The Selection

Credits for image: Goodreads

Title: The Selection
Author: Keira Cass
Pages: 327

Book cover Summary: For thirty five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life load out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

   But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is a constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

  Then America meets Prince Maxon. 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.

Reviews/Comments: This book was very interesting. It was an unusual topic- being chosen to be a princess. And I liked, no, loved- the characters. Especially America. I loved her strong attitude, and I could feel her confusion, her pain, and her uncertainties. I wanted to be America. This book deserves to be read. I recommend you to try it!
Positives: I never got bored, and kept reading and reading. It had an unusual topic, good characters, and I really really want to read the next book, The Elite, which comes out on April  23, 2013.
Negatives: From the characters, I absolutely HATE Celeste. What a brat. Although I guess she adds to the conflict, so.

Rating:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5/5
Recommended for: Middle school and up

Cinder

Image Credit goes to: Goodreads

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 387

Book cover summary: Even in the future, the story begins with Once Upon a Time....
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl....
    Sixteen year old Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past and is reviled by her stepmother. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of the intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. Because there is sometimes unusual about Cinder, something that others would kill for.

Review/comments:
When I first read Cinder, I was like I LOVE IT!!! Cinder is so unusual, so different from the stories these days. It's a perfect mix of sci-fi, fantasy, romance, action, found-adult, and fairy tales! It's perfect. Plus, I e-mailed Ms. Meyer and she is SO. NICE. She replied to both of my e-mails. SQUEE!!!
Positives: Cinder kept me interested at all times. I couldn't put it down. I read it ALL in one sitting. And the idea of a cyborg world with a Cinderella as the lost princess was just so creative and interesting! This whole world was just magical and I could imagine it. Riding in hovers instead of cars, androids and cyborgs serving us.. Isn't that just how you imagined the future? And the romance between Kai and Cinder was so natural and not too fast-paced. They had their awkward moments, and it wasn't perfect, which just adds to the beauty of it all. And the ending.. Cliff hanger! It was just so sad, Kai's disbelief, Cinder's guilt, her pain.. OMG. Love, love, loved it!
Negatives: Like I said, it was perfect. It could be a little complex for young readers to understand the sci-fi world, but.. Meh -.- I still loved it. :D

Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5!
Recommended for: Middle school and up