"The Selection" (A Book Synopsis) A book I like is "The Selection" by Kiera Cass. It is a young-adult, dystopian, romance novel set in North America after the Fourth World War. It is the first part of a series ("The Selection", "The Elite", "The One" and "The Heir", and I think there will be more books that still aren't published). It tells the story of a young girl named America Singer, who lives in Illeá, a country that occupies the place once named The United States of America. The people in Illeá are divided in “castes”. Castes are numbers. There are eight castes. The lower the number, the richer. She is a Five. The royal family’s members are Ones. She is in love with a boy, Aspen Leger, who is a Six. When the prince of Illeá, Maxon Scheavre, celebrates his eighteenth birthday, single women between sixteen and twenty years old receive a letter inviting them to take part on the Selection. The Selection is an event in which thirty-five young girls are selected, and they have to live in palace, competing to win the prince’s heart (and crown). America does not want to participate, because she loves Aspen, but she has to accept because of her mother’s pressure. She is selected. At first, she does not like the Prince. However, slowly, their friendship develops. Eventually, America realizes that she likes him. Her feelings are confused. She still loves Aspen, but she is angry with him because she saw him with other girl the day she left her house to go to the palace. Now she is falling in love with prince Maxon. Then Aspen appears in palace, now being a member of the guard. Aspen's appearance confuses America's feelings even more and she begins to feel like she is still in love with him. Having any kind of romantic relationship with someone other than the prince during the competition is considered treason, and the punishment for treason can be as severe as death. Despite knowing the consequence, America cannot help but be with Aspen. Soon, six contestants are left. America is happy when she is chosen to be part of the Elite. The book ends with America finally realizing that she is exactly where she ought to be — among The Elite. --------------------- I'll write a new notebook entry later with my personal opinion of the book. I expect you to correct my mistakes! :)