Annonation # 3-The Selection by Kiera Cass

Pull up a chair, the owl is in.

Actually the owl is not in a happy mood. Besides trying to find items for a big report, this  annotation is my (and according our text, most librarians) least favorite genre-science fiction, which is a story that takes place in a "what if" future and occasionally features aliens, robots, technical jargon and unique but hard-to-pronounce character and/or planet names (presented with a really cool cover.)

About the Owl and Science Fiction-
While I love the rebooted Doctor Who and the Star Wars franchise ( 4-6 and the  Ewoks cartoon series from the mid-80s), I've never been a sci fi geek. Every time I've tried it, I get through two chapters and give up. ( But the covers are cool!!) For some reason, I do like the  teen and juvenile dystopia books (Hunger Games, Unwind, and Among the Hidden. True, they present a dark and war-torn future, but they are a little more believable than flying cars and weird space outfits with high collars.) After trying to read Ursula LeGuin's Eye of the Heron ( cool cover, by the way) I went on Novelist to see what was similar to the popular teen dystopia trilogy Divergent  and found...


Title: The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Genre: Sciene Fiction/Romance/ Teen Lit
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Number of Pages: 327
Series: The Selection trilogy, # 1
Geographical Setting: a futuristic country called  Illea ( formally the United States)
Time Frame: ???
Topics:  Contests, Dystopias, Social Classes, Teen Romance

Characteristics of Science Fiction ( as Featured in This Book)

• Set in the future, in a caste-divided country called Illea ( formally the United States). Citizens are divided up into eight different social classes, ranging from 1 ( rich and famous) to 8 ( poor and homeless).
• Moral, social, and ethical issues are explored in the plot, particularly in the Selection, a dating contest created by the Illea government to seek a princess for Prince Maxon.
•  Language is visual and evocative, helps in world-building ( process of creating an imaginary world) or "otherness". 
• Tone is somewhat dark but romantic.
• Very fast-paced, youth-driven ( most of the characters are teenagers).
•  Series driven ( ends in a cliffhanger, action will continue in books 2 and 3).

Characteristics of Romanace ( as Featured in This Book)

• America is a bright, strong-willed teen that remains true to herself during the contest. Her love interest are the hard working, lower caste Aspen and sweet but somewhat clueless Prince Maxon (who becomes a better person as he gets to know America).
• A few misunderstandings cause American and Aspen to end their secret romance. Chance does bring Aspen to the palace to explain the misunderstanding and declare his love, but creates a rift in America's budding relationship with Maxon.
• Unlike most romance, we don't a happy ending.. yet (  we get a cliffhanger because there are two more books.)

Plot Summary:In the futuristic caste-divided world of Illea ( formally the United States), a contest called the Selection has been created to help Prince Maxon find a mate.  One of the contestants, America Singer, only signs up to financially help her family (and because her secret, lower caste boyfriend, Aspen, encouraged her.) But as America gets to know Maxon, she questions all that she knows and all that could be.

My take-I actually enjoyed this Hunger Games ( minus the bloodshed but lots of pageantry) meets The Bachelor ( minus the Rose Ceremony but plenty of drama) book. Really like America Singer, who is very down to earth and nice to everyone, even the villainess Celeste (also love the story of how she got her name). I really like her budding relationship with Maxon ( sort of hate you-love you relationship one would one in romantic comedies, especially one date that lead to her kneeing him in the groin) than her secret relationship with Aspen ( who becomes a jerk after she is Selected).
 I'm not sure Cass does a great job in establishing Illea. We get a few details about some of the caste levels and some of the rules and regulations ( such as having sex before marriage leads to jail) but very little as how Illea is formed ( we get some idea during the girls' princess lessons. It's too hard to explain other than it involves a third world war that leads to China somehow overthrowing the US's bankrupted government.) Also, the rebel attacks are bland ( we never see the rebel forces. The girls are told to hide, some descriptions the guards are fighting the rebel forces happen , then it's all safe for everyone to come out.)
 Other than the  undeveloped setting, it's a good read. I'm curious about what will happen in The Elite ( just requested it) and The One ( coming May 2014. Also saw there is a novella prequel called The Prince and The Guard.)

Read-a-Likes ( From Novelist)

•  Wither (Chemical Garden trilogy 1)  by Lauren DeStefano- After genetic engineering  has turned every human being  into living time bombs, young girls are kidnapped and forced into marriages to repopulate the world.
• Matched ( Matched trilogy 1) by Allison Condie- Seventeen year-old Cassia lives in a dystopian society where citizens are "matched" by the government. When "matched" with her childhood friend, Xander, she looks happy toward the future. But questions arise when another face shows up on her matched disk.
• Mockingjay ( Hunger Games trilogy 3) by Suzanne Collins- In the conclusion of the series, two-time Hunger Games winner Katniss Everdeen must save true love Peeta from a vengeful Capitol.

I'll probably stick to  the teen and juvenile section for science fiction but I might also do paranormal romances ( some of Susan Grant's novels sound real funny) and steampunk.

Oh yes, it's ladies' night , and we're feeling right(actually women's lives and relationships is the next genre). Really looking forward to it, pajama party, anyone?