ALA Booklist

Will she or won't she outlast the other girls and become Prince Maxon's future queen of Illéa? Book three in the highly popular Selection series settles the question for Lady America, and not without high doses of drama and surprise. Expect protracted seesawing on America's part as she tries to sort out her feelings for the prince and her first love, Aspen, but don't expect a lot of passive inactivity erica and her rivals don't just wait out the Selection. The political suspense ramps up the action considerably, turning the story into a real page-turner and peppering it with a violence that slides a little closer to Hunger Games territory, as two sets of rebels have laid siege to the kingdom, targeting the caste system. While readers may wonder how America can survive palace machinations (and why she wants to), her gutsy moves will delight fans. Romance, royalty, and revolution in a reality-show format serve Cass' boldly rendered heroine well in her quest for justice and love. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Almost scientifically engineered to hit the publishing sweet spot, this awaited series continuation ought to shoot right up the best-seller charts.

Horn Book

Tension drives this exciting final installment (The Selection; The Elite): Prince Maxon must finally choose a wife, and America and the other three remaining competitors are all vying for his heart. While America's complex relationship with Maxon continues, the political subplot's larger role in their lives refreshingly raises the stakes. Cass keeps readers guessing about the Selection's outcome until the dramatic conclusion.

Kirkus Reviews

The 35 Selection candidates have been whittled down to four; whom will Prince Maxon choose? There's contained, competent Elise, sweet, kind Kriss, gorgeous, bitchy Celeste and narrator America, who just can't seem to keep herself from upsetting the apple cart of the Illéan monarchy. Her impulsive thoughts and actions—when the bad Southern rebels start picking off victims caste by caste, she advises the populace to fight back—have King Clarkson fuming. He wants America gone, but America and Maxon want each other—maybe. Amid sorties to meet with the nice Northern rebels and the pageantry of the Selection, the tiresome push-pull of Cass' love triangle continues. America and Maxon and America and hometown sweetheart–turned–palace guard Aspen keep coming this close to having the critical conversations that will settle matters; it is this tension, not the pretense of political drama, that maintains the plot. Though there's some attempt made to fill out some of the secondary characterizations, by and large it falls flat. King Clarkson in particular is a cartoon of a blustering strongman; it's impossible to take him at all seriously as a ruling head of state. And for all America's protestations of spunky egalitarianism, there's absolutely nothing in her character or the story structure that does anything but support the corrupt system she supposedly rejects. Readers who think colloquium interruptum is an exceptionally slender premise for a 300-plus–page trilogy conclusion are right. (Dystopian romance. 14-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

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)

School Library Journal (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 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

Voice of Youth Advocates

The final title in Cass's bestselling dystopian Selection trilogy (The Selection [HarperTeen, 2012/VOYA February 2012] and The Elite [HarperTeen, 2013/VOYA June 2013]), The One finds gutsy protagonist America Singer as one of four remaining Elite vying to be chosen by Prince Maxon as the Princess of Illea. Packed with romance, action, intrigue, and bravery sure to infuriate King Clarkson but endear her to the populous, Mer's journey keeps readers enthralled. A growing admiration for and attraction to the prince war with America's lingering desire for handsome, green-eyed guard Aspen. With the remaining contenders each hailing from different castes, America's humble roots mean that she must make the largest adjustments to castle life. As the least willing to bend to the cruel king's demands, she continually finds ways to circumvent his wishes. When political strife among rebels endangers the populous and the press seeks contenders' advice to the people, Mer's urge to "Fight back!" makes her The Girl Who's Not Afraid of the Rebels and a popular favorite. At the queen's urging, the contenders build fast friendships and mature into their roles with grace.This expertly woven, suspense-filled tale is sure to please lovers of reality television, dystopian societies, romance, and royalty, and it already has a firm fan base eagerly awaiting its release. Librarians and teachers can expect copies to circulate widely and may find the trilogy suitable for engaging reluctant readers.Cynthia Winfield.