The following article contains spoilers. Please read at your own risk. |
| “ | Underneath thick lashes were eyes blue as ice, something cool to balance out the flames in her hair. | ” |
—Maxon on America Singer
| ||
America Schreave (née Singer) is the protagonist and narrator of The Selection Series. She was a Five chosen for the Selection, and became one of the Six Elites. She was ultimately chosen by Prince Maxon and got married to him, thus becoming the Queen of Illéa, after the Southern rebels murdered Maxon's parents in The One.
Biography
America is the middle child of five children, her older siblings being Kenna and Kota, and her younger siblings being May and Gerad. She grew up living in the fifth caste in the province of Carolina. America found her trade in music, being talented at singing, piano, violin, and many other instruments.
When Kota moved out of the house, America assisted him and got to know a boy from the sixth caste named Aspen Leger. After careful glances and flirty conversations, on her fifteenth birthday, America and Aspen began dating, and had dated for two years when Aspen encouraged her to enter the Selection. As a bribe for entering, America's mother allowed her to work alone and keep half of whatever she earned. After America tried to do something heartfelt for Aspen, he realized he could never spoil her and ended the relationship, leaving her heartbroken. America gave him all her allowance money and pennies, and ordered him to leave. When he left, America noticed that one penny was stuck to the bottom of the jar.
After being chosen as one of the Selected, America saw Aspen with another girl, Brenna, who was a Six, when she was leaving for the palace. She got upset that he moved on so quickly, but had already packed the jar with the one penny to bring with her.
At the palace, America was clearly not over Aspen, but tried to let him go. While in her room that night, America began to feel trapped and ran to the door that lead to the garden. However, the two guards that were stationed there didn't allow her to proceed. Just as America was about to faint, Prince Maxon appeared and ordered the guards to let her go outside. Immediately after they opened the doors, America ran outside and went to sit on a bench. Maxon found her and spoke to her, and the two got to know each other during a brief conversation, which ultimately became an argument. The next day during their first official meeting, the two agree to a "trade:" America will find out what the other girls think of Maxon and give him advice as long as he keeps her until the very end of the competition, so that her family continues to receive the checks that the palace sends them.
Eventually, America ran into Aspen, who had been drafted and became a palace guard. Not realizing Aspen was actually America's ex, Maxon had Aspen stationed to guard her room when America revealed that they knew each other. Although they could've both gotten into serious trouble if caught, America and Aspen both had secret meetings at the palace whenever they could. America, however, was not sure whether she loved Aspen or Maxon more. Though, at the end of The Elite, when she believed that she was leaving and told Aspen that she needed time to get over the prince, she realized she wanted Maxon more than him. America did not leave, however, and instead Natalie went home because her sister was killed by rebels.
Maxon said that as long as America was on her best behavior, his father would allow her to stay. Maxon, however, told America that while she'd had his heart from the beginning of the Selection, she did not have his trust. When America became confused, Maxon explained that even though he had told her many secrets and defended her, America acted rashly, and Maxon needed her to have faith in him. After Maxon left America to herself, America became determined to win the Selection.
King Clarkson then came to give her a talk about how if she won she would ruin centuries of work, and that Maxon better not choose her. He told her not to mention this conversation to Maxon or else. He then told her good-bye and left, as if nothing happened.
Days later, America and Maxon have contact with Northern rebels in the palace. When they go out to meet them again, America gets shot by a gang of criminals that tried to rob them. It wasn't a severe wound, however, and after stitches from her maids, she healed.
During a required ceremony known as the Convicting, where each of the remaining elite must publicly convict criminals. America's felon, however, had only stolen clothing for his family, and was assigned to her by Clarkson as a test. America can't sentence him to prison for life, and instead gives him the jewelry Maxon had recently given her and tells him to pay his debt to the king. Enraged by this offense, Clarkson gives Maxon the option to call the entire Selection off and start a new one, which Maxon ultimately refuses.
Clarkson finds out about the alliance America had forged with the Italians, and forces her to agree to film propaganda in favor of the castes; if she doesn't obey, then she must not care about the competition or Maxon. Before she can create the commercials, however, she learns that her father has died. She goes back to Carolina for his funeral, where she learns that Shalom was secretly a Northern rebel. When she returns to the palace, she finds out from Celeste that Kriss and herself are the last two girls standing, and that Maxon has invited all of the previous Selected back to the palace to celebrate.
In America's room later that night, Maxon reveals that he's bought a house for America's family near the palace, and that he's chosen her to be his wife and future queen. They begin making out and they ultimately admit their love for each other. They get undressed, almost to their underwear, with America telling him that she loves his back scars, because they are a sign of his love for her. A sudden noise in the hallway though stops them from going any further. Maxon simply sleeps next to her, both of them feeling safe and loved. In the morning, however, Maxon learns about America and Aspen's previous relationship and he accuses America of lying to him about everything. Completely heartbroken and hurt, Maxon tells her that he can't marry her after discovering this. America tries to explain the situation, but Maxon refuses to listen and leaves with Kriss.
