Matched

At the beginning of our Teaching Reading & Language Arts class this semester, our teacher told us about a book that would be coming out that was supposedly hailed as the "next Hunger Games." My interest was, of course, piqued and so I wrote a note in my planner about it on the day that it would be released. That book was Matched by Ally Condie.

The book was released yesterday (November 30), and I immediately went to Borders to buy it. I was desperate for something new to read and I figured if it was the next Hunger Games, it would probably be something right up my alley. I am not ashamed to admit that I read it all in one day.

Overall, the book was good. It's well-written, descriptive but not overwhelmingly so. It's a pretty easy and quick read, so its good for just curling up on your couch and reading when you have a couple minutes to spare.

It is very Hunger Games-esque. Futuristic society where the government controls pretty much everything. The main character, Cassia (Cassia...Katniss...Cassia...Katniss...hmmmm), lives her life by the rules of the Society and doesn't think too much about it. After her 17th birthday, she is called to her Matching ceremony where she will be shown the picture of the person she has been Matched with by the Society. The Society Matches people for genetics, to create a strong, healthy race of people.

The story goes on and develops a love triangle, which is where it really starts to sound like the Hunger Games. One of the boys is blonde with blue eyes, the other has dark hair, dark skin, and darker eyes. One of the boys loves to be in the forest, the other, not as much. Its an interesting storyline and plot and does make for a very good read. Katniss--I mean, Cassia, eventually gets tied up in a bit of rebellion against the Society not by her doing, and must make a choice if she will follow the rules of the Society and choose to be with her Match, or if she will go against them and choose the other man. I won't tell you which one she picks, but we'll just say it wasn't the one I was rooting for--which, in all fairness, may have tainted my opinion of the book.

I would recommend it to others (not as highly as the Hunger Games) if they're looking for something that has followed the trend of young adult fiction these days. Like I said, its well-written and has a good storyline (and its going to be a trilogy, did I mention that?).

My rating: 6.5/10