Crossed (Matched, #2) in Ask Ally Condie

Apr 27, 2012 Ruth rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: listened-to

This book is obviously necessary to the Matched trilogy, but it was so slow and boring! Cassia and Ky spend the whole book brooding over each other and quoting poetry. There is hardly any action. If I have to hear someone say something to the effect of, "as soon as I said the words, I wished I could take them back" or "the color of the rocks and grass remind me of my past," one more time I might scream. The characters were much stronger and likable in Matched, but in Crossed they just seem weak ...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Jessica Payne rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult-read

What would you do for someone you love? Cassia Reyes is about to find out in Crossed, the sequel to Matched, by Ally Condie. The first book left off with Cassia being sent to a work field on the outskirts of her province. She's hoping to hear word of Ky's whereabouts and if he's still alive. No matter the risk - her family, Xander, or her own well-being - she is determined to find him. Her quest begins as the work camp she's in is taking some of the girls from her camp to another assignment. Cas What would you do for someone you love? Cassia Reyes is about to find out in Crossed, the sequel to Matched, by Ally Condie. The first book left off with Cassia being sent to a work field on the outskirts of her province. She's hoping to hear word of Ky's whereabouts and if he's still alive. No matter the risk - her family, Xander, or her own well-being - she is determined to find him. Her quest begins as the work camp she's in is taking some of the girls from her camp to another assignment. Cassia can only assume that it’s a dangerous job in the outer provinces since they're only calling up Aberrations. In an act of desperation to find Ky, she sneaks into the transport and masquerades as an Aberration herself. Cassia finds herself in an abandoned village of boys and girls, posing as fake citizens, and drawing the fire of the enemy. It’s a death sentence, and Cassia need to escape, not only to find Ky, but to save herself.

Unlike Matched which is written exclusively from Cassia's point of view, in Crossed we get alternating chapters between Cassia and Ky. As the two are separated, I can see how it was a necessity in order for the reader to keep up with both characters simultaneously. But out of that necessity came a great insight in to Ky's character. I really enjoyed experiencing the story from his point of view and having access to his thoughts really gave great insight into his character. Ky's memories of growing up in the outer provinces, the memories of his parents and how they died, and his knowledge of the rebellion gives the reader a great insight into what it’s really like to be part of the rebellion movement - such a great contrast to Cassia's idealistic and somewhat naive idea of what the rebellion embodies.

While I viewed Matched as a story of falling in love, finding out, and realizing the power of your own ability to create, I felt Crossed was more about growing up, losing some innocence, and finding out how the world and the people in it aren't really divided up into all good and all bad. Along with this transition into maturity, I thought the author did a great job of making the relationships within the book more and more complex. I really enjoyed the relationship that evolved between Cassia and a friend that she makes in the work camp named Indie. Indie is such a great character that simultaneously embodies strength and fragility, and she also manages to balance on a fine line of moral ambiguity. I loved the dynamic she brought to the story. Even without having much of a physical presence in either this novel or in Matched, Xander has a way of staying very much in the forefront of most of the characters' thoughts. It’s a well crafted character that can carve out such a role without actually being included in many of the scenes of the book.

I highly recommend Crossed. I had a hard time putting it down at night as it seemed every chapter left me with some kind of cliff hanger, and I was absolutely dying to know what happened next. Just as in Matched, the language is lyrical (the descriptions often times poetry themselves), the author's writing style is intriguing, the plot is gripping and voices of the novel are very compelling. A must read for dystopian fiction lovers.

For more book reviews, check out my blog at http://yafortheyah.blogspot.com/ ...more

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Jul 29, 2012 LeiAnn rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012

Cassia has been shipped to the Border Provinces to teach her a lesson about how to behave in the Society she was raised in. She, however, has decided to use to opportunity to find her real "Match". Ky is also on the fringes of Society, but they have adopted a fairly obvious disregard for his continued existence. He knows that he needs to escape somehow and find a way to get to Cassia as well.

I really enjoy Condie's poetry and the way the characters struggle to create something of their own, whet ...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Brooke rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen-reads

Another fast paced teen adventure/distopian read. I felt this moved faster than the first book (althought I forget what I read so fast I couldn't remember all the references to what happened in the first book.) anyway a great teen read for adults too. ...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Alicia rated it it was amazing

What I love about Ally Condie is how meaningful her books are. Every word carries its weight. Anyway, I love the continued story and seeing new characters. I'm excited for the next one already. One year. :( ...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Susan rated it liked it

Shelves: juvenile-young-adult, dystopia

Some things I liked better about this 2nd book: it was less about the boys, and more about the people who didn't decide to conform to the society. I felt like I was in southern Utah through most of it, which brought back good memories of camping as a kid. I love the idea of preserving poetry and books, very Fahrenheit 451. There was too much repetition, however, especially of the wording in the speculation on who the Pilot could be, and what the characters were thinking. ...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Anna Francesca rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction

I loved Matched but barely got through Crossed. The first 100+ pages reminded me of The Road-- very slow, sad, and desolate. It got better, but the end still felt very much like an ellipse. I want something more than a reminder that this is the middle book in a trilogy. I will still probably try the final book once it is published. I bet it won't suffer sandwich-filling syndrome as this one did. ...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Cindy Davis rated it liked it

I was kind of confused and dissapointed by this book. First was the going back in forth points of view of Ky and Cassia. Never a fan of that. And, I was hoping to see Xander more, plus they kept letting on about a secret,which was never revealed right? And thats why I will read book 3. I still liked it, it just took a really long time to plow through.

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Sep 14, 2012 Colleen rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, dystopia

I think this was the first "fun" book I've read in months and i found it enjoyable even though the ending was disappointing in that this is the second book of a trilogy. But I can't wait for the third book to come out in November and find the answers to all of the society's secrets. ...more

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