Crossed (Matched)

SUMMARY - Cassia has been sent to work camps so she can learn submission to the Society after her love for Ky was discovered. But she is really here to find Ky, who was sorted and taken away. And she was the one who sorted him. Now it's up to her to find him; if she could only get into the Outer Provinces... She has the Compass from Ky and the blue tablets from Xander, and she will use both of them to find her way. Two boys, two worlds, and one journey that will break hearts, heal hearts, and change them. MY THOUGHTS - I am a very expressive reader. Meaning, I jump, scream, squeal, blush, giggle, laugh, groan, and more - very openly. My poor family... ;) In any case, as far as the louder, more intense expressions of emotion go - I save those for the best of the best. So know I'm telling you the truth when I say that Crossed is one of the best of the best. I screamed at least seven times, blushed, giggled, jumped, and groaned - all in this book. And the screaming - it was loud. Just sayin'. Even more shocking and amazing is that my sister, who is not one to show such strong emotions while reading, not only did the same as I did, but also screamed/giggled with me when I read it! Not only did it excite me (and my sister) to extremes, but it also made me want to sit still (I know, ironic, huh?) and contemplate the beautiful, poetry-like prose, the deeper meanings, the lyrical tones. While reading I came across the sentences - So many beginnings. I tell myself that in a way it's good that I haven't found Ky yet, because I still don't know what to whisper to him when I see him, which words would be the very best ones to give. (Page 111) These words are beautiful, and they portray something deeper than just Cassia thinking of what she'll say to Ky. It's about how precious speech is, how important it is to her that Ky taught her to write, to speak and give life to words. It's about not taking your words for granted. They are important, down to the very smallest word. Cassia has grown up in a world where words - your own words, spoken or written - are like diamonds. This careful choice of words is not only portrayed in the characters, but also in Ally Condie's writing itself. Her word choices are so precise, carefully portraying the scenes and the deep emotions carried throughout. It's like poetry, but not. I don't even know how to describe the full beauty of it. CHARACTER NOTES - Here is how well I know these characters, how distinctly they are portrayed: When the book arrived in the mail two months ago, before I knew really anything about it, I picked it up and started reading. My thoughts were, "This is great, but it doesn't feel like...Cassia. It doesn't sound like her voice at all. I like it, but I'm confused..." I put it on my shelf to read soon. My sister got to it first, and came to me, saying excitedly, "It's from Cassia AND Ky's perspectives!" After a bit of sleuth-work, I discovered that the chapter I read was about Ky, from his perspective - and suddenly, it all fell together. When I was actually reading the book, I never had an issue, determining which voice was which. I mean, the chapters are labeled one or the other, but I didn't need that. They both had a voice distinct form the other. That amazed me, especially when both are written in first person, present tense. Vick, Indie, Eli, Hunter, and Xander were all really well-developed side characters, and I appreciate that. I didn't love some of the characters themselves, but loved who they were for the story. And... I love Ky. Oh, how I love Ky. Cassia really grew in this book. She matured and did selfless things that made her radiant. Her love for Ky makes her strong, glowing. Makes her want to live to the fullest. She loves deeply, cares so much, and wants to do the right thing. She doesn't always, but that's how we learn sometimes. Cassia is just like you and me, and that's the beauty of it. STORY NOTES - Everything about this book had me grasping for more. It's so refreshing to read this story and get lost in it. I loved the journeys the characters had to face, together and apart. There were scenes that made me scream and squeal with joy, and others that had my heart aching with sadness. The emotions were so real and big and alive. I love Cassia and Ky's love story. I love the reality of it, how heartfelt it is. I feel like a lot of young adult love stories are full of couples whose only issue is that they're unable to be together, and other dramatic situations of the same kind. Other than that, the relationships have virtually no issues, or very small ones. I have nothing against that - a few of my forever favorites are that kind of love story. But Ky and Cassia are different. Out in the wild, they are allowed to be together - but they struggle because they have disagreements. Because they have to ask, how much will I do for you? How much do I really love you? That is one of the many things I respect about their relationship. It's perfect, with every argument, every kiss. Everyone has to sacrifice in this story, and that builds and strengthens the story/characters in a huge way. SUMMING IT UP - Indescribably beautiful. It's like, I can't even express my love. Please, read Matched and Crossed. Please. Please. For the Parents - Nondescript kissing. Recommended 13+

