Skip to main content

The Selection by Kiera Cass

By
Brief synopsis (no spoilers): 35 girls are chosen from throughout the kingdom to compete in what is called The Selection. Prince Maxton will choose his bride from among these women. While most girls would kill for the chance to to compete in The Selection, America Singer wants nothing to do with it. However, as "chance" would find it she ends up there anyway. As she gets to know Prince Maxton and experience life at the castle, America's view begins to change. 

Category: YA

Why I chose this book: A friend had given it negative reviews, but then I saw some positive reviews online, so I decided to find out for myself. 

My personal opinion (the review): Overall I don't recommend this book. The "adult situations" were longer and more frequent than I would have liked. Also, America is just so whiny. However, I was interested enough in the whole process to read until the end of the series (and the extras).

Warnings
Language: Maybe 2 or 3 words
Violence: Two rebel groups were mentioned. 
"Adult" situations: Some descriptions of intimacy went further than I would have liked, but I have a low tolerance. All instances ended before they went "too far," but I would be cautious about letting early teens read it. 
Death: None

Movie rating equivalent: PG:13

Protagonist description: America is so wishy washy about everything in her life and what she wants out of life. I want to like her, but every time I start to move that direction she does something that frustrates me all over again.  

Point of view of story: First

Book length: Short

Story flow: Slow, but fluid

Grammar and spelling issues: None

Character connection (no spoilers): I'd have love to known more about her maids

For series:
Independent or integral: Independent as first in the series

Series review as a whole: Very slow but there was enough the keep me reading the entire series (plus the extras).

If you only have time for one, read: (which one): The Selection as first in the series, but don't waste your time. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

By
Summary: Every book needs you to turn the pages. But not every book needs you to tap it, shake it, jiggle it, or even blow it a kiss. Innovative and timeless, Tap the Magic Tree asks you to help one lonely tree change with the seasons. It begins with a bare brown tree. But tap that tree, turn the page, and one bright green leaf has sprouted! Tap again—one, two, three, four—and four more leaves have grown on the next page. Pat, clap, wiggle, jiggle, and see blossoms bloom, apples grow, and the leaves swirl away with the autumn breeze. (Amazon) Attention Span/reading level: Perfect for my three year old. I would say that ages 2-10 would really enjoy something like this. It really keeps kids engaged and makes them feel like part of the story. There is one word to one sentence per page. Good uses for book in teaching: Interaction, that the reader takes part in making the story, what a tree can do (leaves, blossoms, fruit) Favorite part:      Child: The fact that ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Improbable Libraries Alex Johnson

By
Concept: " A visual journey to the world's most unusual libraries." Author : Alex Johnson, a journalist and consultant . Both parents were librarians.  Monologue score  (1-10) (how entertaining): 8 - Overall I found this book quite interesting. I loved seeing all the ways that people were working to bring books into the community and how many were trying to create a sense of community through books. The pictures did a great job of helping to visualize how these libraries are being used.  Difficulty level: 3- Not very hard. Each of the seven sections (Libraries on the Move, Animal Libraries,Tiny Libraries, Big Libraries, Home Libraries, Mobile Libraries, and Not Libraries) starts with a short introduction and then gives a picture (or three) of the library described.  What I Learned/Review:  I really found this to be an enlightening and uplifting book. Having been a librarian and having a love for books in general it warms my heart to see all the ways that ...
1 comment
Read more

Magic Bitter, Magic Sweet by Charlie Holmberg

By
Brief synopsis (no spoilers) Maire has a talent for baking. She can imbue her creations with emotion or even simple abilities. Peace, love, memory, strength, alertness, etc. She is forcibly taken away from her home, and spends the rest of her time trying to get back to the only family she knew. She also has help from a mysterious, ghostly person, who appears to know her well. Category YA Fiction Why I chose this book I've loved every other book the author has written My personal opinion (the review) I love the stories by Mrs H, and have come to expect some pretty fantastical things- she has an incredible, unstoppable imagination. But this one really stretched me; it was almost too weird, too "out there". I don't care, though, I'll keep buying everything she publishes. Happy ending, good love story, gripping plot line. Weird or not, it was a great read. Warnings Language: None Violence: Some. Not frequent, not very graphic, but heart-wrenching "Ad...
Post a Comment
Read more