It was an assigned book for a middle school gifted class in central Florida in 1999 or 2000.
It was a coming of age story with a retrofuturism feel to it. It was “the hatchet” meets “the giver” meets “the hunger games”. The main character comes of age and joins a selection with the rest of his/her peers. She hopes for a reputable placement but they are competitive and low performing youth are relegated to menial jobs.
When it’s her turn she receives a placement she has never seen before and gets whisked away. After some time she wakes up in a pod and when she exits she’s on a different planet. She eventually runs into other such outcasts and they realize they are supposed to start a colony.
by leviteer