Matched by Ally Condie

Posted by : Deborah Takahashi Sunday, January 22, 2012

Plot Summary:
In this alternate reality, The Society controls everything. Every aspect of life is under their control, which means that every citizen has no say in what the eat, where they will work, who they will marry, and when they will die. For Cassia, who just turned seventeen, her mate will be revealed to her at her Matching Ceremony, which is a a big moment in her life. Cassia has always been obedient and has never experienced anything out of the ordinary until her match is revealed...she will be marrying her best friend, Xander. Although excited, and happy, to matched with her best friend, she is worried because this situation never happens (the rules of Matching state that one will never be matched with someone they know). Despite everything, Cassia is ready to look towards for the future, but she feels as if something is missing. In order to put her fears aside, she takes out the microcard given to her at her Matching, which should reveal Xander's profile and courting instructions, but when she his profile something happens...another profile replaces Xander's and Ky's picture shows up. Cassia hasn't seen Ky in years and she has no idea why she would be matched with him. When an official shows up during free rec time, she explain to Cassia that a mistake has been made and to just ignore it. The problem is that Society never makes mistakes. What seems like a minor problem, it instantly multiplies when Ky appears out no where and Cassia, for the first time in her life, makes a decision that will alter her life forever.

Critical Evaluation:
In this futuristic tale, is a forbidden romance that was destined to occur. In this world, the government has a hold of everything where humans are merely seen as followers as tools to maintain stability under the guise of peace. Although war, disease, famine, and pain have all been eradicated, the people live their lives knowing that anything outside of Society's wishes will result in utter disaster. Ally Condie provides a thought-provoking story where readers must decide if a world free of chaos and death is better than a world without free will. Cassia, Xander, and Ky are three teenagers caught in this battle between doing what is best and what is right. Since this story is a forbidden love story, where one girl is at the center of it all, this tale is quite unconventional. Not only does our heroine win, but she is the one who must set things right and decide that she will take the the "road less traveled" where she must sacrifice everything. Moreover, Xander is the classic example of the nice guy who finished last. However, readers will have plenty of hope that he will find what he is looking for in life because he does something for Cassia that will guarantee his happy ending. As for Ky, who should have been the stereotypical bad boy is someone quite the opposite: vulnerable under the guise of being brave. Although readers should feel sorry for him, they cannot help but root for him because he chooses to live the life he wants without letting the government saying otherwise.

Information about the Author:
According to her website:

Allie Condie is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel MATCHED, and its just-released sequel, CROSSED. She is also a former high school English teacher who lives with her husband and three sons outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves reading, running, eating, and listening to her husband play guitar.

Genre:
Teen Sci Fi, Teen Romance

Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up

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