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In a dystopian fairy-tale world where society is divided into castes, with Ones as the most prosperous, consisting of royals and elites, and Eights who are mostly orphans, drug users, handicapped, and unemployable. America is a Five, the "artist" caste (e. g. musicians, artists, actors, dancers, etc. ). Since their prosperity depends on their desirability, Fives live a lower class life. America, however, doesn't care, because she loves entertaining, especially with a violin. The prince of Illéa, Maxon Schreave, announces that he is following his father's footsteps by holding the Selection, a competition for the prince's hand in marriage and the crown. Despite pressure from her mother, America has no interest in entering the competition, because she already has Aspen, her secret boyfriend.

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