The next day, right before Maxon is about to reveal his selection (of Kriss), the Southern rebels, having infiltrated the palace, attack, killing Celeste and Anne among many people. A rebel attempts to shoot America, but Maxon leaps toward her to save her life and gets hit below his left shoulder. Close to death, he apologizes to America for almost not choosing her, saying that he loves her to his last breath and that his heart belongs to her to "break it a thousand times if she likes." He orders Aspen to save America, not him, and Aspen obeys, taking her to a safe room with the intention of returning and saving the Prince too.
When the attack is over and the rebels are defeated, America is released and goes to the hospital where she reunites with Aspen, who is severely injured but alive. He informs her that Maxon is also alive and is now the king, as both his parents were killed by the rebels. Aspen confesses to America that he still cares a lot about her, but isn't in love with her anymore. Lucy comes in at that moment and she and Aspen kiss, with America finally realizing and approving of their relationship. When America goes to see Maxon, he tells her his decision about dissolving the castes, starting with the Eights merging with the Sevens and so on. He then gives her a beautiful engagement ring, complete with their birthstones, officially asking her to marry him. She happily accepts his proposal.
In the wedding, Aspen walks America down the aisle and gives her to Maxon, the two men now respecting each other. Maxon calls America "my dear" and they both smile, ready to exchange their wedding vows.
2 years after their wedding, during Maxon's birthday party, America announces to him that she is expecting their first child. The news made him tearfully happy and loving her even more.
Personality
Like her fiery red hair, America takes a rebellious attitude in concept. She tends to have a short temper, which she inherited from her mother. Despite saying she has no leadership skills, America isn't afraid to speak her mind. For example, when the palace was under rebel attack by the Southerners in The Selection, Silvia ordered America's maids to bring food to the Selected. America, however, told her that the girls can take care of themselves, and ordered Anne to provide food for the royal family only.
She is very stubborn and persistent at times, and may jump to conclusions a lot. She can also be hypocritical, but always apologizes if she is proven wrong. America's greatest fear when entering the Selection was losing her individuality, something the other Selected girls would even give up to take over the throne. Overall, America is a very courageous person that, at the end of the day, will always realize the mistakes she might have caused and will do anything to make things right. She is always afraid of losing someones love.
She usually defends people who are mistreated when her stubbornness doesn't blind her from the truth. She doesn't hesitate to think that the modern caste system is absurd and unfair, as shown in The Elite. America had personally thought that she would never have had a shot in the competition, which was proven otherwise when her relationship with Prince Maxon grew. In addition, America is not the girly type, as at first she didn't react well when she had to wear a dress instead of her usual wear of pants, and even requested pants from the prince at the palace in a bet. She often lacked self-esteem and tended to compare herself to the other Selected girls, Queen Amberly, and others, feeling inadequate to become a queen or to make Maxon or even Aspen like her. Thus, she almost never tried to be "sensual" hand flirty. Her only attempt to seduce Maxon resulted in a comical situation, as he laughingly pointed out that she was not being herself.
Features
America has fiery, "brilliant red hair, like honey and roses and the sun all together" and blue eyes "like the morning sky." She thought that she was not as beautiful or classy as the other Selected girls, as opposed to the opinion of almost everyone else around her. She found even her body plain, with non-noticeable curves. Maxon, however, during their first meeting, described her like this: "I was absolutely floored the first time I finally, truly saw her... As if it weren't enough that she was willing to stand up to me and clearly unafraid to be herself, she was dazzlingly beautiful. Underneath thick lashes were eyes blue as ice, something cool to balance out the flames in her hair. Her cheeks were smooth and slightly blushed from crying. And her lips, soft and pink, slightly parted as she studied our hands." He reassured her that "she is too beautiful for her own good." The king, however, thought she was just average and therefore unremarkable. He compared her to the other girls and said that she was very plain.
Quotes
- "Maxon Schreave is the epitome of all things good. He is going to be a phenomenal king. He lets girls who are supposed to be wearing dresses wear jeans and doesn't get mad when someone who doesn't know him clearly mislabels him... Whoever he marries will be a lucky girl. And whatever happens to me, I will be honored to be his subject." — America Singer to Gavril Fadaye about Maxon Schreave
- "...I hope you find someone you can't live without. I really do. And I hope you never have to know what it's like to have to try and live without them." — America Singer to Maxon Schreave
- "...True love is usually the most inconvenient kind." — America Singer to Maxon Schreave
- "It's you... I don't want to leave you." — America Singer to Maxon Schreave
- "Maxon, some of those marks are on your back so they wouldn't be on mine and I love you for them." — America Singer to Maxon Schreave
- "I'm not choosing him. Or you. I'm choosing me." — America Singer to Aspen Leger
Trivia
- America was the former name of the country Illéa. Her mother had named her that supposedly because she kicked and fought her way out of her mother, just like America did to fight off China; however, it may have also been because her father, Shalom, was a Northern rebel.
- America's birthday is February 26.
- America is a multi-instrumentalist.
- She was her husband's first kiss in The Selection.
- Her surname, Singer, matches her last occupation before she entered the Selection.
- Queen Amberly, during a fun day in the Women's Room, said that America could call her "Mom" if the Selection ended the way she (Queen Amberly) thought it would.
- America, due to a misunderstanding, kicked Maxon in the groin during their first date.