn. but i got that from her , so she shouldn’t have been surprised.” page 2.

She would do anything not to give up her principles. America’s greatest fear when entering the Selection was losing her individuality, something the other Selected girls would even give up to take over the throne and the prince.

“I am not your dear.”— America Singer to Prince Maxon page 113.

she is very from everything fake, as makeup and dresses.

“ My shoes I got to pick. I chose worn out red flats.  I figured I should make it clear from the start that I wasn’t princess material” page 71.

Setting

Illea is the location where “The Selection” takes place. It is constituted of 35 different provinces. It was established by Gregory Illéa after China took over the United States of America during the “Fourth World War.” Illéa is located in the continent of North America. Illea is a fictional place. The royal palace is located in the state “Angeles”,  In a dystopian fairy-tale world.

There is no defined time in which the story happens, a year or a date are not given to the readers. The only thing we know about the time is that the story happens after the “ Fourth World War.”

“Each step was a relief. It wasn’t much of a distance, but from here it felt like all the commotion from my house was miles away. As I climbed into the tiny box that was my escape, I knew I wasn’t alone.  In the far corner, someone was hiding in the night. My breath sped, I couldn’t help it. The person shifted, lighting an all but unusable candle. It wasn’t much light, no one in the house would see it, but it was enough. “ page 12-

The author tries to describe the dark and dangerous meeting places where America and Aspen met so no one would find them.

Point of view

The story is told from “first person” point of view. America is the narrator. I think the story is told from that point of view so the readers can identify with the feelings and mind of America, and understand the story from her angle. During America’s, when she needs to decide between Aspen and Maxon, we experience the good sides and the bad sides of both of them, as America.

“The selection was no longer something that simply happens to me,  but something I was actively a part of “ page 327, last page of the book.

Theme

In my opinion, the main theme of the book is the process America is going through, along with us, the readers. Throughout the book, we see how America opens up, meeting new people and ideas and finds love in places she was disgusted of.

Literary Terms

Metaphor – “She doesn’t have much of a filter when it comes to her emotions”  page 136

Hyperbole – “Its excellent your majesty. This strawberry tart, I think she’d cry if she tasted this”.  page 136

Personification– “Listen to me kitten” page 76

Simile –  “ It tastes like heaven.” page 135

Dramatic – “filling the form out might actually be something close to death.” page 3

Flashback- “Those has appeared suddenly two years ago.” page 5

Analysis and Evaluation

1. I think the main purpose of the book is to show us, the readers, that even a simple person, that comes from a simple life and caste, can reach highs. America reaches everything by her own hands and behavior, and shows that you don’t have to be famous or rich to be loved. The point of view and the language emphasizes this idea.
2. In my mind, the writing is very beautiful. Even using daily language, the author succeeds to grip me to the book. With exact word selection, I can imagine the royal atmosphere of the palace and the prince. The book is not hard to understand. I think the fact that America comes from simple life and likes simple things is a reason for that.
3. I think the only problem with the story, and its weakness point, is that the readers don’t get enough information about the time and setting in this book. For example, why is “the selection” competition even exists?  How did the royal family got to rule? Why did the fourth world war happen? Spoiler alert: in the next books on the series we get answers for everything, But I think we should get them in the first book. I think one of the strengths in the book, is while the author is describing prince Maxon. Nobody knows how, but he does that in a way that makes all of the readers fall in love with him.

Conclusion

After I finished reading “the selection”, I was wondering for a while about unanswered questions, as I wrote above. I really like this book and I hope the following ones will be even better.