Ten Likes/Dislikes: 1. (+) Cassia, the Protagonist - Cassia is so much stronger and wiser in Crossed than in Matched. You can really tell the difference and see how much her character has developed so far in the trilogy. There are several times when she wants to give up, but she doesn't, and what I found even better was that she knew her mind. Though there still is that sort of love triangle, Crossed is very much a Ky book and the book where Cassia seems to choose the type of life she wants to have and is willing to fight for that until the end. 2. (+) Alternating Points of View - Crossed didn't have much for it in terms of actual plot-- I can think of Matched and a few specific things that happened in it to advance the plot, but Crossed is much more of a character book, and it shows in the alternating points of view. A lot of the most interesting things you learn about from Ky's perspective and he too sets the stage for suspicion about the Rising and what the third book will entail. I loved reading about how he saw the world and what had happened to him--his journey, in many ways, was much more fascinating than Cassia's and his character development more thorough. Fantastic decision on Ally Condie's part to give us both POVs. 3. (+) The Poetry - Ally Condie's writing is also a lot like poetry, but what I really, really enjoyed about this book was again the incorporation of other poems into the book. The poems from Matched become really important explanations for how Ky viewed Cassia and how the new characters view the two of them... and for the rebellion against the Society. I just love how Ally Condie makes every word count--that these poems, which had only seemed like words whispered between lovers in the first book, became so much more meaningful. 4. (+) The World-building - Okay, first off, I love Ally Condie's capitalization - the Rising, the Carving, the Warming, the Outer Provinces... I love that she doesn't explain some of these things like the Warming, that her capitalization basically tells you all you need to know about it. Secondly, I was fascinated by the history of the Society and the story of the farmers and the Rising and the way Ky's parents factored in and the Archivists and the blue tablets and the Enemy vs. the Rising and ah! All of it. So many more details were added to the world already established in Matched and I can't wait to see how the third book will bring them all together. 5. (+) The Romance - You guys know that I am not a fan of love triangles... but as I already said, this book feels very much like only a Ky book, so I'm disregarding the triangle and saying that wow, the love and romance is done so beautifully. So, so sweet and agh, there really are no words to describe Ally Condie's writing and how wonderfully this was done. 6. (+) New Side Characters - Four side characters are introduced who all have different stories to tell and who all are very interesting and integral to the plot. I cannot wait to find out more about them and see the rest of their character arcs unfold. 7. (--) Old Characters - Because this book takes place in the Outer Provinces / the Carving / outside the Society, you don't get to see some of the other characters introduced in Matched. For one, Cassia's parents and brother Bram are not in this book (except in Cassia's thoughts)... and her friend... (I can't remember her name now? Emily, was it? Or??) Cassia didn't think about her at all and she's not in Crossed either, and Xander makes only one appearance. (Side note: though he is not physically there, he's in Cassia's and Ky's thoughts quite often, and he is perhaps more mysterious than I had ever guessed from Matched.) 8. (+) The Setting - Ally Condie, on her website, has written about how Utah (I think) influenced the setting for Crossed, and I must say that I don't care what influenced it, only that I want to go wherever that is. Even though the setting is treacherous and hard to survive in, it is beautiful, and as is typical of Ally Condie's writing, it seems to have a life of its own. 9. (+/-) The Pacing - You can expect the same pacing that you get in Matched and the sense that things are slowly building to their end... but for someone like me, sometimes it does seem a tad too slow, even if I had expected it to be that way. 10. (+) The Cover - You learn what the blue tablets do... and though I thought that this cover was beautiful and symbolic when I first saw it, I now think it's even better and more representative of the book. I loved Crossed just as much as I had loved Matched. Whatever Ally Condie writes, I will buy because one thing's for certain: she knows how to write and tell a beautiful story.

