The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books discussion

This is one of our September BOMs! Discuss all things The Elite here!

***SPOILERS*** Don't look at this thread until you have read The Elite!!

Alright well it seems that NO ONE has any opinions on this book so here are mine:

Some of things that happened in this book really annoyed me. The main problem is America. She is rash and indecisive. She spends most of the book crying and upset. She ruins every moment with Maxon by saying "I need time." He knows that America!! Maxon has been knocked down a few pegs, in my opinion. He is going around with Kriss and Celeste! Kriss is the backup in case America decides to leave but I am still mad that he is with her. Maxon is screwing around with Celeste. That broke my heart. America is so surprised and hurt that Maxon is spending more time with Kriss. Well what do you expect, America?! Because you don't want to spend time with him, he can't spend time with anyone else?! And you are hurt when Maxon is making out with Celeste while you are doing the same with Aspen!? America, you have no right to be upset and mad! Both characters, Maxon and America, need to realize that they belong with each other. America needs to trust Maxon and have more self-confidence. She loves Maxon but she is letting her intimidation of the crown cloud her judgement. I hate all the fighting and angst between America and Maxon in this book. I can not believe that America couldn't think of a philanthropy project. Really?! There are so many ideas and yet she chooses the one thing that will PO the king. If you want to make changes to Illéa, you must have the seat of princess/queen. You can't get that seat if you are enraging the royalty and advisors. You have to be smart right now, America! And removing the castes isn't even a philanthropy project! It is a government issue. And she tells the king that Maxon let her borrow the diary when Maxon explicitly tells her not to tell anyone that she has it. The ending of the second book is exactly like the ending of the first book. I feel like the rebel attacks aren't that serious and fatal. No one important ever dies! The palace just gets messed up and there are messages on the walls. Only two people were eliminated! I feel like we got no where in this book. I feel like the Selection should be over by now. We need to see America and Maxon make changes to Illéa. Does there really have to be a love triangle here? We all know that America is going to come to her senses and choose Maxon. If America isn't with Maxon and if they don't make changes to Illéa, it would totally ruin everything that this series is building towards and I will not view this series the same way. Despite all of my irritations with this book, I can't bare to knock a star off the rating because I am in love with this series, or the idea and premise of this series. America get your head together and get your priorities straight!

I'm completely with you on this, Rachel!! America drove me ABSOLUTELY crazy in The Elite. And, I agree that Maxon was knocked down a few pegs, too :( BUT, IMO, America's behavior drove Maxon to do what he did - ARGH!! She was SO stupid and self-involved here! And, I don't think America has ANY right to be mad at Maxon when she was sneaking around with Aspen all the time :( I was VERY frustrated with A LOT of what happened in The Elite! But, like you, I still love the series and I could NOT put this book down when I was reading it! Very addictive ;)

Seriously, America need to choose ONE. I'm so team Maxon here. :D

Same! There is no team Aspen!!

hahaha that's true, why anyone would pick Aspen, he is a jerk!

Yeah! And why have a 2 when you could have a 1 ? ;)

Team Aspen!!

WHAT?!

I'm sorry but I am, I hate Maxon...

Team Maxon:)

Why do you hate Maxon?

Okay if you had a best friend that got caned because she was in love with someone else AND HE DIDNT STOP THEM FROM CANING HER BECAUSE OF HIS PUBLIC IMAGE WOULD YOU STILL WANT TO BE WITH HIM????????? I WOULDN'T. Even if he said he was sorry I would never, ever, ever look at him in the same way again. I would never forgive him. I liked him in the first book and hated him in the second.

It was that or DEATH. He was being generous!! He didn't like the caning either and there was nothing he could do about it because it would make him look weak and his advisors wouldn't let him. He couldn't say sorry because America never gave him a chance to!

Exactly!!!! He let someone get hurt because he was afraid it would reflect poorly on his "public image". He could have just let both of them go!!!!! He was just afraid to disagree with his daddy and his advisers.

He could NOT have just let them go because it is against the LAW for the selection girls to be intimately involved with anyone other than the prince while in the selection.

He could have, he's the prince for gods sake!!!! He could have at least helped them escape or something in secret.

No he couldn't have. You're right. He's the PRINCE. He is not the KING yet. He doesn't have that overall command and the king would never allow mercy.

He could have told them to stop. He at least could have said it even if they didn't stop. Even if he had made a move and tried to stop it, I would think much higher of him, but he didn't and I don't like him anymore...

I completely agree with Rachel on this one! I think Maxon did everything he could have done in this situation! His hands were really tied--he has to follow the LAW and he has to defer to what the KING has decreed. If he doesn't do this, the consequences would be EXTREMELY dire :( If he was just running about saying whatever he wanted and disagreeing with the King, I think he would be immediately removed from ANY position of power and, thus, ANY ability to do anything to help people. He did everything he could to help Marlee, given her actions and the situation.