On her first night in the palace, America gets claustrophobic and runs out into the gardens. (If she wins, she and her entire family will become Ones as members of the royal family.)Īmerica takes off for the palace in Angeles, meets the other contestants, their handlers, and their maids (each girl gets three maids to prepare her dresses, make-up, and so on). She is immediately elevated to a Three, although her family remains Fives. Just afterward, America finds out she has made the cut for the initial selection. Castes are encouraged to marry within their own caste, but it’s not impossible to marry a step below or above, although not easy.Īspen decides he won’t make America be a Six, and breaks up with her. They carry on a secret romance in her tree house. Aspen Leger is a Six (“Sixes are born to serve”), but America loves him. But her mother is a “caste climber” and wants more for America.Īmerica’s ambition is not to be Illéa’s princess, but to be Aspen’s. America says she doesn’t mind being a Five, except when they go hungry. Society is divided into eight castes, with the highest being One, designating the Royal Family. The Singer family is in the Fifth Caste and times are often rough. All girls between the ages of 16 and 20 are eligible to apply, and 35 will be selected for the initial competition.Īmerica Singer is 17, and her mother encourages her to apply, because if she gets selected, it will mean extra food for the family. This is a five-book series that begins with a selection being held in Illéa (part of the former United States – this book takes place after World War IV) for a wife for Prince Maxon. The Selection – Note: No spoilers for Book Oneįor me, reading these books was like when I am in the mood for cookies, and don’t have the best cookies around, but keep eating what is there because I want cookies. To avoid any spoilers but just see my general impressions, you could skip to the Overall Evaluation at the end of the reviews. There will be a total of five books in this series four have been released to date.

The elite selection series