The Selection: Kiera Cass’s series

Kiera Cass’s “The Selection” series, starting with the 2012 novel, explores a dystopian world with castes and royal competition. The series has received mixed reviews, inspired spin-off novels, and faced controversies over online reviews and adaptation attempts.

By Brad Nakase, Attorney

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Plot of The Selection

3. Characters of The Selection

4. Reception of The Selection

5. Controversy surrounding The Selection

6. Adaptations of The Selection

Introduction

HarperCollins initially published Kiera Cass’s young adult book The Selection on 14^th April 2012. It’s the first installment in a five-book series that includes The Crown (2016, May), The Heir in 2015, The One in 2014, and The Elite in 2013. The events of the initial three occur twenty years later in the final two.

Furthermore, 4 spin-off novels were published. Two ancillary characters provide the perspective in the initial two, The Prince & The Guard. Two additional minor characters from the primary series are the subject of the prequels The Queen & The Favorite. ‘Happily Ever After’, a single volume that included epilogues and supplementary material compiled the four novels.

It was while pondering the distinctions between Cinderella and Esther—and whether or not each of them was satisfied with their fate—that Kiera Cass said she began drafting The Selection. She added that although her writing method for the remaining volumes was different, she penned the work “from beginning to end”.

Plot of The Selection

In a future civilization, people are classified into 8 castes: the Eights are primarily homeless/orphans, drug addicts, disabled, and unemployed, while the Ones are the wealthiest and comprise elites and royals. The “artist” caste, which includes actors, dancers, musicians, and artists, is represented by America Singer. Fives lead lower-class lives since their economic success is based on their appeal. But America doesn’t mind because she likes to entertain, especially when she plays the violin.

The Selection is a struggle for the prince’s consent to marriage and the crown, and Maxon Schreave, the heir apparent of Illéa, declares that he is carrying on his father’s legacy. America isn’t interested in competing, despite her mother’s pleas, as she holds onto Aspen, her secret boyfriend and adjacent neighbor.

America chooses to enchant Aspen with supper at the treehouse after holding a talk with her mom that allows her to retain the majority of her money. He feels that he ought to be in a position to support her and gets upset by this given that he belongs to the servant class, the Six, and he lacks no alternate way of supporting himself after taking responsibility for his siblings and mother. Ultimately, Aspen chooses to sever ties with America.

After their breakup along with the help of her mom’s bribe, America must compete with 34 other females to capture the prince’s love in the Selection and then the castle. That she receives an allowance provided to the family throughout her stay at the royal residence also helps.

During the initial week of the visit, America quickly befriends a farmer named Marlee Tames (four caste) and a model named Celeste Newsome (two caste), and she also attracts the interest of the nation and the royal palace staff due to her distinct personality. Though a fortuitous encounter in the garden leads to their friendship, she still has no intention of marrying Prince Maxon. Despite her growing feelings for the prince, America still has feelings for Aspen. America feels as though she might be able to marry Maxon and move on from Aspen when he gives her his first passionate kiss. Things get nervous particularly as the rebels appear to be coming closer, but the continuous attacks on the royal residence serve to drive away her cowardly rivals. As America grows envious of Maxon hanging out with his fellow Selected, tensions in rivalry also rise.

When Aspen eventually re-enters the royal residence as another guard, America sees him for the last time. He got called into the military and graduated with honors. America is further confused by Aspen’s looks and starts to feel more and more fascination with him as he slips into her bedroom to meet her. Treason is defined as dating someone besides the prince amid the competition, and it carries a death sentence as a possible punishment. Despite the potential repercussions, America talks with Aspen.

Following a rebel assault that results in the departure of the three selected females, Prince Maxon selects six girls as The Elite. America discovers that she has emotions for Maxon and realizes she may be content with him once her name is one of the 6 that are picked to stay. In light of this, she informs Aspen about her inability to carry on their relationship. Refusing to let up, Aspen says he will try even harder to earn her affection over Maxon once more. The tale closes with America recognizing that she belongs among the wealthy/elite, which is precisely where she should be.

