The Selection

America’s world is turned upside-down as preparations for the Selection begin. The Singer home is full of visitors, including a man who tells America and her mother that America “[is] now considered property of Illéa” (59). She is told that she must take good care of her body by eating and sleeping well, and to their surprise, he “need[s] confirmation that [America] [is], in fact, a virgin” (60). America and her mother are disgusted. The man goes over the rules of the Selection: America will not be able to leave unless she is dismissed, no matter how long the Selection process lasts. And, because she is now considered property of Illéa, she is not to have romantic contact with anyone other than Prince Maxon. In fact, if she is “caught in a relationship with another person in the palace, that is considered treason and is punishable by death” (62).

America will have little privacy and little control over what she eats or wears, and as the man leaves, he tells America in private that “it would not behoove [her] to reject the prince under any circumstances” (64-65), no matter what he wants from her. America is repulsed by the implications of this statement and feels dirty. The day before America leaves for the Selection, Aspen comes to visit America. He explains that he was thinking about proposing to America, but he was afraid he would be drafted into the Illéan military. America is angry with Aspen, and she tells him that “they’re practically shipping [her] off to be one of Maxon’s playthings” (69). She tells him that she didn’t want any of this: She only wanted Aspen. She returns all the pennies he gave her, except for one that “stayed glued to the bottom” of the jar (70). Aspen leaves, and America breaks into tears.

The next morning, America heads for the town square for her send-off. Her older brother and sister, Kota and Kenna, come by to say goodbye, although America notices that Kota seems more interested in using America’s newfound fame to bolster his own. As they step into the crowded square, America is overwhelmed. She notices that although the higher castes clearly disapprove of her presence, the lower caste members cheer for her, “an average girl who’d been elevated” (72). As she scans the crowd, she is shocked and heartbroken to see Aspen with another girl, “casually holding her around the waist and smiling” (73). America wonders if Aspen ever really loved her at all, and she is suddenly desperate to leave her province to get away from Aspen. America says goodbye to her family, and as she turns to leave, she hears Aspen calling for her. She sees him trying to get her attention, but America is “done with Aspen’s games” (77), and she gets into the car to go to the airport.

At the airport, America mourns the loss of her old life, but she vows to forget about Aspen and decides that “[t]he palace [will] be [her] sanctuary” (79). She will start anew in the palace in Angeles, and although she lacks experience making connections outside of her family, she wants to try to make friends with the other girls. She meets Marlee, Ashley, and Celeste, three other girls chosen for the Selection. America mentions that her mother warned her to be wary of the other girls, but Marlee and America become fast friends. Ashley is reserved, but Celeste is a bully who tries to “inspire intimidation” in the other girls (81). On the plane, America and Marlee discuss the competition. They agree that Ashley is ladylike and proper, whereas Celeste is “aggressive,” even though “Maxon’s not even around yet” (83). Marlee is a Four, and she is hopeful that the other girls will be as nice as Ashley and America. When the plane lands in Angeles, a jubilant crowd greets the Selected girls. America is tempted to cower, but then she spies a little girl holding a sign in support of her. America interacts with the crowd, taking photos and signing autographs, and as she and the other Selected girls are whisked away to the palace, she is “in awe of how [she’s] adjusted so quickly to something that had frightened [her] only moments before” (86).