How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I didn't want to be royalty. And I didn't want to be a One. I didn't even want to try. (1.2)
This is like being drafted into the NFL and being all like, "Nah brah." Every other girl in the country would kill to take part in the Selection, but America couldn't care less at this point. Does that make her the best competitor?
Quote #2
I felt a sudden flutter of worry. But why? I stopped myself and rearranged my thoughts. I didn't want this. (3.88-90)
Although America claims that she doesn't care about the Selection, her internal dialogue tells a different story. Unfortunately for her, our little freedom fighter is only going to become more conflicted as the competition rolls on.
Quote #3
Celeste sucked her teeth. "Please. A girl has more than one way she can pay for what she wants." (9.8)
Celeste makes it clear that she'll do anything to win the Selection—and boy, do we mean anything. Given that the competition's grand prize is regency over an entire country, however, we can't really blame her for that.
Quote #4
Suddenly those stares made sense. My intentions didn't matter. They didn't know I didn't want this. In their eyes, I was a threat. And I could see they wanted me gone. (9.112)
Once America takes the lead in the Selection, the other girls start getting catty. That's to be expected. The interesting part to us, however, is that America becomes the front-runner precisely because she doesn't care about the competition—it gives her a sense of authenticity the others sorely lack.
Quote #5
At its barest of bones, the Selection was kind of disturbing. I was sure the rebels hated it along with everything else about Illéa. (13.20)
It's telling that America empathizes with the rebels' apparent hatred of the Selection in all its vanity and Bachelor-on-steroids spectacle. In fact, the rebels' opinion is not too far from her own honest opinion of the situation.
Quote #6
It meant a great deal to me that she chose a place beside me as opposed to a spot in the second row. She was faithful. She'd make a great queen. (14.59)
At first, America views the Selection from an outsider's perspective, as if she were a person at home watching a reality show. She even has a favorite contestant: Marlee. Marlee is sweet. Marlee is pretty. Marlee is compassionate. There's just one question left hanging, however—how does Maxon feel about Marlee? Is he even into her?
Quote #7
It was strange to see them like that. How could someone who got along so well with me do the same with someone like her? (17.35)
As America's totally-platonic-we-swear friendship with Maxon grows, she starts more closely analyzing the prince's relationships with the other women. The most questions arise where Celeste is concerned. How could such a smart guy have feelings for a girl so awful?
Quote #8
It was true, though. Janelle was the only girl to have two dates with Maxon besides me. Not that I was counting. (17.85)
We get it, America: you're sixteen and oh, so oblivious, but your lack of self-awareness is causing us physical pain. Like, we need take a long lunch break today and get a massage just to relax now. Sheesh.
Quote #9
Should I ask him about kissing Olivia? Should I tell him how tense I was feeling around the girls now that things had changed between us? (19.69)
The game changes completely once America admits that she has feelings for Maxon. No longer can she hide behind her love for Aspen as a reason not to fully engage with the Selection. Now she's playing for keeps. The only downside to this, however, is that she now falls victim to the mind-games and cattiness as the other girls.
Quote #10
Now that we had survived a major rebel attack together, it felt like these small bonds had sealed into something unbreakable. (24.3)
Although the competition gets cutthroat at times, the experience of being Selected is so strange and stressful that the girls are now BFFs whether they like it or not. Frankly, we'll take a palace full of friends over The Real Princesses of Illéa any day.