Post 10: Book 3 review

The books I will be discussing are The Selection By: Kiera Cass and Allegiant By: Veronica Roth. Both of these books come from the dystopian genre. It’s just that the first has a bit of a love story mixed in, while the second has a futuristic world with love, war, and more. The Selection is about a girl who is chosen for The Selection by the Prince of Illea. This then begins her struggle about who she loves, how the monarchy and caste system is wrong, and if she can become a princess if she is the one. Kiera Cass is currently working on the third book of this trilogy set to come out May 6^th. Allegiant is the third book in the Divergent Trilogy. It continues Tris and Tobias’s journey in making the country right and fighting for their relationship (spoiler if you haven’t read the first book).  While these two books are different they are also immensely similar.

 

One of the most common archetypes shown in dystopian novels is a female lead who is disgruntled with the government and is a warrior of sorts against them. In Allegiant Tris doesn’t really discover how disgruntled she is with the government until she makes her choice at the Choosing Ceremony and finds out she is Divergent. America Singer from The Selection becomes a very similar warrior after she is chosen and begins to learn more about the caste system. Bust she is more of a warrior of words than a warrior of actions like Tris is. These characters are both under developed in the beginning as you learn about them. But then all of a sudden they bloom into a rose no one was expecting. A rose fighting for power and completely immersed in the water that is their new world once they bloom. America becomes a rose towards the end of The Selection when she becomes an Elite. “The Selection was no longer something that was simply happening to me, but something I was actively a part of. I was an Elite.” (Cass). This is a revelation most dystopian characters have, that they have become someone new, someone who is aware what needs to be done to set things right.

There is always some sort of romance in the plot of these novels as well, rather it be the big picture or the small picture. In The Selection the romance takes over about seventy-five percent of the story, while the discontent against the caste system takes over the other twenty-five percent. With what the end goal of the plot of this trilogy is, this balance is perfect. The classic love triangle appears (spoiler) between America, Aspen, and Maxon. Though most love triangles are cliché, this one is not so. Read to explore why this is true. When America first meets Maxon it is distinctly clear she is not the average teenage girl. She is matured past her years. This is true for Tris too. She is infinitely mature for her age. When she begins to date Tobias she blooms even more and eventually comes full circle. This love is essential to her character development.  “I fell in love with him. But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me.” (Roth)

Voice in dystopian novels is most commonly the female warrior. This was true for The Selection as readers are allowed to read every methodical thought and detail that runs through America’s head. Her voice is strong and has a bit of a sarcastic kick to it that makes the read more enjoyable “I guessed princesses-in-training didn’t wear pants.” (Cass). This scene is wear quite a bit of her sarcasm comes out. She really dislikes having to wear a dress every day and wagers a bet where if she wins, she gets to wear pants for a day. Her sarcasm comes out when she is mainly around maxon, as they joke with each other all the time. Tris Prior is a bit sarcastic, but for her there are a lot of serious moments that require her voice to deep and aged. Voice can make or break a book in this genre. Without a good voice and narrator, who wants to try and keep up with a new world?

            I would have to give The Selection a five out of five crowns for its excellent plot development, wonderfully annoying cliff-hangers, and its main character’s voice. Allegiant will receive five out of guns for its action-packed plot with a hint of romance, horrific cliff-hangers and truly upsetting but well resolved ending. They both deserve a good-read award and that’s what they get.