If you remember your first love, you’ll likely identify with America Singer, a 16-year-old in love for the first time. Almost everyone remembers how first love feels, yes? And if we were forbidden a certain boy (or girl, if you are a boy), you will probably remember that love with even more clarity. So it is with America and her first love, Aspen, a boy from a lower caste. There’d be hell to pay, if her parents ever found out; seems they’re doomed.
Lower caste? In whose United States?
In America and Aspen’s time, the future, the U.S. has emerged from devastating conflicts with China and Russia, and morphed into a radically altered state called Illea, a kingdom of citizens divided into castes. America’s family belongs to the higher-up-in-rank artists and classical musicians caste; Aspen’s family, to the servants caste. In this society, parents want their children to ‘marry up.’ America and Aspen can meet only in secret. How would you feel if you were America or Aspen? How does the author indicate their lives would be altered, if they break societal taboos and wed? Could you sever your relationship with someone you loved as much as these two love one another? Or would you persevere? How would it affect your family, if you did? How about America’s brother Gerad, who has no apparent interest in art or music? How would it be, to be urged to choose a profession of no interest to you, or make a living doing work that gives you no pleasure or satisfaction? What do you think will happen to Gerad?
Cass takes the story to the next level: In Illea, royals select their mates from among the commoners; the current queen was once member of a caste. Now, the king and queen’s son, Prince Maxon, is of marriageable age, and girls in the kingdom have been invited to apply to be among the thirty-five young women from whom he will choose a bride. Shades of The Bachelor! If the king and queen had had a daughter, presumably she would seek a husband from the castes. So, whether you are a young woman or a young man, would you want to become a royal? What would your parents say, do you think, or your siblings? The author says the chosen one’s family benefits. How? Imagine the constraints and frustrations you might experience, caste-bound. What might you do to escape? Might you go so far as to wed someone you didn’t love? Do you think you could fall in love with a royal you’ve only just met and spoken with a few times? How important is it, to be in love with the person you marry? What do you imagine the benefits to you would be, were you a royal? What would your role be, in a position akin to, say, being the spouse of the wife of the Prince of Wales? Mrs. Obama?
What of the royals? How about their constraints, responsibilities, challenges? How would you feel about having to choose your future life partner from a select group of ‘eligibles,’ or about having had no other opportunity to meet people your age, and being unable to engage in ‘normal’ teen activities? Do you see any benefit to a caste system, compared to the relatively free interactions between members of the society in which we live? Common or royal, what is considered normal, and how does family life -- aspirations, expectations, relationships – compare, in Illea? To your own family life?
To this mix Cass adds troublesome Rebels, whose violence intrudes not just at borders but even into the royal compound. What does Prince Maxon do? What would you do, if your country depended on you to maintain security in the land? The prince’s mother seems to have quietly promoted some societal reform during her reign. What roles might a new princess adopt, do you think? What possibilities do you think America imagines? What effect would marrying Singer have on Prince Maxon, do you think?
America loves Aspen, and she isn’t in the least interested in any competition for any prince’s attentions, never mind affections. But she honors commitments, is observant, kind, and not unreasonable, so her mind opens, slowly. How does that happen, and what effect does it have on her actions? On Prince Maxon? Does he appear to change? How about you? Have you ever had your mind set on one course, been strongly pro- or anti-some person or some thing, and been led to change your position, and possibly your actions? What processes led to the shift in your perspective? Where do you think America will be led? The Prince? Aspen? And as different as Illea is from the U.S. as we know it, do you see some parallels between them?
This tale could send your mind wandering, a lot.
And, although I wondered how … ? -- I was unprepared for the last four words of this tale. You’ll see. (Don’t peek!)
Lower caste? In whose United States?
In America and Aspen’s time, the future, the U.S. has emerged from devastating conflicts with China and Russia, and morphed into a radically altered state called Illea, a kingdom of citizens divided into castes. America’s family belongs to the higher-up-in-rank artists and classical musicians caste; Aspen’s family, to the servants caste. In this society, parents want their children to ‘marry up.’ America and Aspen can meet only in secret. How would you feel if you were America or Aspen? How does the author indicate their lives would be altered, if they break societal taboos and wed? Could you sever your relationship with someone you loved as much as these two love one another? Or would you persevere? How would it affect your family, if you did? How about America’s brother Gerad, who has no apparent interest in art or music? How would it be, to be urged to choose a profession of no interest to you, or make a living doing work that gives you no pleasure or satisfaction? What do you think will happen to Gerad?
Cass takes the story to the next level: In Illea, royals select their mates from among the commoners; the current queen was once member of a caste. Now, the king and queen’s son, Prince Maxon, is of marriageable age, and girls in the kingdom have been invited to apply to be among the thirty-five young women from whom he will choose a bride. Shades of The Bachelor! If the king and queen had had a daughter, presumably she would seek a husband from the castes. So, whether you are a young woman or a young man, would you want to become a royal? What would your parents say, do you think, or your siblings? The author says the chosen one’s family benefits. How? Imagine the constraints and frustrations you might experience, caste-bound. What might you do to escape? Might you go so far as to wed someone you didn’t love? Do you think you could fall in love with a royal you’ve only just met and spoken with a few times? How important is it, to be in love with the person you marry? What do you imagine the benefits to you would be, were you a royal? What would your role be, in a position akin to, say, being the spouse of the wife of the Prince of Wales? Mrs. Obama?
What of the royals? How about their constraints, responsibilities, challenges? How would you feel about having to choose your future life partner from a select group of ‘eligibles,’ or about having had no other opportunity to meet people your age, and being unable to engage in ‘normal’ teen activities? Do you see any benefit to a caste system, compared to the relatively free interactions between members of the society in which we live? Common or royal, what is considered normal, and how does family life -- aspirations, expectations, relationships – compare, in Illea? To your own family life?
To this mix Cass adds troublesome Rebels, whose violence intrudes not just at borders but even into the royal compound. What does Prince Maxon do? What would you do, if your country depended on you to maintain security in the land? The prince’s mother seems to have quietly promoted some societal reform during her reign. What roles might a new princess adopt, do you think? What possibilities do you think America imagines? What effect would marrying Singer have on Prince Maxon, do you think?
America loves Aspen, and she isn’t in the least interested in any competition for any prince’s attentions, never mind affections. But she honors commitments, is observant, kind, and not unreasonable, so her mind opens, slowly. How does that happen, and what effect does it have on her actions? On Prince Maxon? Does he appear to change? How about you? Have you ever had your mind set on one course, been strongly pro- or anti-some person or some thing, and been led to change your position, and possibly your actions? What processes led to the shift in your perspective? Where do you think America will be led? The Prince? Aspen? And as different as Illea is from the U.S. as we know it, do you see some parallels between them?
This tale could send your mind wandering, a lot.
And, although I wondered how … ? -- I was unprepared for the last four words of this tale. You’ll see. (Don’t peek!)