The Selection

At dinner that night, Maxon makes an announcement to the Selected girls: Anyone who is a Two or a Three “will no longer [receive] financing” for participating in the Selection, and “Fours and Fives will continue to receive compensation, but it will be slightly less” (232) than what it was before. He apologizes but promises to explain himself on the Report. The next night, America’s maids tell her that they’ve heard some gossip about Janelle: “the reason she was asked to leave is because she said some rather unkind things about [America]” (235), so the maids believe that America is Maxon’s favorite girl. They present her with a red dress and explain that all of the other girls are trying to copy America by wearing shades of blue. At the Report, Celeste ambushes America and orders her to “[t]ake off [her] dress” so they can switch (238). America refuses, and Celeste “reache[s] up and rip[s] one of [America’s] sleeves off” (239). America is stunned, but no one else witnesses Celeste’s attack. The Report begins, and Maxon addresses the audience with big news: After speaking with the Selected girls, Maxon has been alerted to “the suffering of some of [the] lower castes, and [he] intend[s] to do something about it” (241). Thanks to the generosity of the Selected girls giving up some or all of their compensation, Illéa will set up “public assistance for food” (241-242) for any “Five, Six, Seven, or Eight” (242).

America is shocked and touched by this announcement. The interviews begin, and when it is America’s turn to talk to Gavril Fadaye, she confesses that she was the girl who yelled at Maxon. She talks about her dates with Maxon, and when Gavril asks what she thinks of the prince, America decides to be honest: She says that Maxon is “the epitome of all things good,” that he will be “a phenomenal king” (248), and that she “will be honored to be his subject” (249). After the Report, America meets up with Maxon in the garden, and they share their first kiss. Maxon asks America if there is any chance at all that she might grow to have feelings for him. To her own amazement, America admits, “It’s possible” (255).

A few later, one of the Selected girls, Olivia, announces that Maxon kissed her on their date. America is upset but tries to conceal her jealousy. She remembers that this is all a part of the Selection, and as she discusses the new development with the other girls, she realizes that “[they] [are] all going through this in a different way, and maybe even for different reasons, but [they] [are] at least going through it together” (259). An announcement is made that “the king and queen of Swendway are coming to visit” (260), and a huge party is thrown to welcome the royal family members. During the party, America meets Queen Amberly’s sister, Adele.

The other girls call her “vulgar” and make fun of Adele for being drunk, which leads America to wonder if she would be expected to change her own family’s behavior if she won the Selection. Maxon tries to joke with America, who is still annoyed that he kissed Olivia, so she dismisses him, saying she “[doesn’t] feel like being a part of the Selection today” (264). America ends up speaking privately to Adele, who tells her that Queen Amberly had several miscarriages, and Maxon was the only pregnancy that survived. She explains that Amberly might seem distant, but “[s]he’s terrified of becoming attached to all of [the girls] just to watch [them] leave” (267). Amberly wants a daughter, and as America looks at the royal family, she decides to give Maxon a chance, regardless of how complicated her feelings are about the Selection. Maxon “tug[s] his ear” and “[America] [does] the same” (268).

Time passes, and America settles into life at the palace. The competition heats up, and the girls enjoy sharing details of their dates with Maxon. Marlee is predicted to be a front-runner in the competition, but one day she confesses to America that she doesn’t feel any spark or connection with Maxon, and she suspects that it’s only her popularity with the crowds that’s keeping her in the running. Still, Marlee is reluctant to go home, but she doesn’t tell America why. Days pass, and America meets up with Maxon. America has “asked [Maxon] not to kiss [her] until [she] [is] more certain” about how she feels about him (274). As they walk through the halls of the palace, laughing and joking together, they suddenly turn a corner and come face-to-face with Aspen. America is shocked, and she realizes that Aspen was “taken by the draft after all” and wound up at the palace as a guard (275). America is seized with conflicting emotions of rage, delight, fear, and heartache. She covers her emotions and explains to Maxon that “Officer Leger comes from Carolina,” and more specifically, “from [her] hometown” (276). Maxon is thrilled and orders Aspen to be the guard for America’s room, since she “refuses to keep a maid in her room at night” (277). America and Maxon continue on to their date. America decides not to tell Maxon who Aspen really is, because “[Maxon] hate[s] anyone who would treat [America] with so little care” (277). She begins to wonder if she can avoid Aspen, and what it would mean for her family and for her relationship with Maxon if she were to leave the palace now.

In the days that follow, America stays in the Women’s Room as much as possible to avoid Maxon or Aspen. One of the Selected girls, Kriss, has a birthday, and Maxon decides to throw a party for her. America decides to play the violin for her. At the party, the girls are the only guests, but Marlee explains that “Maxon’s coming by later to wish Kriss a happy birthday in person” (281). Kriss is dressed in a white gown and has her hair styled to look like she is wearing a crown. She looks “mature, regal, bridal” (282), and the effect is unnerving. America notices that Celeste is clearly jealous, and she sticks close to Kriss while carrying a glass of wine.

America plays the violin for Kriss, and she gets lost in the act of playing: “For a while, there [is] no wicked Celeste, no Aspen lurking in the palace, no rebels trying to invade,” and as she plays, “this gift that was meant to be something for Kriss [becomes] something for [America]” (285). When America finishes the song, she realizes that Maxon has walked in, and he is looking at her with a “handsome, awestruck expression” (285). Suddenly, Celeste spills wine on Kriss’s dress and ruins it. Kriss flees the room in tears, and although Celeste claims it was an accident, the girls all know the truth. America thinks about all the damage Celeste has done already, and she decides that she has to try to get her thrown out of the palace.