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By: Emily Adams 12-3-24
Yes, I said it, I hate the Selection and these are my reasons why. My first reason is that America (the main character) does not think things through. My second reason is both the love interests are awful and my last reason is nothing happens! Now you may be about to scream so before you do I’m going to explain my reasons. Also for the purposes of this article I will not be going into the last two books which are counted in the series.
In the kingdom of Illiea there are eight castes and each person fits in one of them. The Ones are royalty, the twos are celebrities and people from the military and so on. The main character America Singer is a five the performers for the kingdom. America is, guess what, a singer but she’s in love with a six, Aspen. It is very frowned upon to marry someone below your caste so they have to keep their relationship secret. That year the king announces that they are going to start the Selection competition. A completely televised competition where thirty-five girls are chosen and go head to head for Prince Maxon's hand in marriage. After Aspen urges America to put her name into the selection, her life is turned upside down, surrounded by glitter, frills, and cameras everywhere. Will she stay true to Aspen or will she choose a life of comfort in the palace?
My first reason why the Selection is bad is that America doesn’t think things through! As a main character she’s supposed to have flaws but not ones that make her generally unlikable and stupid! One of these flaws is shown when Maxon tells America about a secret library and gives her one of the books. In this book America figures out that Gregory Illea who created the country was a fraud. She sits on this information for a while till she’s pushed over the edge and decides to tell everyone about it on live television. Which you might be thinking “oh is that it” no, no it is not. I was very much for this release of information but the way she ended up doing it. That week the girls are told they have to come up with something they want to change in Illea and they have to explain it on live television. America’s presentation is about how they should get rid of the caste system. She goes through the whole thing and DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT! But after she’s done and she’s asked about it she brings out the book and the king turns off the cameras and takes it away! She could have put the information in the presentation so everyone could see it! But she doesn’t do anything about it till the camera’s are turned off! Totally defeating the entire purpose!
My next reason is that both of the love interests are awful! As I’ve said before characters are supposed to have flaws so the characters can work through them but not ones that make them borderline abusive! I’m first going to talk about Aspen because he is the first love interest we are introduced to and the first “flaw” we are introduced to. In the book America’s mom bribes her with money to sign-up for the selection. Now in chapter five we are shown Aspen's “first flaw”. When America beats Aspen to the treehouse where they secretly meet so she can set up a nice meal for him. He blows up and ends up saying “ I’m not some charity case, America. I’m a man. I’m supposed to be a provider.” He seems like a perfectly healthy, not insecure person. Now what's even worse than the fact that this is sexist, is that his logic doesn’t even make sense! If he is talking about classic gender roles America is the woman she should be making the meals for him! I will now talk about Maxon, in the second book is this little number from Maxon when America says she wants to go home “You’re done when I say you are” a direct contradiction from the first book “I won’t keep someone here against her will” Wow such a personality flip! Now if you think I want to root for these people after all the things I’ve pulled from the books I think not. Now if you're still here let me tell you my next reason.
My last reason is that nothing with substance happens! When we first hear about the Selection we learn that it's heavily televised. This is practically never mentioned again only when it’s convenient for the plot like in book two when Marlee, a member of the Selection is accused of treason because the camera’s found her having intimate relations with a guard. Yet when a similar thing happens with Maxon and Celeste the camera’s are nowhere to be found! But America was able to find them when she was just out for a walk. My next thing is that in the first book we are introduced to the rebels. We are told by Maxon that there are two rebel groups, the Southerners and the Northerners. When the Southerners come no one dies they are tied up and blinded but when the Northerners come they kill people. Yet we don’t really learn anything about the Northerners for the rest of the series!
Many people really liked this book and many people didn’t. Someone who liked the book is Evie Meyers who said “ I would say I liked it, some things were repetitive but it still had variety, enough to keep my interest. You know?” I have looked at a lot of reviews some harsher than others but one opinion I keep coming across is the opinion that the Selection is trashy but thats what makes it good from Brooklynn Dodson a student at EJHS helped to explain this opinion “ I hate both the love interests like Aspen who’s super indecisive, doesn’t know what to choose, and he broke up with her and expects her to still want to be with him! And Maxon, they’re all literally cheating on eachother. But I love everything else about the series.” Now she may not have explained it thoroughly but I think it gives a reason for this opinion.
In conclusion, I don't care if you like the books or not. I'm just here to explain my opinion in a respectful way. All in all, this is a decent book, just not something I would really want to read but I can see the appeal for a series like this. Now I’m going to go back to my cup of hot chocolate and cozy fantasy book series.
Credits:
The Selection by Kira Cass
The Elite by Kira Cass
The One by Kira Cass
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