Author: Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Books (a Penguin imprint)
Release Date: 11.1.11
Number of Pages: 384
Source of Book: ARC from Heidi @ YA Bibliophile
Author’s Website: www.allysoncondie.com/
Goodreads Summary:
In search of a future
that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with,
Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky – taken by the
Society to his certain death – only to find that he has escaped, leaving
a series of clues in his wake.
that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with,
Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky – taken by the
Society to his certain death – only to find that he has escaped, leaving
a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia’s quest leads her to
question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a
different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and
certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an
unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander – who may hold the
key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia’s heart – change the game
once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses
and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.
*************************
There is something so subtle and layered and soft-spoken and
quiet about Ally Condie’s writing that I first enjoyed in MATCHED and now
appreciated all over again in reading it’s sequel, CROSSED. There’s almost a poetic quality to the
softness of her writing, and as poetry is interspersed throughout her story, it
seems fitting. There is a beauty to her descriptions (and she lives in Utah so
sees the beauty all the time that inspired the setting for this particular
book) that allows us to actually feel like this book is an escape, for the
reader and the characters, from the Society and world that she has built. This is
a second book in a trilogy, and it is more about setting up these characters
for what I imagine will be a heroic stand in the final book. The first book was
about Cassia discovering that the Society isn’t what she really thought, and
this one is about her discovering that there might be more to her than she
really thought – all with Ky being her central guiding light. But, there is
always Xander in the background.
quiet about Ally Condie’s writing that I first enjoyed in MATCHED and now
appreciated all over again in reading it’s sequel, CROSSED. There’s almost a poetic quality to the
softness of her writing, and as poetry is interspersed throughout her story, it
seems fitting. There is a beauty to her descriptions (and she lives in Utah so
sees the beauty all the time that inspired the setting for this particular
book) that allows us to actually feel like this book is an escape, for the
reader and the characters, from the Society and world that she has built. This is
a second book in a trilogy, and it is more about setting up these characters
for what I imagine will be a heroic stand in the final book. The first book was
about Cassia discovering that the Society isn’t what she really thought, and
this one is about her discovering that there might be more to her than she
really thought – all with Ky being her central guiding light. But, there is
always Xander in the background.
This is the story of a journey: a journey for Cassia to find
Ky, a journey for Cassia to discover the strength she needs and who she can
really be, a journey for Ky to discover what matters the most, a journey for
the whole group to discover their paths and get to where they need to go. It’s a physical journey to get from Society to
the rebellion, but while on that physical journey through the canyon, it’s also
an internal journey for each of the characters to make to find out what their
true path will be.
Ky, a journey for Cassia to discover the strength she needs and who she can
really be, a journey for Ky to discover what matters the most, a journey for
the whole group to discover their paths and get to where they need to go. It’s a physical journey to get from Society to
the rebellion, but while on that physical journey through the canyon, it’s also
an internal journey for each of the characters to make to find out what their
true path will be.
This is not an action-packed book, but the thoughtful pacing
does keep it moving forward through the alternating perspectives/chapters of Ky
and Cassia. There are moments of suspense, mostly as we wonder if everyone will
survive the journey – and not everyone can, but there are also moments of
suspense as Ky and Cassia try to discover if their love for each other will
line up with their individual needs and keep them together or tear them apart.
Secrets abound from Xander to newcomer Indie, to Ky and Cassia as well. The
book reads as a slow unfolding of information from their past lives and what
got them to this point, that will eventually guide their ultimate decision in
the end. Vick and Eli and Hunter are secondary characters introduced in this
book that I grew to enjoy, and hope some might make a reappearance in the final
book as well.
does keep it moving forward through the alternating perspectives/chapters of Ky
and Cassia. There are moments of suspense, mostly as we wonder if everyone will
survive the journey – and not everyone can, but there are also moments of
suspense as Ky and Cassia try to discover if their love for each other will
line up with their individual needs and keep them together or tear them apart.
Secrets abound from Xander to newcomer Indie, to Ky and Cassia as well. The
book reads as a slow unfolding of information from their past lives and what
got them to this point, that will eventually guide their ultimate decision in
the end. Vick and Eli and Hunter are secondary characters introduced in this
book that I grew to enjoy, and hope some might make a reappearance in the final
book as well.
If you enjoyed MATCHED and want a thought-provoking, quiet
look into what Cassia and Ky will go through and ultimately find to be most important
in their lives, and to set yourself up for the final book in the trilogy, get
your hands on CROSSED on November 1st.
look into what Cassia and Ky will go through and ultimately find to be most important
in their lives, and to set yourself up for the final book in the trilogy, get
your hands on CROSSED on November 1st.
I wasn't a huge fan. 🙁 I liked the premise but felt like Cassia should have been a stronger character – or maybe more needed to happen in the first book for me? It definitely felt like a book that need a sequel, it couldn't be a stand-alone book like some books in a series. Reminded me of A Great and Terrible Beauty in that sense.
I absolutely loved Matched and can't wait to get to Crossed. I am really enjoying the dystopian trend — I'd like to see more of it in adult non sci-fi genres, but for now I'm reading as many of the teens as I come across.