After I read the first book, I had to get my hands on the second one! Instead of waiting FOREVER to get it through the library, I bought it on my kindle! Wise choice! :)I went into this book not sure what to expect, since the last book left me hanging on a cliff! There were so many twists and turns in this book, it had me guessing all the way through! Cassia really grows even more in this book. Cassia is a strong character to begin with but she is able to stand firm in her beliefs in this book. I really like Indie who is a new character in this book,she is strong like Cassia and knows what she wants, but at the same time she has a hard time not knowing who to trust! I loved Ky in this book. Wow! He has been through so much from the beginning but I loved hearing his story and how much had to let go and all that he did let go towards the end of the book. For Ky Cassia is everything to him and he can't stand and still can't stand the thought of loosing her. Through out the book there were times I wasn't sure if they would be together because of all the obstacles they both had to over come to get to each other. I loved all of the Ky Cassia moments so sweet, but at the same time bitter sweet too. For Cassia all she wants is Ky too, but she can't help wanting to see Xander again. Cassia really is torn between the two of them. Indie on the other hand talks to Cassia and tells her she really needs to choose, in which we come to find out that Indie is in love with Xander, but I feel she is in love with the idea of him, not in love with him. I agree with Indie because it really is not fair to Ky or Xander. There are other characters that are introduced in this book that I really like. Eli is a lot like Cassia's brother Bram, sweet, kind and wants the best for everyone, but has some rebellion in him. I am glad that Ky takes Eli under his wing. Ky did this in the outer provinces more out of guilt, or because he reminds him of Bram, but he does it also because he cares enough what happens to him. Hunter is the other new Character. I like Hunter, he really does put his neck out on the line to help everyone. I do hope that we will see Eli and Hunter again in the next book. I loved how the end was bitter sweet but at the same time not too much of a cliff hanger, since they are all now working for the Rising!! I can't wait to see what happens next!

I really, really enjoyed Matched and was eager to read Crossed. Crossed was a bit disappointing, there just isn't much that happens in this book. It kind of came off as a necessary transition to book 3. I still enjoyed reading it, but was disappointed that it didn't grab my attention like the first book. Cassia has gotten herself reclassified to the Outer Provinces so that she can search for Ky. Ky struggles to survive as he is placed in a wartime situation with other Aberrations. Ky and Cassia both escape their situations and struggle towards each other and towards the rumored rebellion. My above description is pretty much what happens in the whole book. Cassia and Ky are in bad situations and escape separately with different companions. The story switches between Ky and Cassia's viewpoints. Cassia basically chases Ky in a series of near misses for a good portion of the book. This is frustrating because there is that whole, "oh, if she had just been a little quicker she would have found him" thing going on. When they finally do meet up there are so many secrets between them that relationship felt a bit flat to me. Ky and Cassia constantly preach that they can't live without each other but when it comes to what really drives them towards their goals they have completely different ideas about what to do. Xander is in the story very little, yet has more impact on the story in the end than Ky does. Xander has a big secret which is revealed to the reader late in the book. This whole book is basically the story of how Cassia and Ky escape the society and hunt down the rebellion. Seems like a good basis but so much of the book is spent with them trudging around trying to decide what to do. A number of new characters are introduced as well; they are interesting characters but are never filled out all that well. All the complaining aside. I still really did enjoy Condie's way with words; she has some beautiful writing and beautiful descriptions in this book...it is all just very deliberately paced. I really do enjoy Cassia as a character as well; she has a drive and a brightness to her that draws me in. Secrets about the Society are revealed but despite this I still feel like more questions were created than answered. This again left me with a feeling of not much happening by the end of the book. The ending itself left me feeling a bit empty as well; it was just so anti-climatic. Overall this was an okay book. The writing is beautiful and some of the descriptions absolutely wonderful; Cassia is a great character. We learn more background on Ky, meet some new characters, and learn more about the Society. Despite all of this I felt the story progressed slowly, didn't answer many questions, and that not much happened. The ending was anti-climatic and although I finished the book, the whole thing kind of left me with a "Huh, so what" feeling in the end. This seemed like a necessary transition book and in the end I feel like we didn't make much ground in this story. I will read the final book because I am curious to see what happens, but I was disappointed that this book didn't suck me in like Matched did.

I don't know that I would really call this book a sequel to the story, but rather a bridge of what is to come. Crossed is action packed and full of suspense. I loved the new characters that were brought in. Indie, the reserved and strong red haired girl who escapes with Cassia, Vick the strong leader with secrets of his own, and Eli the kid who resembles Bram too much to be left behind. I am dying to see what happens next. Though now that I have hopes for each character, I pray I'm not disappointed! This was a great installment in the series. You learn a bit more about each of the main players and even thought Xander isn't physically present in the Outer Provinces, the author found a way to remind you he is still very much a stronghold in Cassia's heart. To be completely honest, I started reading this book and finished all in one day. I couldn't put it down. The story is told alternating between Cassia and Ky's point of view, a unique look at each of their circumstances and thought processes. Mrs. Condie is true to form with her poetic and free flowing writing style. There is so much wonderment and awe in this book as the characters are taken to new places and experience the beauty of nature on a whole new level. I think all too often this series is compared to Hunger Games when really it is a completely different beast. Something simple, beautiful, and full of life- Love in its simplest form and the consequences and reactions created when choices are made.

