Matched by Ally Condie

Reminiscent of George Orwell's 1984, Matched follows the forbidden budding romance of Cassia and Ky. In a world governed by Society, emotions are strictly controlled and choice is taken away replaced by statistics and probability. There is no running in public, everyone has regimented diets, jobs are severely segregated, citizens are Matched at seventeen and scheduled to die on their eightieth birthday. This is just a broad overview of the misguided Utopia. 

Although Matched is a YA love story, the underlying message surpasses the typical teen romance. Cassia is Matched to Xander, but falls for Ky-a serious Infraction by Society's standards. In a world where all choice has been removed for the "good of the people," Cassia's new-found feelings for Ky go against everything she ever believed in Society. If their statistics are wrong about the probability of her connection to Ky, what else are they wrong about? It is better to live safe and comfortable void of all choice, or should the people have the right to choose who their destiny, who they love, everything? 

There is little depth to secondary characters, but I'm hoping that changes with future installments of this trilogy. Ally Condie does a nice job of imbuing mystery into the story line without cultivating frustrating cliffhangers at every turn. The chaste romance develops interestingly around Society's watchful eye and Cassia and Ky grow with each new revelation.

 However beautiful the writing is, the story does fall a little flat. It is interesting but not riveting. You care for Cassia, Ky, and Xander but you don't fall in love with them. in short, no strong emotions are invoked. this could be cleverly implemented to parallel the lack of intense feelings portrayed by the citizens and Society. Or it can be a lack of passion in the writing. The follow up novel, Crossed due to be released November 2011, should clarify the observation. Judging by Cassia's predictable rebellion at the end of Matched, the sophomore title seems to promise more action, romance, independence, and maybe even the start of a revolution. 

HAPPY READING!