Matched by Ally Condie 384 pages Dutton Juvenile, (2010-11-30) $17.99 (Amazon.com, 07/02/10, hardcover)

Procurement

I grabbed this ARC while at BEA.

My Grade

Plot: 5

Setting: 5

Writing: 5

Originality: 5

Characters: 5

Romance: 5

Overall: 30/30! PERFECT!

Cover/Title Bonus: 5

Overall

A unique look at love, authority, and free will in a world where everything is controlled and if all else fails the red pill will make it all better.

Summary (Goodreads)

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.
Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.
Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.

First Line

Now that I’ve found the way to fly, which direction should I go into the night?

 

Most Memorable Scene

The Grandfather’s last day was a very powerful scene.

Plot

Just wow. This story was so powerful, emotional, and beautiful. Being matched by the officials was Cassia’s ultimate moment until she saw another boy’s image flash across the screen and quickly disappear imbedding the “what if’s” into her head.

Questioning the officials is not something the citizens of this world do. They are omnipotent and infallible. Their systems analyze you and decide who you marry, what you eat, how far and fast you can run on a treadmill. And of course, when you die.

Setting

This world is one I would not wish anyone to live in. It’s a dystopia of our world with a closely monitored society with everything controlled by the officials.

The technology is very advanced with air-trains, incinerators in the home to burn trash, sleep tags that monitor your brain waves, or something, while you’re sleeping.

The occupations of the citizens are controlled as well. Cassia’s parents occupations play a large role in the plot of this story.

Writing

The story is told from Cassia’s point of view. This was nice and I wouldn’t have changed it at all. She was very observant and expressed her thoughts wonderfully.

Originality

There are several books that I thought of while reading this but I still label this very original because of the matching aspect as well as the domination that the officials have over this society.

If you’ve read and loved The Giver or The Hunger Games this book will quickly become a favorite for you.

Characters

Cassia is the main character. The story starts on her birthday and her matching ceremony. She’s a strong character who falls in love with two awesome guys and decides to follow her heart.

Xander is Cassia’s best friend. Things between them change early on. He’s a super awesome guy that I loved from the beginning. His character is essential to the story and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for him in the follow up book.

Ky is someone who Cassia meets…..and I can’t say too much without giving away huge plot points. I really liked him and he’s another character I can’t wait to see what happens.

Cassia has a best friend, Em, who I didn’t really have a strong connection to.

Cassia’s parents play a huge role in this story. I respect them but found them a tad bit enraging at points. I guess it was my inner teenager lashing out at their authoritative arrogance. But they were great at the end, where it counted.

Romance

If you didn’t catch my previous post about the song by Justin Bieber and how it reminded me of this book go check it out and listen to that song.

The romance in this book is both sweet and passionate. Because there are two relationships going on it’s bittersweet to see them both happening. Ultimately you always have to follow your heart and Cassia does just that.

Cover/Title Bonus

The cover is amazing beautiful and 100% accurate. The title, however, while fitting, I might have changed, depending on what actually happens in book two. My title suggestion would have been: Sorted.

Ending

Basically, I want book two now. I can not wait to embark on the adventure I’m sure is to come.

Connect with Ally Condie

     

I highly recommend this book, which comes out in November!