Staff Reviews

Kiera Cass's novel The Selection is a delightful and warm YA dystopian - which sounds like an impossible combination, but made for a great book.  Thirty five girls have been chosen to attend the royal Selection in hopes of becoming the prince's wife.  While America is adamant that she has no desire to participate, her family and secret boyfriend convince her to put her name in.  Of course her family wants her to win so that they can be elevated from their lowly caste status of five and no longer have to worry about food and her boyfriend (even lower than she is as he is a six) knows that this could mean that America never has to worry about surviving day to day again.  Out of hundreds of girls, America is chosen to go to the palace and date the prince.  While the extra income is good for her family, America is sure she will never have feelings for the prince but she decides it works out for everyone if she continues to compete.

I'll be honest, I picked this book up because the cover is breathtaking, then I started reading and fell in love with this story.  The events were predictable and similar to the TV show the Bachelor, but I adored the characters and found myself reading the entire book in a day.  America and Prince Maxon's relationship is so much fun to read.  Their up and down relationship is witty, charming, and just very sweet.  I found myself hurrying to get to the next section with both of them just to see what they would say.   This was a great character book and a wonderful way to escape the day.  I am really excited to start book two, The Elite later tonight.