M.E.A.T. Blog

The Selection  by Kiera Cass is set a dystopic society organized in caste systems, and revolves around a love story of two teens, America Singer and Prince Maxon.  The novel is about a process called the Selection, a lottery for thirty-five girls to travel to the palace and try to win the prince’s heart. This Bachelor-esque setup amid a royal backdrop, full of glittering jewels and fantastic gowns creates a fairy tale setting for a classic love story. Our brave protagonist America Singer comes from a family of artists, and has an independent and creative mind to show for it. She is rebellious and stubborn, and stands strongly by her own values instilled by a hard life growing up poor, and her struggles especially highlighted by the sordid and excessive lives of the arrogant upper castes. Upon entering the Selection, she already had a lover – her childhood friend, Aspen. She also had a plan, and it didn’t involve Prince Maxon or marrying into the upper castes. However,...

Reviewer: Miriam Arend Warning: Spoilers  Last summer I read The Hate U Give (also by Angie Thomas) and really enjoyed it. I recently read Thomas’s second novel, On The Come Up, and thought it was just as interesting. While On the Come Up is not a sequel to The Hate U Give, the book is set in the same fictional neighborhood, Garden Heights. None of the characters are the same, and the plot is extremely different, but Thomas does reference Khalil (a central character from The Hate U Give) a few times throughout the novel. Thomas’s experience as a former rapper strengthens her portrayal of the protagonist in her second novel. Overall, I would give On The Come Up a 4.8 out of 5. I enjoyed reading it, although there were some aspects I didn’t like. The book shares a similar theme with The Hate U Give, and both raise awareness about the challenges faced by young African Americans, especially in inner-city areas. The book flows well and the plot isn’t co...