Chapters 3-4 Summary

In Chapter 3, Aunt Carol accompanies Lena to her evaluation. Carol advises Lena to give general answers, and to choose blue as a favorite color. Lena rehearses her answers, about working on the school paper and doing photography as a hobby, running and hanging out with friends.

Lena runs into her best friend Hana, a beautiful blond girl, who in contrast to Lena is relaxed and joking. Hana has always been outspoken, but lately she's been talking back to teachers acting distracted. She criticizes the system of assigned spouses, and Lena is horrified and makes her take it back. The line of teenagers filters past a barbed-wire topped fence into the official government building. A nurse comes out and passes out clipboards and forms. Finally it's Hana's turn to go in. Before she does, she goes to Lena and whispers urgently, asking...