Review: Matched - Ally Condie

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; First Edition edition (November 30, 2010)

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Dystopia is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres.  I was a little worried when I started this because there was quite a bit of hype.  But I am happy to say that it lived up to my expectations and then some.  Cassia is a good girl that trusts the society until she sees a second face on her match card. The society trys telling her  it was a glitch, but that quick glimpse is enough to make Cassia question things.  With a little help from her dying grandfather she starts to see things a little differently.  A shocking event with her father shows her that maybe her questions are justified.  While Cassia wants a perfect life with Xander she can't seem to get Ky out of her head.  Soon she finds herself in a situation where Ky learns a secret about her, and it is a secret that could land her in a great deal of trouble, now she struggles to trust Ky not to betray her.  In turn Ky reveals a secret about himself and so the two go on learning from each other , growing closer.  The relationship between Ky and Cassia seemed genuine and heartfelt while I felt that anything past friendship with Xander would have been forced.  I do hope we get to learn more about the society in the next book but the  glimpses we got in this one was enough to make me grateful to have the power of choice.  The rebellion aspect of this book wasn't as pronounced as say The Hunger Games.  It was a more subtle, more of a mental rebellion than a physical one and I for one thought it was great!  I loved the fact that in the end Cassia's family and even Xander did what they could no matter how small the act to help Cassia get the life she wants.  I hope Cassia doesn't go gentle and keeps moving towards the life and love that she wants.  I truly hope that everyone will give this book/series a chance.  I give this one 4 stars!!