Matched By Ally Condie

I think I have finally realized what the new craze is, when it comes to reading Young Adult books.  Dystopic.  Futuristic. After the (pretty much) end of the world as we know it today.  People still exist but live WAYYYYY different then we do now.

We've got of course, the much crazed about, Hunger Games Trilogy, which has the world, at least whats left of it, split into districts.  A future where they are definitely ahead in technology, when it comes to hovercrafts, computers, etc. but a sad world of labor, and being controlled by the government.

Then we've got The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld, where the world is completely crazed on appearance.  I mean, seriously (!!!) you get a surgery when you hit the age of 16!! Then you've got the walls, that gives you anything you want; anything from food, clothes, Halloween Costumes, hoverboards, etc.   And the world (at least the city part, where almost everyone lives) is controlled by the government.

And then we've got Matched by Ally Condie, which is the book I just finished reading.  It's more like The Uglies Series, in that the government is seeking perfection; instead of The Hunger Games, where people enjoy watching children get killed.  And then of course, in this one everyone is controlled by the government.

Are they trying to tell us something??? Are we going to be completely controlled by the government in the future???

I mean, there is already a lot that the government controls in today's world, but can you imagine having the government tell us that at a certain age we are all going to get surgery to make us look a certain way, that satisfies the government (hmm...thank you, government, for saying I'm ugly! That definitely makes me feel better about myself!), or how about having the government sort our lives to their requirements??

Well, that's what happens in Matched.  The government decides when you are born, when you get your job, what job you get, when you get married, and who you get married to.

Cassie has just hit the age of 18.  She's been matched to, none other than, her best friend, Xander (which is not common at all, to know the person you are matched with), and she's working to learn what job she will get.  Cassie is happy, and even excited for her future with Xander.  She couldn't have asked for a better life.

That is, until Cassie is watching her microcard (which every person gets when they matched, telling them about their match) and a picture pops up, that isn't Xander's.  Instead, it's someone else she knows.  Ky.

Cassie can't decide what to do.  Play it safe with Xander, who she's known her whole life, or go with the forbidden.  You see, Ky, is not eligible.  He's an Aberation, someone who can never be matched.  When life pushes her towards Ky, can she fight her feelings.

She starts doubting her trust in the Officials (the government people of her world).  How could they have made this mistake?  Are they playing some horrible trick on her?  Why are all these terrible things happening around?

Who will she choose?  Xander, who she knows she can make a wonderful, safe life with? Or Ky, where anything is possible?

Sounds pretty good right??  I thought it was definitely interesting and entertaining.  I liked the story and Cassie, and the metaphoric Official standards, that can in certain way compare to our world today.  Luckily, our government hasn't gone this far!  That would be scary!

When I started Matched, I felt at first, "Ooh, would it really be that bad, to be matched to your perfect partner?? It would get rid of all that heartache, of finding the wrong person first, second, and third (haha), and then even having the possibility of never finding them at all."  But then as I kept reading, I realized, "What am I thinking??? Finding the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, is part of growing up!  It makes you the person you become!  You shouldn't want to change that."

I recommend reading Matched if you like futuristic reads and romance (the forbidden kind ;)).

My overall rating:

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season, and let's make 2012 a great year! :)

The Romance Bookie :)

PS.  I will be posting my first In My Mailbox soon.  I just need to figure out a perfect time. :)