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The Selection written by Kiera Cass is a captivating and engaging romance novel written for young adults. One of the main characters America Singer is a 18 year old girl that is chosen for “The Selection” a competition in which a young girl is chosen to be the next princess. Thirty five young girls are chosen to potentially become the next princess of Illéa and marry Prince Maxon, the heart throb of the century. All the girls are eager to apply and feel giddy at the thought of becoming the next princess, except America. America is unique and stands out from the other thirty five girls due to the fact that she is from a much lower social status or more commonly known in the book; a cast, than most of the other contestants. She is in the fifth cast out of eight whereas most of the other girls are twos or threes. Being in a lower cast is usually looked down upon and one is thought less of if they come from a lower cast. Limited job opportunities with limited amounts of money provided are offered for people of lower classes.This competition provides a major opportunity for many girls in a similar situation as America to rise through the rankings of society and earn more power. America is a very strong willed and determined young lady which gives her advantages and disadvantages and different points throughout the story. She almost immediately catches the eye of young Prince Maxon and makes an interesting first impression! America’s passion for changing societal standards and also her constantly changing feelings put her in a unique position throughout the competition. Many mistakes are made by America, Maxon, the rest of the girls, and the royal family which provide for an exciting plot. A twisted and complicated love triangle also makes for an exhilarating plot. America often doubts her capabilities but is quick to assure others that she is worthy of becoming the next princess.  

There are so many different reasons why I would recommend this book to others. Not only would I recommend this story because of its heart warming love story, but also because it has many unexpected twists and turns providing a sense of mystery throughout the entire book. So many events come out of nowhere in the story that it always lead me wanting to read more and more. This is a book that I never wanted to put down, and once I started reading I always wanted to keep reading! I loved the constant thrill of never knowing what was going to come next.The author does an amazing job of keeping the plot interesting and there is never a dull moment in the castle and throughout the entire competition. Many friendships come and go, emotions change constantly, and girls are sent home heartbroken which makes for a thrilling story. This series was by far one of my new favorite book series to read and I would strongly recommend other young adults to read this book if they are looking for something pleasant and entertaining to read.  

Check out The Selection from the Newport Beach Public Library.