Characters of The Selection

American Singer: Similar to her locks of red, she adopts a rebellious mindset. She acquired her mother’s tendency towards short tempers. America asserts that she lacks leadership qualities, yet she doesn’t hesitate to voice her opinions. For instance, Silvia instructed her maids to deliver food and water to the Selected during the rebel raid on the royal residence carried out by Southerners.But America instructed her that the girls could take responsibility for themselves and advised Anne to feed the royals solely. She frequently jumps to inferences and may be very obstinate and pushy at times. She occasionally exhibits hypocrisy, yet she always offers an apology when proven incorrect. When America first entered the Selection, her biggest concern was that she would lose her uniqueness, something that all other Selected females were going to give away to inherit the crown.
Ultimately, America represents a really brave person who, when the dust settles, will always own up to any blunders she may have made and undertake the necessary action to make things right. She constantly fears losing somebody she cares about.
Prince Maxon: When America first witnessed Maxon on television, she thought he looked like a shallow, conceited individual. For this reason, on their first meeting, she misinterprets his motivations and accidentally kicks him in the groin. She eventually learns that he is genuinely very courteous and gentlemanly, though, and he pardons her. Eventually, both individuals started chatting to one another, sharing confidential information, and enjoying themselves as they became friends.America gave him guidance on how to aid the lowest castes and comprehend his own kingdom. Maxon has great admiration for America’s bravery, generosity, strong will, and feeling of honor. He says at the start of the Selection that he wishes to be near her. That way he can pick up on these traits. He has made it clear that he values truth and honesty, and that America should always be upfront with him and have faith in his judgment.
He stays extremely private and dislikes others meddling in his private affairs, particularly during the Selection whenever cameras follow him everywhere, or the Elites chatting among themselves regarding what he doesn’t or does for them.
Aspen Leger: Feels that it would be best for America to participate in the Selection in order to support her family, even though he loves her and wants to wed her in the future. Through numerous sections of the book, America is always thinking about Aspen. Given his complex history with America, he frequently wonders about her connection with Maxon. Once America gets selected for the Selection, he gets accepted into the armed forces and rises to the pinnacle of his class before being appointed to the royal palace’s Royal Guard.
Marlee Tames: America’s best friend and a part of the Elite. As they head to the castle, Marlee first encounters America Singer. From the moment they boarded the plane, America & Marlee get along. Both of them got along well and swiftly became friends. Following their first date, Marlee grows disinterested in Prince Maxon, but she refuses to depart the Selection for reasons of her own.
Celeste Newsome: She happens to be two, a model, and an integral part of the Elite. Celeste feels superior to opponents who are lower caste, such as America & Marlee. She knows when to take advantage of her attractiveness, is conceited and self-assured, and will stop at nothing to succeed, even if it means disobeying the Selection’s rules. She lashes out at one of the participants, causing them to be disqualified from the competition (as it is forbidden to use assault against other contestants). She employs additional strategies to get additional selected members declared ineligible.
Kriss Ambers: an Elite member who is also a 3.
Elise Whisks: an Elite member who is a Four. She is related to people in New Asia, a nation with which Illéa is embroiled in war.
Natalie Luca: an Elite member who is a Four. She is perceived as having a head that is in the sky.
Clarkson Schreave: As Maxon’s father and Prince of Illéa, he is frequently regarded as severe. When he becomes upset, the girls act fearfully. America despises him.
Amberly Schreave: Mother of Maxon and Empress of Illéa. She is a native of Honduras and was part of the Four before she wed King Clarkson following the conclusion of his Selection. America describes her as having a compassionate heart. Her people really adore her very much.
America’s family: Painter Shalom; musician Madga; Kenna (a Five originally, but she married a Four & factory worker, James Orders], and she is now expecting a child); Kota, a creative person who is not close to his family; May, the painter; and Gerad, the family baby who hasn’t decided on a career yet.

Reception of The Selection

Publishers Weekly praised the qualities of America in their favorable review of the book. Kirkus Reviews criticized The Selection. MTV, Booklist, and The School Library Journal all gave it favorable reviews. It “is somewhat a rip-off of Hunger Games, but nevertheless, it’s an amusing one,” the A.V. Club noted in its largely favorable review. It was the Middle-Grade winner of the Young Hoosier Book Award (2017).

Controversy surrounding The Selection

A one-star rating for Cass’s novel, The Selection, was published on the book review website Goodreads on 12^th January 2012. Elana Roth, the literary agent for Kiera Cass, later that day tweeted a number of disparaging remarks on Twitter. Roth referred to the reviewer by derogatory terms during what Roth and Cass thought to be a private—but actually public—conversation in which they discussed how to effectively manipulate the system for ranking to push down bad reviews and up favorable ones.

Publishers Weekly published an article denouncing this technique in response to the scandal, which also prompted other publications, reviewers, and bloggers to voice their opposition to authors and agencies cyberbullying amateur reviewers.

Adaptations of The Selection

The CW optioned ownership rights to Cass’s series in 2012 with the intention of developing it as a television show. The pilot episode was not called up to season for the 2012 (fall) TV season, despite Aimee Teegarden playing America Singer in the show. In 2013, the network did not choose to pick up an additional pilot that starred Yael Grobglas playing the same role for the CW.

The book’s movie rights were acquired by Warner Bros., which declared in 2015. Pouya Shahbazian, Denise Di Novi, & Alison Greenspan from DiNovi Pictures will be producing, while Katie Lovejoy will pen the screenplay.

The initial novel would be adapted by Netflix, it was confirmed in 2020 (April). According to a Variety report, Saudi Arabian director Haifaa Al-Mansour, who collaborated with Netflix for Nappily Ever After (2018), will helm the picture. Executive producers Margaret French Isaac & Pouya Shahbazian will produce alongside Denise Di Novi. Netflix chose to scrap its plans to make the film in May 2023, but for the ensuing years, they will still hold the film rights.

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