This review contains mild spoilers for both Matched and Crossed. I wrote it prior to reading Reached, which I subsequently did read. It is important to read the books in order. The Matched series is part of the slew of dystopian Young Adult novels. While it doesn't have the wide-spanned biting satire of The Hunger Games (and maybe not quite as much jeopardy), the books are very compelling in their own way. Ally Condie writes beautifully. Her prose has some very poetic elements. Poetry (as well as other written expression) is highly valued in the Matched universe. No surprise there. In a Society where there are only 100 sanctioned items in any category of the arts, off-list art is a taste of freedom and a highly-charged symbol. In Matched, Cassia is somehow given a glimpse of a boy (Ky) she vaguely knows before her Society-approved match (Xander) comes up on the data card. Her curiosity is piqued, and her life is changed forever. She pursues a relationship with Ky and becomes more and more aware of the splintering cracks in the seemingly perfect Society. She discovers that even her parents and grandfather quietly, gently buck the system. She learns how to write, a skill that enables her to express herself without the ever-watchful Society knowing about it. Xander is a perfect boy and has been her friend all of her life. He will have a position of high esteem, and his chances of success (based on Society's data) are astronomical. Ky, on the other hand, is an Aberration, and it does not take long for him to lose even his menial job. Both boys love her, and she loves both of them. At the end of Matched, Cassia goes off looking for Ky, who has been sent to the front to be a Decoy for The Enemy. Crossed is her odyssey, her dual search for Ky and The Rising. Her quest tests both her physical and mental endurance. Crossed is also a journey for Ky. The chapters alternate between Cassia's and Ky's points of view. Ky's difficult life has taught him to "not go gentle" as Dylan Thomas wrote in the most important taboo poem quoted in the books. In Crossed, we learn a little more about The Society's machinations and ruthlessness. New characters are introduced. As the second of three books, Crossed is transitional, but there is a lot of soul searching and self-discovery. Both Cassia and Ky must decide whether love is more important than revolution. (Xander seems to have figured things out some time ago.) In the end, we will have to read Reached to see how things turn out. These books are not for readers seeking high adventure. Even the horrors of war and trials of rough terrain didn't evoke any visceral reactions from me. There is a slow and thoughtful pace to these books. Perhaps more brutal descriptions of war and wilderness would be too jarring. (Not sure.) If I like characters and a story, I don't want the story to end. I love long, drawn-out tales, as long as they are mostly substance and little filler. When the narrative is woven over several books, the story will necessarily be molded by the dramatic structure. Matched was fascinating due to the world-building and character introductions. Reached should answer all of the questions and resolve the plots. Crossed does not have any of these advantages, but it is a lovely read where we gain a lot of insight into two of the three major characters. Just remember, this series in NOT for thrill-seekers.

Easy to ready longer than expected. My daughter enjoyed recieveing it. Excited to start reading the series.

A great 2nd book in the Matched series. I love this world Ally Condie has created! I feel like I'm there in the book with Cassia and Ky. I care about these characters AND I love the plot. I want to know what's going to happen, and I want to read to find out if my character friends are alright in the end. I enjoyed the two points of view this time. The book switched between first person POV from Cassia and Ky. Even with the chapters being headed with the character's name for the POV I still got a little confused when I was rushing through during exciting parts. Not a big deal though. I liked getting to know Ky better by getting into his head. I wonder if Ally will add Xander's POV in the 3rd book. The setting was mysteriously beautiful. I have visited some of the southern Utah terrain that inspired the setting. The characters go on a difficult journey during this book. They all seemed relatively safe and sound in their town during the first book, but Crossed sends them to unknown places and situations which made for a new level of excitement. I can tell the third book will be an exciting finale. Ok, who's Team Ky and who's Team Xander? I have to say I'm both. I'm Team Ky because I think he's awesome and strong and a natural leader and wise. I'm Team Xander because he's smart and mysterious and fun and caring. Tough choice! Overall, a wonderful read! I loved it! Happy Reading!