On presentation day, America shares what is inside the diary and suggests to eliminate the caste system. When reading Gregory's diary, she comes up with a debate topic. America becomes eager to help the people but is unsure of what her debate topic should be. Silvia tells them they will have to work on a presentation in which they will debate a topic on live television. In the days that follow, America and the other Elites go to Silvia to continue their lessons. A few minutes later, Maxon goes to visit America but she is disgusted of what he had done, and believes that the only one left for her is Aspen. America becomes hurt and was about to walk away when Maxon catches her and America runs away to her room. When walking through the palace, America sees Maxon with Celeste. Meanwhile, Maxon is secretly making pleasurable interactions with the other Elites, making America more jealous. Later, America discovers that the rebels who took all those books really want Gregory Illéa's diary, which America has in her possession. After a few hours, America climbs down the tree and runs back to the palace. However, instead of raising the alarm, the girl bows at her and runs away, surprising America.
As she picked the book up, the girl sees America. The boy leaves and the girl was about to follow when she drops a book in front of the tree America is in.
After a few minutes, she sees a girl and a boy talking to each other while carrying a lot of books stolen from the palace. Instead of going inside the palace, a confused America runs towards the woods and climbs up a tree. The rebels return the next morning while the Elites and their families are outside. He then changes the democratic government into a monarchy, in which he is king and forces his daughter Katherine to marry an old man so that the his power will become stronger than before. As America reads the book, she discovers that the caste system was just invented by Gregory in order to rule over the people. Upon going to the secret library again, America borrows one of Gregory Illéa's diaries with Maxon's permission, just as long as she doesn't tell anyone. Marlee also adds that she hopes America wins the Selection.
Marlee asks America to forgive Maxon, because he wasn't able to do anything. Maxon lightens the punishment for both Marlee and Carter by having their caste number lowered to Six and allowing them to work in the palace. Marlee tells America that she apologized to Maxon for having an affair and says that she loves Carter. Later on, Maxon takes America to the princess's room, where she finds Marlee, who works as a maid in the palace's kitchen. As he is apologizing, America blames him for not doing anything about it. After the punishment is carried out, Maxon goes to visit America in her room. America is taken by two guards to her room.
During the caning, America is unable to stand watching her best friend suffer and tries to free her friend.
As punishment, the two are sentenced to be caned 15 times and stripped of their castes to Eights, the lowest of the low. America follows her maids and discovers that Marlee was caught having an affair with the palace guard Carter Woodwork the night of the ball. The morning following the ball, America is awakened by her maids, who tell her to get dressed in dark garments. To make America happy, Maxon decides to hold a ball for Halloween, inviting the Elite's family and requiring everyone to wear costumes.
The castle is attacked again by the rebels and a new threat from New Asia arrives, in which Elise negotiates with her connections to stop it.Īmerica becomes eager to know what Halloween is, so Maxon takes her to a secret room full of banned books and a computer. The book starts off with America and Prince Maxon on a date together at night in the garden, but a guard tells them that it would be wise of them to go inside soon.Īmerica becomes a threat not only to Maxon and the kingdom, but to all of Illéa. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending. Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over-and time is running out for America to decide. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, she is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illéa.Īmerica still isn't sure where her heart lies. Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in The Selection.