Matched by Ally Condie

Reviewed by Lori
Matched

 Title: Matched

Series: Matched Trilogy Book 1

Author: Ally Condie

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 47538

Description: Cassia has always had complete trust in the Society to make decisions for her, but when she is being paired with her ideal mate, a second face flashes on the screen, and Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility.

Rubric Rating: Level 2 - Like It


 Why I Read It: I read this title while reading a bunch of other dystopian selections.  I also really liked the cover.

Lori's Notes:  Cassia Reyes has turned 17 and is "matched" with her good friend Xander.  Not often do people in the same community get matched and she feels lucky that she has her best friend for a mate.  However, while looking at Xander's microcard Cassia sees another face - her friend Ky Markham.  Ky is an aberration from the outer provinces who is ineligible for matching.  Could society have made a mistake? Could Ky be her true match?  A dystopian tale, where society sorts its citizens and decides where you will live, who you will marry and when you will die.  An interesting story and quite engaging in portions.  The matching ceremony felt very much like a high school prom.  I could also feel Cassia's sense of confusion - who is her correct match? who should she trust?  should she follow her heart?  The inner turmoil of a teenager needing to make a decision that will have lifetime ramifications will have appeal to many readers.

Recommended Readers: Grade 9 and Up.  Most likely to appeal to girls.

Themes: Dystopian Series, Relationships, Parent/Child relationships, Partners, Workings of Society, Life Span,  Love Triangles, Coming-of-Age, Personal Decisions, Big Brother, Choices.

Cross-Genre Links: 
Music: Torn performed by Natalie Imbruglia
Music: If you're not the one performed by Daniel Bedingfield
Movie: The Giver (2014)
Movie: Logan's Run (1976)
TV Show: Married at First Sight
Poetry: Do Not Go Gentle into that Goodnight by Dylan Thomas
Websearch: Online dating and matching

Post Reading Discussion Questions and Activities: 

  • Would you want to be matched like Cassia?  Compare and contrast Xander and Ky?  Who would be the better match? Why?  Justify your decision.
  • Pretend you are a director for "the Society".  Give a speech to convince your citizens of the benefits of allowing society to choose where you will live, what you will do, and who you will marry?
  • Why does Cassia's grandfather give her a line of poetry and how does it affect Cassia?  Read and analyze the poem and discuss why this title might have been forbidden.
  • Would you let society make your decisions for you?  Would you rather be matched with someone you know or a stranger?  Have a discussion about arranged marriages.  
  • Design a new cover for the novel.  

Other novels in this Series: 
Book 2: Crossed
Book 3: Reached

Also by Ally Condie:




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