Book Review: Matched

Assignment:  Write a book review of your independent read for the first nine weeks.  See guidelines here.
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Picture this:  a world where your mate, your husband, your wife, is chosen by a group that controls all that you do.  Ally Condle’s Matched intrigued me with her thoughts of another utopian society that begins to turn dystopic.

One possible theme for this novel remains that humanity at best simply is imperfect.  Cassia, the main character in the novel, has been matched with her ideal mate, her friend from her own living area.  Then, when she inserts her microcard, she sees a face, a face that is not Xander’s but Ky’s; thus, the breakdown in this perfect society begins as Cassia realizes that not all is perfect within her world.

Condle’s writing style draws the reader into this world that she has created by creating much dialogue, vivid descriptions, and her diction (word choice) assists in moving the plot along quickly.  For instance, one can hardly turn a page without a conversation occurring, which keeps the characters’ voices very alive.  The author also chooses to relate this story in first person point of view, thus allowing the readers into the head, the very active house of Cassia’s many thoughts and turmoil.

The setting for the novel, as stated above, is a utopic society some time in the future, a time in which the older members can still recall memories from the reader’s culture.  For instance, Ky has access to the language in the form of poetry, words that appeal very much to Cassia, words that also cause her to further question her society.   Another way the setting affects Cassia is that it allows Ky and her to meet as they perform their outside activities, walking and climbing up and down a hill, an exercise at which both Ky an Cassia both excel.  Thus, this setting, this supposedly perfect world, does directly affect the characters.

This novel reminds me of The Hunger Games, a novel that is also initially based on a perfect world that quickly is portrayed as a dystopia.  Katness, the main character in The Hunger Games, and Cassia both display similar characteristics, determination and a devotion to family.  Both novels are set in worlds that exist in the future, and, of course, in both novels, the girls have to choose between two boys.  Oh, the love triangle!

I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys dystopic novels.  Yes, if you enjoyed The Hunger Games, you will enjoy this novel also.  By the way, this is the first novel in a series, so the adventure continues in Crossed and soon-to-be released Reached, both of which continue the story of Cassia and her choice of men.