Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander’s face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham’s face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it’s a glitch, a rare malfunction, … malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she’s destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can’t stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society’s infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
Look for CROSSED, the sequel to MATCHED, in Fall 2011!
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I would recommended this and heard it’s a great book, but I have to pay to read it and it stinks. That’s why I changed my username, I am really sad that I don’t get to read this, but I hope you have parents (or you) that can afford to buy a book. Tell me if you like the book… I know I would have….
Matched, Crossed, Reached. A great series I think. Cassia has to figure out who she loves Xander or Ky.
At her match banquet Cassia was matched with her life long best friend Xander, and later meets a boy Ky who she might have feelings for. This story is intriguing, and hard to turn away from. The story slows down frequently and can get a bit irritating, but The twists and turns that back it up really make up for it.
At the end of the story you will be very anxious to get the next one. I could hardly wait three hours! As the story goes along it gets much better and more addicting. I think people who like heartfelt love stories would fall in love with this series!
In a dystopian future, a teenage girl is caught in a forbidden love triangle and seeks to defy the powers that be. But I’m not talking about The Hunger Games! This is Matched, by Ally Condie.
Seventeen-year-old Cassia Reyes is surprised to discover that her government, “the Society,” has “Matched” her to wed her best and lifelong friend, Xander. That sort of thing almost never happens. The majority of citizens are Matched with strangers from faraway cities. But when Cassia goes to view her government-issued data card for more information about her Match, a picture of a different boy replaces Xander’s: the face of Ky Markham. The Society assures Cassia this was the result of some prank (the Society never makes errors), and commands her silence on the matter. But now, Cassia can’t stop wondering: as much as she loves Xander, was her Match supposed to be the mysterious Ky?
While it might be easy to assume this book is all about romance, its overarching themes are of freedom and choices. There are few actual romantic encounters. The focus in the story is mostly on the dystopian Society. It’s always watching, a la 1984. And citizens have no choice in any aspect of their lives – they believe it’s for the greater good. The Society has also eliminated the majority of knowledge and art, as they felt civilization was too overloaded with information.
But Cassia realizes that she wants more. She wants to create new words, new art of her own, to go where she pleases. Whether she’ll end up with Xander or Ky is just one more choice she wishes she – and not the Society – could make. Cassia eventually develops a sense of rebellion, but in a silent, artistic way. I loved the spotlight on poetry and literature in this thought-provoking novel, and Condie’s writing is simply addicting to read.
Eerily projecting current culture.
Of all the books I have read, both the classic conventional stories and the unconventional YA stories, Matched for me, is the best form of dystopian literature out there.
Ally Condie is brilliant in her own way and for me that is the best quality an author can have.
The book gripped me after the first few pages when the actual plot begins to sink into your mind. You realise that something isn’t right and that makes you want to go on until you reach the last page.
For me, it was a realistic dystopian novel as it speaks about issues we currently face yet don’t realise we actually have. It is a great eye opener to the young reader and makes you appreciate the simple things in life like using a pen or reading a poem or browsing for your own preferences in books or music.
This is a series.
I wouldn’t rate this as a favorite, but a very interesting and enjoyable read.
In Cassia’s world The society makes your every decision or does it? Can Cassia find the independence she desires, or thinks she desires, or will she be satisfied with The Society making her decisions. Will she she accept her match or the “mistake” that was made. This book challenges you, will you accept the choices made for you, or will you decide that you have had enough!?!
This book makes you think deeply about what it means to be free and able to choose while still being entertaining and romantic.
Matched presents a look at life and death without choice, through the eyes of a sheltered teenaged girl and the two boys in love with her. The female protagonist’s journey from gullible to enlightened was fascinating. This is an excellent young adult dystopian story, ranked with the likes of The Hunger Games and Scythe. Can’t wait to start the sequel.
I loved this whole series. I would read anything by this author.
What a beautiful and heartbreaking story. Loved the main character and all she learned. The supporting characters were very well developed. The story and the things the characters learned were very intriguing. I often wonder how I woul
Thumbs up all the way
I love dystopian literature and this story was a fresh take on the perfect/not what it seems story. It was all too easy to see how the world as we know it could be shaped into something like this.
Sweet, romantic story!
This book absolutely captivated me. I remember sitting down the first time with this book in my hands and falling in love with it and the main characters. Matched is a crazy, wild, dystopic novel that will capture the attention of many.
It is a wonderful book and I wish this was a series. It’s not quite a horror story and the premise is completely possible.
I found this book extremely boring and almost the same story as the Uglies series. It was a little better written but definitely predictable.
It was an OK utopian novel.