Matched+Selena+Feng



Matched by Ally Condie **Rating:** 4 stars In The Society, Officials control every aspect of every citizen's life, from what and how much people eat, to their jobs, marriages, and deaths. Cassia Reyes, a complacent member of this esteemed society, has just turned 17, and is anticipating the Match Banquet where she will finally see who her future husband will be. At the ceremony, she is thrilled to discover that she is matched with her best friend, Xander Carrow, and eagerly dreams of their lives together. However, when she returns home and looks at the microchip containing information about her Match, she instead sees a flash of another face that she knows, her childhood friend Ky Markham. Thus begins her journey of questioning why she has two matches, something that should not happen in a perfect society like hers, figuring out the true intentions of the government and its officials, and pondering the age-old question of who she loves.
 * Summary **

Quite honestly, Cassia at the beginning of the novel is frustratingly docile. She blindly believes what The Society tells her about the improved quality of life that they have achieved for the citizens, although rights such as privacy and freedom of choice are nonexistent. However, she does change throughout the story as she breaks the unspoken rules of their society and falls in love with Ky, and realizes the extent of what people will sacrifice for their loved ones. One of my favorite parts of the story was when her grandfather, who dies, gives her a poem that is not supposed to exist (on orders of the government), "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas, which symbolizes the struggle that Cassia faces with her budding rebellious thoughts and the ideals of the Society that governs her. Although the plot is a bit predictable, the characters are generally likable and the theme of discovering oneself and becoming free from oppressive governments is commendable. In spite of the slightly cliché story, I am planning on finishing the series to see what becomes of Cassia, Ky, Xander, and the other unfortunate members of The Society.
 * Review **