The Selection
Cover art for The Selection (Book 1)
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| Author | Kiera Cass |
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| Country | United States and Canada |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Selection Series |
| Subject | romance |
| Genre | Dystopian, Young adult, Fantasy, Romance |
| Publisher | HarperTeen |
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Publication date
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April 24, 2012 |
| Media type | Print, ebook, audiobook |
| Pages | 327 pages |
| ISBN | |
| Followed by | The Elite , The One, Happily Ever After (contains:The Prince, The Guard, The Favorite, The Queen, The Maid, Scenes from Celeste after the one and Where are they now), The Heir, and The Crown |
The Selection is a 2012 young adult novel by Kiera Cass. The first book was published on April 24, 2012 through HarperTeen and was optioned for a potential television series through the CW, but was not picked up. The novel is followed with the 2013 release of The Elite, the second book in the series, followed by the third book in the series, The One. The fourth book was released on the fifth of May in 2015, named The Heir. The next book titled The Crown came out on the third of May in 2016. The Prince, a novella narrated from the viewpoint of Prince Maxon, was also released, along with The Guard, a novella told by the point of view of Aspen. Two other novellas, called The Queen and The Favourite were also released.
Of the series, Cass stated that she began writing The Selection after thinking about the differences between Esther and Cinderella, wondering if either of them were happy with how they ended up. She also commented that she had written the book "from start to finish", while her writing process for the other books differed.
America Singer lives in a world with eight castes depending on one's social and economic status. Ones are the royals and most desirable, with Eights being the lowest and poorest. America is a Five, which consists of the entertainers (Musicians, Artists), and are often fairly poor. Crown Prince Maxon Schreave will be holding the Selection, a competition for the prince's hand and the crown for a princess. Despite pressure from her mother, Magda, and younger sister, May, America has no interest in entering the competition because she has been secretly dating Aspen, a Six. Aspen urges America to accept the opportunity at a better life. Her mother later bribes her into the Selection by offering to let her keep half of what she earns at her jobs. Later that night, America brings food to Aspen, and Aspen gets upset, believing that he must be the "provider". America is devastated, and at her weakest state, she is chosen for the Selection. Without the support of Aspen, she travels to the palace where she has to compete with 34 other girls to win the prince's heart.
On the way to the palace, America meets some of her competitors: Marlee, who will later become her best friend, Ashley, and Celeste, someone she does get along with. The night before the girls meet the prince, America accidentally meets Maxon when she goes through a panic attack, and out of need for fresh air, tries to get out of the palace into the garden. When the guards refuse to let her outside, Maxon hears the commotion and demands the guards to let her out. On the verge of tears, America shouts at the prince, calling him "shallow", which surprisingly amuses him. Through their first meeting, America dislikes Maxon, but as the story progresses, a friendship develops. The official day of America begs Maxon to let her stay so her family could be supported. All the competition's girls' families will be provided with money.
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