Matched

Bibliographic Information: Condie, Allyson Braithwaite.  (2010).  Matched.  New York: Penguin Audio
ISBN: 978-0-14-242863-4

Plot Summary: Cassia lives in a world where everything is decided, planned, and dictated by an  organization called "The Society." Everything is decided for Cassia, from what she wears, eats, and does everyday to who she marries, or is "matched" to. Cassia, like most people of her community, sees nothing wrong with the way in which things are run, and even accepts her grandfather's eventual and assigned death date at the age of 80.

Cassia has recently reached the age of 17, the age of being matched to her future husband. She attends her ball and learns that she is among the lucky few to be matched to someone in their own town; she is matched to her best friend, Xander. Along with the matching, each person is given a sort of data card that holds further details on the person they have been matched to. When Cassia decides to take another look at Xander's details, even though she knows him, she is surprised to see Xander's face disappear only to be replaced by the face of another young man, Ky. Cassia is suddenly met with so many questions about who really is her "perfect match, doubts about the future, and does not know where to turn. She is told that she can talk to her grandfather about what has happened but is only met with more confusing ideas about whether or not to accept her assigned future.

Soon Cassia is set off in a tailspin of emotions and rebellion in which she must decide to ignore the new face she has accidentally seen or continue a happy, and prescribed, life with Xander.

Critical Evaluation: Poetry, particularly Dylan Thomas' poems, is a recurring motif of rebellion and hope within Matched. Beginning with the poem that Cassia secretly receives from her deathbound grandfather to the poem she receives from Ky upon the hill. The powerful words of poetry are what incite Cassia to pursue the things that feel right, the love that she feels she wants the most. It's the words of Dylan Thomas', "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night"  that urge her not to accept the way things are and to struggle to see the world for what it really is. Cassia acknowledges that she has never heard words like those of Thomas but still understands their urgency and their message to not accept "the dying of the light." This poem incites the emotion of fighting till the end, of continuing on even if the ending isn't victorious, of not being stopped by the obstacles ahead, of never laying down in defeat. Cassia and Ky, and even Cassia's grandfather, understand this message and are able to see "The Society's" world for the controlling and sneaky ruling power that it is. Cassia's simple act of even having the poetry, of learning to write, of loving Ky are all acts of rebellion in which Cassia is able to "rage, rage against the dying of the light" as she defies the controlling world she lives in.   

Reader’s Annotation: Cassie lives a life of acceptance, until an unexpected face forces her to realize that there may be more options in life than ever known before.
 

Information About the Author: Ally Condie is currently a fulltime writer (Condie, 2012). She spends her time writing, managing her websites and blogs, and spending with her husband and children (Condie, 2012). Prior to writing fulltime, she was an English teacher (Condie, 2012). Condie still keeps her licenses current in case she ever has to teach again (Condie, 2012).

She is currently working on the third book, Reached, from her Matched Trilogy (Condie, 2012). Crossed is the second book in the Matched Trilogy (Condie, 2012). Condie was featured in the YALSA’s 2011 Teens’ Top Ten for her book Matched (Condie, 2012). She has also been featuredin other top literature journals like Kirkus Review and Publisher's  Weekly (Condie, 2012).

The Matched Trilogy Official Site

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction

Subgenre: Utopia/Dystopia, Politics  

Curriculum Ties: Could tie into a discussion on future societies and technology.

Booktalking Ideas:
1). Although Cassia world is "perfect" does it offer the perfect life?
2). Why is Cassia so drawn to Ky?
3).  What does it mean to have a "taste of everything and a meal of nothing?"

Reading Level/Interest Age: Lexile Reading Level: 680/ YA (Follett's Titlewave, 2012). Grades 9-12 (Follett Titlewave, 2012).
 

Challenge Issues: No challenge issues seem to exist in this book.

1) Refer to Library Bill of Rights, see items: I, II, and III (http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill).
2) Refer to San Diego Public Library collection policy - (http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/about-the-library/freedom.shtml).  Original site: The American Library Association (ALA) Freedom to Read/View Statement (http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/freedomreadstatement).
3) Refer to California School Library Association (CSLA), Model School Library Standards - September 2010 (http://www.csla.net/index.php/publications/school-library-standards). PDF: (http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/librarystandards.pdf).

4) Refer t0 American Association for School, Librarians Standards for the 21st Century Learner (http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf)

5) Contact Office of Intellectual Freedom for any further support, 800-545-2433, ext. 4223 or oif@ala.org.

6) Refer to legitimate book reviews, such as: School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Horn Book and others; found on either Academic Search Premier, Follett's TITLEWAVE, or Amazon.com.

Why did you include this book in the titles you selected?: I included this title because it offers a very interesting perspective of what future life could be like. It also plays with the idea of what life would be like if it was completely designed for each person. Teenagers will be able to understand Cassia's struggle as she is forced to live within the rules or face the serious consequences of not conforming to "The Society's" demands.

Reference Page: 

Condie, A.  (2012) Author bio. Retrieved July 27, 2012 from http://www.allysoncondie.com/bio/

Follett's Titlewave. Matched.  Retrieved July 27, 2012 from Follett's Titlewave iPhone App.

cover art: sfaudio.com