Matched

Author: Ally Condle
Recommended Age: Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin Group
ISBN: 978-0-525-42364-5
Year Published: 2010
No. Pages: 369
Genre: Science Fiction
Main Character Gender: Female
Read & Reviewed by: Alisha



In the society, the Officials decide everything for you including when you live and when you die. They also decide who you will marry. On Cassia's 18th birthday everything changes, and she waits to be matched to her future husband. Cassia is matched with her best-friend Xander. Nothing could be more perfect but then, for the briefest moment, she sees another face, the face of Ky. Has there been a mistake?

Cassia lives in a place where everything is predicted, every move and mistake is already determined, and every rule is followed. Should Cassia break the rules and follow her heart for Ky? Or should she marry Xander and follow the Official's idea of a perfect life? Is Cassia courageous enough to do what no one has ever done in the society before and do what she wants?

Ally Condle wrote the story in first person narrative, from Cassia's point of view. I thought she was the perfect person to tell the story, because everything hinged on Cassia's choice. If someone else had told the story , I wouldn't have liked her as much, because I wouldn't have gotten to know her as well as I did hearing her voice. Ally Condle creates an amazing character in Cassia- an average teenage girl growing up faster than she should. Even though the society in which Cassia lives in is different from ours, Condle made you believe everything that happened was real and that every move Cassia made was really happening. When Cassia was stuck in her love triangle, I was stuck along with her. I agreed with Cassia, it was a difficult decision to make.

I thought Ally Condle's topic was very realistic. I mean you never know when the government might start choosing who you marry or what you wear, when you'll be home, when you'll work and what you'll do? Isn't that what we already do, to some extent, during reality television shows? You never know when your life will become something for someone else to watch and vote on.

I would recommend Matched to anyone who enjoys a novel set in the future, and some complex decision making. Once you pick up this novel, you'll find it difficult to put down.