Selected
3.4
5
5
1
270
14.99
In Stock
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9798605042891 |
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| Publisher: | Independently published |
| Publication date: | 01/27/2020 |
| Pages: | 270 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.61(d) |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Selected
3.4 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
5 reviews.
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I find myself disappointed with this book, because the premise sounded like something right up my alley, and the cover is gorgeous. However, the plot and characters needed more fleshing out. The timeline and pacing in this book was very hard to follow, as there didn’t seem to be clear delineations. It seemed Caius and Victoria were boyfriend and girlfriend after two times of hanging out together, and it was very much insta-love since there was a lack of development there. It was like the development between them happened after they were already together. There was never a good explanation for why Caius fell for Tori, which even she questioned at first but then doesn’t bring it up again later in the book.
Councilwoman Snyder is a stock character villain that I don’t care about one way or the other, and the “villainy” is not explained well, either. The best part of this book for me was Mrs. Randol, and she didn’t have much of a part until the last chapters of the story. I am not rating this book lower because I think the series has the potential to get better, but I really wish this first book had been polished more. I don’t really understand the program Easton was using Tori for (it was very vague when it was “revealed”), and I think by the end it should have been crystal clear.
If you like dystopians, you might like this, but I would wait until it’s closer to a release date for the next one to pick this up. I love this publisher though, so definitely check out some of their other books in the meantime.
*An eARC was provided by the publisher and Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.*
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Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.
Selected is set in a future America where the states are now countries. Tori goes to a private school where the rich kids still rule the school. Tori is smart, gifted and she gets to go to the school because she is sponsored. She falls in love with a boy, Caius who is from a wealthy family and happens to be the hottest guy at school. But while Tori is away at school, her brother Trevor gets into some trouble and she has to find out what it is.
What I Liked:
*The idea of a future America divided into countries was what intrigued me about this story. Unfortunately we don’t get a lot of world-building in that aspect. But the book cover is great.
*I like a high school story where you have the usual hot boy/strange girl hook-up so this was it for the story for a good chunk of it until we get to the part of the story where Trevor (Tori’s brother) gets involved.
*Tori is an intriguing character, she’s being sponsored to go to the school and has a high IQ. She dances and seems like a really good kid.
Things That Made Me Go Hmm:
*This book held my attention until I thought it was about Caius and Tori falling in love and nothing else because that’s what most of the beginning of the book is about. By the time Trevor is in the story I lost interest as to what he would be involved in.
*The story was lacking something…suspense? A thrill? Not even the romance between Caius and Tori made my heart melt. I felt nothing! It’s a light dystopian read but maybe I wanted more because most dystopians I read are fast paced and filled with danger.
Final Thoughts:
This one was not for me but I think if you like a light dystopian young adult book, there will be others who will enjoy this better than I did.
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This book was received as an ARC from Entangled Publishing, LLC - Entangled: Teen in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
When I read the first page of this book, my mind immediately went to Divergent and Hunger Games and I was immediately hooked. All Tori ever wanted was a life for her and her family. A roof over their head, food on the table, and the chance of a future is all everyone ever wants but when Tori gets accepted into this elite school that can provide all of that and then some, little did she know there would be a big catch. Everyone she meets at the school is ghosting her and then disappearing and Tori is seen as one to be unseen with. Then she meets one of the most elite students at the school who happens to be the "goldenboy" and all he wants to do is be with Tori and be seen with her. The truth does set Tori free but it may not be what she is expecting and he is her only chance at surviving. My heart was racing to the max and I could not stop reading this book. This will be a potential pick for our teen book club that will generate a huge discussion.
We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
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“2040. Country of Maine, COA – Countries of America”
Future New Maine, formerly Maine, now its own separate country along with the rest of the states is the setting for Selected by Barb Han. Selected is a Young Adult Dystopian with elements of mystery, suspense, and romance.
When Tori is selected to attend the elite prep school, Easton, she thinks her prayers have been answered. Her family will now be provided with food and shelter and she’ll get the education that will allow her to go to college. But all is not right at Easton, to begin with the social system is seriously flawed and people have a way of going missing without a trace.
Ms. Han writes a compelling story about a selected group of students at the mercy of a system that has ulterior motives hidden under an agenda that is too good to be true. Selected has a quick moving plot, engaging story-line, and characters that are flawed and appealing. I’m hoping that there will be a second book in this series and from the ending, it looks like there may be. This is a great story for anyone who likes Young Adult Dystopian Suspense with a touch of romance and science fiction.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
A big thank you to Entangled Teen, Barb Han, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Selected in exchange for my honest review.
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SELECTED follows Victoria (Tori) who attends an elite private school amongst the wealthiest in her country/state (states are now countries). She was chosen for her dance abilities and intelligence, and she is one of the first Sponsored students in the school. She must keep up her grades and competitive wins to stay in the school- and keep her family fed. The wealthy people who Sponsored her could pull their support and her family's home and food if she does not live up to their expectations.
As a junior, she is getting really for college, which she hopes to attend with her best (and only) friends, Jax and Adalynn. One of the legacies (read: rich and got in for money), Caius- also the hottest and most popular guy in school, is also taking an interest in Tori, but she is suspicious of his advances.
This book is highly readable, and it was easy to get lost in the pages. However, I found the romance to be a bit caricatured and the history to be a bit lacking. It was hard to really understand how this world diverted from our own and the consequences of that. Some of them are just stated outright, but it did not really follow so smoothly. I would have liked a bit more background and maybe some twists (characters seemed a bit black-and-white/one-dimensional). However, I really enjoyed reading it overall, as it had a pretty light and fast-paced feel. I would recommend for people who like simple romance and basic dystopian plots.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own,
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