Book #15 of 2016. 
 Okay, so this is not groundbreaking literature. It's not even great literature. But it is fun literature, and I think it is easy for me to forget that my goal is to show kids that reading can be fun. 
 Cass's novel oozes with Hunger Games tropes: it features a lottery that selects youths, a flamboyant announcer, a precocious younger sister, and a love triangle featuring the "boy next door." Unfortunately, the protagonist of The Selection, America, is not quite as compelling as Katniss. In fact, she is probably the least interesting character. I also found one of her two love interests to be quite wooden. The other was not perfect, but I was at least excited for America to be interested in him. 
 But hey, it's fun enough that I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish it. And I want the second one sooner rather than later. I don't know why exactly it is, but I see why kids are loving them. Read this only if you know what you are getting into.