The One

angelay - I have read the previous two books in the series before but have never gotten a chance to read the third. I finished this last week and felt like the previous two books were much better, but at least I liked the ending. In the book, America Singer is just an ordinary girl that suddenly meets the prince of her dreams and has to fight for him, against several other girls who are vying for Maxon's love. I really liked the way the author crafted the characters. America isn't perfect. She has her own insecurities and she can't make decisions immediately, like a queen should, but that's okay, because no one is perfect. When a lot of obstacles come in Maxon's and America's way, I start to feel like they are star-crossed lovers, but the ending wasn't surprising at all. It was very predictable, yet sweet. Great read :)

March 3, 2014
Fans of Cass’s Selection trilogy won’t be disappointed with this satisfying final installment. Lower caste and originally a long shot in the competition, America Singer returns as one of four Elite girls vying for Prince Maxon’s heart and the title of princess of Illea. America is as willful and defiant as ever, making her both a target of King Clarkson’s wrath and the darling of the people of Illea. She and Maxon continue to butt heads even as the chemistry between them remains palpable. The challenges facing the couple are unrelenting: brutal attacks by rebels, new political allies with a clear preference in who is chosen as princess, and ever-tangled relationships with America’s fellow Selected girls. America has the right mix of sass and heart, and her over-the-top royal treatment is enough to make any reader who has ever played dress-up envious. Cass wisely keeps the Selection decision uncertain until the very end, keeping readers on the edge of their seats to find out who Maxon will finally choose as his bride. Ages 13–up. Agent: Elana Roth, Red Tree Literary.

May 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Who will become the future queen of Illea and Prince Maxon's wife? The final book in Cass's "Selection" series begins in the midst of a rebel attack on the palace. The heroine, America, is one of four remaining ladies competing in the selection process in this dystopian saga. Through bravery and a strong character, America has won the people's hearts. However, the king continues doing everything in his power to undermine her opportunities to succeed. While the contestants are competing for Maxon's heart, many other events from the outside world transpire: America's father dies and leaves her a letter, she is shot visiting rebels outside the city, the relationship between Aspen and America shifts, and the Southern rebels begin attacking people in the castles. All the while, the protagonist continues to fall deeply in love with Maxon even though he is involved with her competition. Fans of this series will not be disappointed by the ending. Major plotlines are tied up, and questions left unanswered in the previous installment are resolved here. The star-crossed duo's relationship has its many ups and downs, but their love for each other remains. For general purchase in libraries where the earlier books remain popular and for devotees of beauty pageants, dystopians, and drama-filled romances.-Jesten Ray, Seattle Public Library, WA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.