2012
WISE Score
Amazon
Think 'The Hunger Games' meets 'The Bachelor' but with way more glitter and significantly fewer murders.
4.5
4.5View →Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)
The Selection is literary popcorn. It’s not trying to be the next great American novel, and that’s why it works. It’s fast-paced, dramatic, and honestly hard to put down once the competition starts.
While the 'Bachelor' vibes are heavy, the underlying story about a girl trying to navigate a broken social system gives it just enough weight to keep it from being total brain rot. If your kid is into romance and high-stakes drama, this is a very safe, very engaging win.
Perfect for 12 to 15-year-olds. It hits that sweet spot of 'grown-up' romance without the explicit content that usually comes with it.
It's essentially a televised dating competition, which isn't the peak of emotional health, but the protagonist, America, maintains her integrity and stands up for her family and values throughout.
The world of Illéa—a post-WWIV United States with a rigid caste system—is a creative backdrop for what could have been a standard romance.
As a YA book, it's very safe. There are some rebel attacks and mild violence, plus some heavy making out, but nothing that would shock a middle schooler.
It offers some decent entry-level commentary on classism and social mobility, though the 'fighting over a prince' plot line keeps it firmly in the entertainment category.
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