The Selection

America enters the Selection believing that the winner will simply be a pretty face for the cameras rather than an actual ruler. How does her view change over the course of the novel? What events cause her to realize that being a royal is more challenging than she thought?

The representative from the palace asks America to confirm that she is a virgin, and if she is not, she must tell the government immediately. Why is this issue so important?

How does the author use the caste system to show the different lifestyles and perspectives of the rich and the poor? How does America respond to these differences?

Think about the characters of Aspen and Maxon. How are these young men similar? How are their upbringings, families, and personalities different? Compare and contrast.

America is quickly identified as a favorite of Prince Maxon’s. How do the other Selected girls respond to this? How does America’s family respond in comparison?

America befriends her maids and becomes very protective of these women. What aspects of America’s upbringing and personal background would lead her to care so much about her servants?

Throughout the book, different characters express jealousy in different ways. What moments in the text showcase the danger of jealousy? How does jealousy influence the course of the Selection?

Maxon is supposed to narrow the Elite down to 10 girls, but instead, he chooses to keep only 6. Why does he make this decision? What does this detail reveal about Maxon’s character?