Ally Condie - Crossed
Matched series #2
by Chelesbells
I am a huge fan of dystopian novels. They are probably my favorite genre right now. I also love a book with tons of action, sitting on the edge of my seat, pulse racing, heart pounding, gasping for air… Sorry… drama queen moment - I’ve never really read anything that actually made me gasp for air… Anyway… While I enjoy the action-packed books, I still appreciate a slower paced, deeper, thought-provoking story, and that is exactly what I found in Crossed. I am a big fan of Matched and have been anticipating the release of its sequel. I’ve heard some negative reviews of Crossed with the biggest complaint being that it was boring. Well, apparently I am easily entertained, because I was never bored. On the contrary, I was intrigued. I have been so curious about the tentative relationship between Ky and Cassia. I understood their attraction to one another, but all they had in Matched were these incredible stolen moments. What would happen if they ever got any quality time together? How would they feel about each other without Society and the officials watching? What will they feel when they are given a short reprieve from the risk of hurting Xander, whom they both care so much about? Would Cassia still feel that same attraction to Ky? Or would knowing him better make her realize that Xander really is her perfect Match? Well, my questions were partially answered which now has me anticipating book 3. Well played, Ms. Condie... well played.
“I love.
The most reckless thing of all.”
I admired that Cassia sacrificed so much to search for Ky (not going to lie, I don’t see myself digging in the dirt for any guy) and am so grateful that the entire book wasn’t her being one step behind Ky. Granted the way she found him was pretty coincidental, but I will take that over the aggravation of almost-but-never-quite catching up to him. I liked learning more about Ky and his personal demons. I’m still longing to know more about this mysterious, thoughtful boy “who writes in the earth”.
“Love has different shades. Like the way I loved Cassia when I thought she'd never love me. The way I loved her on the Hill. The way I love her now that she came into the canyon for me. It's different. Deeper. I thought I loved her and wanted her before, but as we walk through the canyon together I realize this could be more than a new shade. A whole new color.”
And:
“Cassia and I sit as near to each other as we can. She leans into me and I keep my arms around her. I don't fool myself that I hold her together- she does that on her own- but holding her keeps me from flying apart.”
Seriously… the boy makes me swoon.
I really enjoyed learning about the farmers. Their story was heartbreaking and, at the same time, inspiring. Being a mother myself, Hunter and Sarah’s story evoked very strong emotions in me, and I ached for them.
“They dropped like Flakes -
They dropped like Stars -
Like Petals from a Rose -
When suddenly across the June
A wind with fingers - goes -”
I liked the introduction of other characters also… especially Eli. I missed Bram in this story and Eli helped fill that void nicely. It also reminded me how much more compassionate Ky and Cassia are than some of their peers. It was refreshing to finally hear more about the Rising - another thing I pondered over. I’m just not sure I would be brave enough to want to find them. The stories of the Rising were hopeful, yet frightening.
I love Ally Condie’s writing. The way she words things is so beautiful. She takes an ordinary sentence and turns it into poetry.
“In the end you can't always choose what to keep. You can only choose how you let it go.”
I adore how she uses classic poems throughout the story and how those poems inspire the characters as well as the reader.
The end of Cassia’s journey in Crossed was like waking from a nightmare only for her to realize she wasn’t dreaming…. but no spoilers…. so I won’t say where Cassia ends up, or anything about the twist that is Xander’s secret, nor will I mention my suspicions about those creepy blue pills being justified. I will just say that all of those things will make the wait for the next book that much more difficult.
“Do not go gentle.”
Matched series #2
by Chelesbells
• Pub. Date: November 1, 2011
• Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
• Format: Hardcover 384pp
• Age Range: Young Adult
The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy
In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.
I am a huge fan of dystopian novels. They are probably my favorite genre right now. I also love a book with tons of action, sitting on the edge of my seat, pulse racing, heart pounding, gasping for air… Sorry… drama queen moment - I’ve never really read anything that actually made me gasp for air… Anyway… While I enjoy the action-packed books, I still appreciate a slower paced, deeper, thought-provoking story, and that is exactly what I found in Crossed. I am a big fan of Matched and have been anticipating the release of its sequel. I’ve heard some negative reviews of Crossed with the biggest complaint being that it was boring. Well, apparently I am easily entertained, because I was never bored. On the contrary, I was intrigued. I have been so curious about the tentative relationship between Ky and Cassia. I understood their attraction to one another, but all they had in Matched were these incredible stolen moments. What would happen if they ever got any quality time together? How would they feel about each other without Society and the officials watching? What will they feel when they are given a short reprieve from the risk of hurting Xander, whom they both care so much about? Would Cassia still feel that same attraction to Ky? Or would knowing him better make her realize that Xander really is her perfect Match? Well, my questions were partially answered which now has me anticipating book 3. Well played, Ms. Condie... well played.
“I love.
The most reckless thing of all.”
I admired that Cassia sacrificed so much to search for Ky (not going to lie, I don’t see myself digging in the dirt for any guy) and am so grateful that the entire book wasn’t her being one step behind Ky. Granted the way she found him was pretty coincidental, but I will take that over the aggravation of almost-but-never-quite catching up to him. I liked learning more about Ky and his personal demons. I’m still longing to know more about this mysterious, thoughtful boy “who writes in the earth”.
“Love has different shades. Like the way I loved Cassia when I thought she'd never love me. The way I loved her on the Hill. The way I love her now that she came into the canyon for me. It's different. Deeper. I thought I loved her and wanted her before, but as we walk through the canyon together I realize this could be more than a new shade. A whole new color.”
And:
“Cassia and I sit as near to each other as we can. She leans into me and I keep my arms around her. I don't fool myself that I hold her together- she does that on her own- but holding her keeps me from flying apart.”
Seriously… the boy makes me swoon.
I really enjoyed learning about the farmers. Their story was heartbreaking and, at the same time, inspiring. Being a mother myself, Hunter and Sarah’s story evoked very strong emotions in me, and I ached for them.
“They dropped like Flakes -
They dropped like Stars -
Like Petals from a Rose -
When suddenly across the June
A wind with fingers - goes -”
I liked the introduction of other characters also… especially Eli. I missed Bram in this story and Eli helped fill that void nicely. It also reminded me how much more compassionate Ky and Cassia are than some of their peers. It was refreshing to finally hear more about the Rising - another thing I pondered over. I’m just not sure I would be brave enough to want to find them. The stories of the Rising were hopeful, yet frightening.
I love Ally Condie’s writing. The way she words things is so beautiful. She takes an ordinary sentence and turns it into poetry.
“In the end you can't always choose what to keep. You can only choose how you let it go.”
I adore how she uses classic poems throughout the story and how those poems inspire the characters as well as the reader.
The end of Cassia’s journey in Crossed was like waking from a nightmare only for her to realize she wasn’t dreaming…. but no spoilers…. so I won’t say where Cassia ends up, or anything about the twist that is Xander’s secret, nor will I mention my suspicions about those creepy blue pills being justified. I will just say that all of those things will make the wait for the next book that much more difficult.
“Do not go gentle.”
I haven't read Matched yet...it's been sitting on my bookshelf for for-ev-er collecting dust. Now I need to catch up and read Crossed! *Sigh*
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