The Selection

A week later, America meets Aspen in the treehouse and surprises him with a feast. America has been hard at work all week as some families “already started throwing parties for their daughters, sure that they would be the one chosen for the Selection” (49). America has been singing nonstop, and with her mother keeping her promise, America feels “liberat[ed] to have money that [is] [hers]” (49). However, as Aspen looks around the treehouse and sees the food that America has prepared for him, he becomes upset and says that “It’s humiliating for [him] to come here and have [America] do all this for [him]” (50).

They fight, and to America’s horror, Aspen breaks up with her. He admits that he was thinking about proposing to America, but he “can’t stand the thought of [America] hungry or cold or scared” as a Six (52). America is devastated, and in the days that follow, America daydreams about Aspen coming to his senses, “begging [her] for forgiveness and asking for [her] hand” (53). On the night of the Report, America and her family watch as the names of the chosen girls are announced. To her shock, the announcer introduces “Miss