Introduction of main character in first few lines: As is the norm for YA, this story is in first person, so while we don’t get America’s name, her voice quickly gives a good feel of her character. Readers want to know: Just what is the conflict being set up? The line “The big hitch in her brilliant plan was me” creates mystery.
Opening Hook: Strong opening hinting at a serious problem and a possible solution.
The summer was ending, and soon we’d be faced with cold. But I got that from her, so she shouldn’t have been surprised. She couldn’t stand it when I was stubborn. And this was one area where I was unswayable. Or if she wanted me to do a massive cleaning when we couldn’t afford to have a Six come and help. Like if I didn’t want to take on a particular job because I knew the family hosting us was unnecessarily rude. If I glanced up from a task, she’d fix me with a fierce look as if she could shame me into wanting the same things she did. We did a silent dance through the kitchen and dining room as we prepared chicken, pasta, and apple slices, and set the table for five. I pulled myself out of bed and walked into the snake pit. It was approaching dinnertime, and as the oldest child left in the house, cooking duties fell on me. I didn’t think there was a single one she would listen to. So far, I had a solid collection of my honest opinions.
I hid in my room, the only place to avoid the chattering of our full house, trying to come up with an argument that would sway her. I didn’t think I was a particularly disobedient daughter, but this was where I drew the line. The big hitch in her brilliant plan was me. She had already decided that all our problems were solved, gone forever.
When we got the letter in the post, my mother was ecstatic. Let’s take a look at Cass’s first page, and then we’ll use my first-page checklist to see why this works. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself-and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.īut for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. Here’s the Amazon description of the story line:įor thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. While I considered looking at the current volume ( The Crown), which is also a big best seller, I thought it a good idea to examine the first book’s first page.
One reviewer calls Cass’s series “Reality TV meets dystopian fairy tale.” And another describes it as a cross between The Hunger Games and The Bachelor (TV show) but without the blood and guts. Kiera Cass’s The Selection is listed under the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre, but is more accurately slotted in the Dystopian subgenre for teens. This week, I grabbed a Young Adult title that’s gone ballistic, launching a series that has teens drooling for more. Each week, we’ve been taking a look at the first page of best-selling novels of various genres and seeing how they measure up to my first-page checklist.