Matched
by Ally Condie
***** out of 5 *
A book dealing with post apocalyptic society, our hesitant hero Cassia finds herself in a world where everything is planned for the perfect result. Everything runs exactly the way it is supposed to; the government picks the best meal to keep you healthy, what songs you should listen to, what and how long you should learn in school, even who you end up being "matched" with romantically. It is a seemingly perfect utopia that rarely has any kind of error in it's rational system.
However, on the day of Cassia's matching ceremony, instead of one love match, she is given two; interestingly enough, two childhood friends. As the government quickly tries to fix their "mistakes", Cassia is discovering that maybe love, and free will in general, is not so bad after all. Regardless of what the Officials in society have to say about it.
I loved this book, but it is a partner book, meaning I have to wait around to see what becomes of Cassia and her illegal love match, Ky. Though the story was somewhat slow in the beginning, it quickly picks up and leaves you hanging on every page, until the very end. Beautifully worded and with eloquent use of poems from our own past, it is written like that of a "classic", though modern enough to appease younger palates. Even advocating a strong heroine, I think this could be a book favorable to both boys and girls. I highly recommend it.
