Matched!

Matched is a young adult science fiction book written very similar to the Hunger Games.  Since I enjoyed Hunger Games, that might be the reason why my fingers were so drawn to finding this book.  Matched is about a make-believe world where everything is controlled by the Society.  Everything, right down to how much you eat a day and when you die.  Everything is managed and controlled by the Society, including who you will marry and how many children you will have.
The book starts out at the matching ceremony for Cassia, a young 17 year old girl.  She has worn the most beautiful dress (a green one, like the girl in the bubble picture), and is awaiting to hear whom she is going to be dating for the next couple of years before she is married.
Surprisingly, she is matched to someone in her region; her best friend: Xander.  Cassia is ecstatic! She has been matched to someone in her own city! That practically never happens, and Xander is her best friend so she is elated.
Once matched, each person receives a microcard with all their mate's information available for them to review.  Cassia figures there isn't much for her to review since she and Xander grew up together and know everything about each other; but she decides to look anyway.  She inserts the card in the computer, and the face that appears for her match is not Xander; it is Ky Markham.  Cassia is stunned and scared.  She quickly pulls the card out, and tells no one.
Later, an official pays her a visit at school to discuss what has happened.  Again, Cassia has told no one, but the officials know everything.  They convince her it was an accident, and there was no way Ky could have been entered into the matching pool because he is an Aberration.  There are four different levels in the Society: matched, single, Aberration, and Anomalies (who have to be separated from society).  Aberrations are people who have committed an infraction against the Society or have a close family member who has committed one.  In this instance, Ky's uncle, who he lives with, had committed an infraction against the Society years ago, and now Ky is being punished for it.
The official leaves Cassia to mull this over, and now it peaks her interest in Ky.  She has known him since they were little, but he is a quiet boy who is average in everything.
Throughout the book, Cassia becomes more intrigued with Ky and eventually falls in love with him.  She learns what it is like for him to be an outsider all these years, and how he plays a game of his own against the Society; living unnoticed.  Their love is forbidden because of the different levels as matched and Aberration.  Cassia is torn between disobeying the Society and following her heart.  Her family suffers because of her actions, and are eventually forced to move to the Farmlands by the Society.  Cassia comes clean with Xander and tells him the truth, that she truly loves Ky.  The officials have taken Ky away from his aunt and uncle to somewhere unknown.
As the book closes, Cassia and her family have been moved to the Farmlands, and Ky's whereabouts are unknown.  Cassia is determined to find her true love, Ky, no matter what risk she may have to take.
The author leaves you wondering at the end of the book if Cassia will be able to find Ky in the next book.  This first book Matched is part of a trilogy.  It was a good book, that easily connected with young readers about falling in love and having your life controlled by someone.  I can see how the book would resonate with middle or even high school students, talking about a love triangle, rebelling against the powers, and escaping to find true love.

I enjoyed reading it, and the author kept my attention throughout the whole book.  Although it was incredibly similar to the Hunger Games, it was less violent, but followed along with the theme of forbidden love.  You should note that this book was published after Hunger Games.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series, Crossed.



It also looks like a movie is going to be made from the book!!


Condie, A. (2010). Matched. New York: Scholastic.