“Matched” by Allie Condie follows a girl named Cassia who lives in a dystopian society, which appears to be Utopia. However, the government or ruling power has unlimited power over the people. In Cassia’s world, the Society determines what job a person will do, whom someone will marry or when a person will die. Like the majority of the too trusting citizens, Cassia trusts the Society to provide for her needs and protect her from the mystery of the outside world.
When Cassia is old enough to attend the Matching ceremony and her best friend, Xander, is chosen as her future husband, she is ecstatic. Yet, her happiness is short-lived. When a rare glitch occurs, Ky Markham’s face flashes on the screen before fading away. The Society responds quickly and tells Cassia it is all a mistake and that Xander is still her match, yet Cassia cannot stop thinking about Ky. Through their growing love and some illicit poems, Cassia begins to question the life she is living and the Society’s truthfulness.
The writing in “Matched” is lyrical and easy to read. The allusions to poetry, Greek mythology and today’s technology enhance the meaning of the novel and allow readers to reflect upon today’s society. Condie’s style plays a key role in coherently connecting the pieces of the story.
As for the characters, Cassia finds her voice to think and question. On the other hand, her character is weak as she faces ambivalent feelings when it comes to love. The overuse of a character falling in love with two people simply to carry the romance portion of the novel detracts from Cassia as a whole.
The overall plot of the story is intriguing, if not original. Similar to numerous dystopian novels, the main character discovers the faults in her community and begins to question the Society, which ultimately leads to rebellion.
Despite the use of similar plots and characters in other novels, “Match” provides a compelling, thought-provoking read not only for dystopian fans but also those who are interested in gaining insight about today’s society. This book is recommended for teens.
