On Transitions: A Review of Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed by Ally Condie is the sequel to Matched, which was one of the books that sparked my interest in dystopian novels. I was captivated by the subtle romance that it introduced, as well as it's thought provoking plot.

In Crossed, Cassia has broken away from Society to travel into the Outer Provinces in an effort to find Ky. Along the way, she learns of the Rising, an organized rebellion against the society. Joining the Rising becomes her new goal in life. Ky, who has already seen the dark side of the Rising, wants more than anything never to join up again. Xander, Cassia's official match, still lingers on her mind, along with the secrets he may be keeping from her.

Positive Comments

I still enjoy the relationship dynamics. Cassia and Ky are (somewhat inexplicably) believable as a romantic couple. I found Cassia's pursuit of him exciting. It showed the development she's undergone so far and proved, to me,  that she is a strong and intelligent heroine.

I liked the new characters introduced. Vick, Ky's friend, offers a tragic love story to offset the sweetness of Ky and Cassia. Eli, who reminds Ky and Cassia of Bram (Cassia's little brother), is something of a plot moppet. He shows us the nurturing side of the older characters. Indie is by far the most interesting of the new characters. She's incredibly self serving, at times approaching unlikeable, but at least she isn't predictable.

Critical Comments

I was honestly hoping, that after such a slow and exposition filled first book, that we'd see more action in this one. That's kind of the case. But it's still very, very slow. There's a lot of unnecessary time spent on bland and repetitive topics. As a result, the book never really gets to a satisfying climax. I understand that this is the mid-trilogy transition book, but I don't think a little more attention to pacing is too much to ask.

Seriously, what's up with all the poetry in these YA books? Now, I happen to have a disability of sorts when it comes to poetry--I just don't get it. But even if I did, and even if your average straight teenage boy also got it (ha), it would still get stale after awhile. Most teenage couples I've known have better ways to spend their time than reading poetry to one another. Maybe I'm coming across as jaded here, I don't know. But I've now seen this particular thing often enough that it's become cliche. Cut it out, YA authors.

Cassia's naivety when it comes to the Rising bugged me. As did the fact that Ky didn't really attempt to fully disclose to her what being in the rising would mean. She whines a lot about wanting to make her own choices, but she doesn't seem overly concerned with making informed decisions.

Recommendation

If you liked the first book, you'll get through this one just fine. It's not as good, but it still has some of the better elements from the first one. On the other hand, if you disliked or felt neutrally toward the first book, this one is not going to change your mind about the trilogy. In general, if you like dystopians, you should give Matched a try. This is shaping up to be a decent series. 3 stars.

Best Book of February/March Preview

It was a rough month for reading, folks. Three DNFs that I didn't even get far enough into to feel comfortable writing a DNF review.

And the award for most awesome book read in February goes to...Indigo by Beverley Jenkins! It might be older, but this unique historical romance made me feel good. It was definitely the bright spot in a mostly dull and mediocre group.

So, what am I reading next? I'm really excited about quite a few of these books. Here's the list...

Crossed by Ally Condie --I'm a little over 50% done and really enjoying it.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins--Yes, I am only reading this because there's a movie coming out. Shame on me! I'm about 25% into it, and it is as well written as everyone says.

First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Muppet Snow White by Jesse Blaze Snider--Don't ask.

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

The Look of Love by Bella Andre

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Ill Wind by Rachel Caine

I'm trying to mix up my sub-genres a little more, to avoid the much dreaded reading burn out. What's in your soon to read pile? Anything exciting? Share with the group!

On Free Will: A Review of Matched by Ally Condie

I've had my eye on Matched since it came out last year, but never quite got around to reading it. Then it showed up at the library where I work, and I finally made time for it. I'm so happy that I did!

Matched is set in a futuristic world where people's lives are controlled by the government. The Society decides everything from where you live and work, to the food you eat and cloths you where, to who you marry. It is this process of Matching that is the main subject of the novel. Cassia is told that she has been matched with her best friend, Xander. But when she goes to view a mircrocard with Xander's information on it, another boy's face appears--Ky. This leads Cassia to question whether the society makes mistakes, who she is really meant to be with, and why she cannot make that choice for herself.

Positive Comments:

I loved the concept of this book. I was reminded of The Giver, one of my favorite books from my childhood, which is also set in a tightly controlled Utopian society. Matched is intentionally thoughtful, asking big questions about free will, choice, and the nature of love. Yet it isn't pretentious or sanctimonious in it's message. We see both the good and bad sides of the Society, from the protection it offers it's citizens to the fear it instills in them.

Our heroine, Cassia, is intelligent and likable. I didn't mind following the story through her perspective. Her emotional journey and development felt real. She goes from blindly trusting and accepting, to questioning everything and trying to make choices for herself. This is a struggle that I found easy to relate to.

I enjoyed the gentle touch of romance that overlays the story and drives the plot forward. Even as she loves Xander and is loyal to him, Cassia feels real love for Ky. As Ky and Cassia discover one another, they build trust, understanding, and affection. I liked that this emotional connection built slowly, but ran deeply. It made me long for the two of them to have a happy ending.

Critical Comments:

The pace is extremely slow. It isn't an action filled story, but rather a slow and contemplative one. As a result, it takes patience on the part of the reader and might be frustrating to those accustomed to more tightly written plots.

Finally, the parallels to The Giver, while delightful, made me just a bit uncomfortable. Some of the details were, in fact, so close that I'm suspicious that they were lifted directly. The story itself goes in another direction and deals with some slightly different themes, but the world building is the same. While I don't think this is intentional plagiarism, I still have to mention it as a minor drawback.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Matched, and I look forward to the rest of the series. I'd recommend it, particularly to fans of slow and thoughtful YA literature. 4 stars.