Matched II

     I've read more of Matched, written by Ally Condie, and I can't put it down! I've only read up to chapter four and there's already challenges that Cassia has come face to face with. In my last blog, the book began with Cassia, her mother, and her father going into the city for the matching banquet where Cassia will be paired with a husband. While on the train, she talks to her childhood best friend Xander, who is also going to the banquet to be matched. Both Cassia and Xander are nervous about meeting their matches, but they both confide in the fact that the Society does not make mistakes. Once Cassia arrives at the banquet hall, she notices a large screen that takes up most of the wall. This is for viewing your match; usually the person that is matched to you lives in a different part of the country (they are matched by personality comparability and then go where the Society tells them to live). After a few people are matched, it is Cassia's turn. To her surprise, no one shows up on the screen! That means only one thing; her match is in the room with her. Cassia is delighted to find out that she is matched with her best friend Xander and, as is customary, she is given a small computer card with all of Xander's personal information on it. Cassia really won't need it since she and Xander are such good friends, but she wants to view it anyway. She rushes home to view the card, but when she puts it into her computer, a different face pops up! It's Ky, another one of her childhood friends and what they call an aberration: a dangerous member of the Society.

Matched I

     I just received a book for Christmas called Matched, written by Ally Condie, from a friend; I've only read the first few chapters but it seems like a good book. The book takes place in what seems to be future America (I'm just guessing; the book doesn't really say). Condie describes it as more civilized and orderly than the world we live in today. The Society, as it is called in the book, runs the entire nation in a structured and orderly fashion; there is no crime, no sickness, no poverty.  Citizens don't have a say like we do. They do as they are told. Guided by Officials, their version of police officers, the citizens are placed into different careers based on their skills, they are told where to live, and they are matched with a spouse that is chosen for them (if they wish). Not only does the government do this for all its citizens, but it also requires everyone to carry a small case, containing three pills, wherever they go. The first two pills, blue and green, are fairly harmless; they calm anxiety and can be taken whenever the carrier wants. The third pill, the red one, is a mystery; no one is allowed to even touch it unless an official tells you to do so. Pretty crazy right? The book's main character is a young girl named Cassia. The story begins with Cassia and her family heading to the matching banquet; she will soon find out who her chosen husband will be. It sounds like an interesting story and I am looking forward to reading more!