Matched by Ally Condie

Book:  Matched

Author:  Ally Condie

Publisher:  Dutton Juvenile

Date:  November, 2010

My grade:  B+

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, 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.

My Review

I liked this book.  I liked this story.  I did not really like Cassia.

Now, I have read a lot of raving reviews of this book, and I really did like the story.  I like the set-up for it and the whole idea of the Society.  I think that as far as dystopian worlds go, this one is fantastic, because it is so believable!

I did not really care for Cassia.  I thought she was whiny and superficial.  I did really like Xander, and herein lies the problem.  Because of my love for Xander, I couldn’t stand to see him get hurt.  And honestly, I had a really hard time buying Cassia's love for Ky.  I think it was only a teenage infatuation and so it really bugs me that she made these tremendous life-changing decisions based on some puppy love.

I definitely want to read the next book because I’m really sucked in to the story.  I can’t wait to see what will happen next and I’m hoping that a revolution is brewing.  But I’m also hoping that Cassia will come to her senses and realize just how wonderful and special Xander is.

I think that this opinion may be caused by the fact that I’m an adult reading YA lit.  I wonder if a teen girl would have the same reaction that I do.  After all, at 42 (yikes!), I’m well aware that a marriage based on friendship first has a much better chance of succeeding than one based on passion and physical attraction. 

I also now find myself sympathizing with the Jacob lovers of the world!  I think that I may be in the minority here by pulling for Team Xander.  If anyone else out there is a Team Xander fan, please let me know!

I would recommend this book to people who like dystopians, because I think it’s an excellent example.  I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that things will go my way in the next 2 installments.

My grade for this book is a B+.  The world is great and the story is intriguing, so if she would just make Cassia more likeable, this book would have everything it needs.