Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Penguin (2011), 384 pages
Description
Seventeen-year-old Cassia sacrifices everything and heads to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, where she is confronted with shocking revelations about Society and the promise of rebellion.
User reviews
LibraryThing member MrsBoswellBooks
Crossed follows Cassia and Ky through their journeys in the Outer Provinces. Things are not easy for either characters. Cassia is maneuvering through an area she is completely unfamiliar with and Ky is trying to navigate the Outer Provinces from memory.
The setting, for me, was rather blasé. I
The large focus of Crossed is the blossoming relationship between Cassia and Ky. Cassia is fighting through the unknown wilds of the Outer Provinces to find Ky, whom she is convinced is the love of her life. I wish that there had been more action and mystery. I felt like a lot of "WOW" was missing because 90% of the book was spent with the two characters mooning over one another. Crossed will most likely appeal to those who are Team Ky, but the little that Xander was in this story really did it for me. There was more mystery and intrigue surrounding Xander which really piqued my interest. There is also a secret surrounding Xander that is revealed, which I'm sure we will find out more about in the third novel.
The thing that really threw me off while reading Crossed was the alternating narrations. This was a completely different approach from what Ally Condie did in Matched. The chapters here alternate between Cassia and Ky narrating. I didn't feel a distinct difference in their voices while reading each chapter. It actually seemed like a completely different person had taken over writing this story.
The overall highlight of the book was the new characters that Ally Condie penned. I enjoyed getting to know Indie, Eli, Vick and even Hunter. They shed some new light on situations and also prompted Cassia and Ky out of their shells at times.
Crossed is a decent follow-up to Matched and a good opening for the third novel in this series. I look forward to the next book and hope for a little more action, a little more insight into the society and of course, a little more Xander.
The setting, for me, was rather blasé. I
Show More
think this was due, in most part, to the fact that the story took place in the Outer Provinces. Outside of the society walls, I didn't really feel much of the society presence in this installment. Not saying that there is no societal presence at all, because we do learn more about how the society operates with some reveals scattered throughout the story. We also learn a little more regarding the aberrations and anomalies.The large focus of Crossed is the blossoming relationship between Cassia and Ky. Cassia is fighting through the unknown wilds of the Outer Provinces to find Ky, whom she is convinced is the love of her life. I wish that there had been more action and mystery. I felt like a lot of "WOW" was missing because 90% of the book was spent with the two characters mooning over one another. Crossed will most likely appeal to those who are Team Ky, but the little that Xander was in this story really did it for me. There was more mystery and intrigue surrounding Xander which really piqued my interest. There is also a secret surrounding Xander that is revealed, which I'm sure we will find out more about in the third novel.
The thing that really threw me off while reading Crossed was the alternating narrations. This was a completely different approach from what Ally Condie did in Matched. The chapters here alternate between Cassia and Ky narrating. I didn't feel a distinct difference in their voices while reading each chapter. It actually seemed like a completely different person had taken over writing this story.
The overall highlight of the book was the new characters that Ally Condie penned. I enjoyed getting to know Indie, Eli, Vick and even Hunter. They shed some new light on situations and also prompted Cassia and Ky out of their shells at times.
Crossed is a decent follow-up to Matched and a good opening for the third novel in this series. I look forward to the next book and hope for a little more action, a little more insight into the society and of course, a little more Xander.
Show Less
LibraryThing member suetu
A stronger novel than Matched
At the risk of unpopularity, I will admit that I was not a huge fan of Matched. It was okay, but my expectations were Hunger Games high, and the book didn't meet them. There was very little tension about the eventual choice that Cassia would make, and yet I really
That said, I thought Crossed was a far stronger novel. In it, Cassia has determined to risk everything in order to find Ky. The story is told in chapters alternating between their two viewpoints, and Crossed is far more action-packed and fast-paced than Matched was. Cassia and Ky are both challenged in ways they have not been previously, and we learn more of who they are as they rise (or fail to rise) to these challenges. Several of the characters from the first novel are off-stage in this one, but new characters are introduced. Unlikely alliances are made. Stakes are raised. Cassia and Ky are growing up fast, and their relationship is both maturing and tested in this book. And while this volume focuses primarily on Cassia and Ky, don't write off Xander. He is still very much a part of the story. I expect we'll see a lot more of him soon.
I was somewhat ambivalent about continuing on to this second book, but I am now looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy. Condie has done a good job setting up the endgame. With luck, the third will be the best yet.
At the risk of unpopularity, I will admit that I was not a huge fan of Matched. It was okay, but my expectations were Hunger Games high, and the book didn't meet them. There was very little tension about the eventual choice that Cassia would make, and yet I really
Show More
didn't understand her decision.That said, I thought Crossed was a far stronger novel. In it, Cassia has determined to risk everything in order to find Ky. The story is told in chapters alternating between their two viewpoints, and Crossed is far more action-packed and fast-paced than Matched was. Cassia and Ky are both challenged in ways they have not been previously, and we learn more of who they are as they rise (or fail to rise) to these challenges. Several of the characters from the first novel are off-stage in this one, but new characters are introduced. Unlikely alliances are made. Stakes are raised. Cassia and Ky are growing up fast, and their relationship is both maturing and tested in this book. And while this volume focuses primarily on Cassia and Ky, don't write off Xander. He is still very much a part of the story. I expect we'll see a lot more of him soon.
I was somewhat ambivalent about continuing on to this second book, but I am now looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy. Condie has done a good job setting up the endgame. With luck, the third will be the best yet.
Show Less
LibraryThing member BookishBrunette
The end of Matched was completely heart-breaking for me... traumatic if you will! They haul Ky away and Cassia's world basically folds in on itself as everything she has ever known about life and the Society seems to crumble.
Crossed opens with a chapter from Ky's perspective, he's standing in a
He is barely surviving at the "camp" in which he is being imprisoned. Ky and the others in the camp are used as human decoys in daily attacks on their "village". With barely enough food and water to survive, much less defend themselves with the FAKE weapons the Society gave them... his fellow Aberrations fall around him from starvation, dehydration or bullets.
Cassia has been moved from work camp to work camp, hoping for her chance to escape in order to search for Ky. The morning comes in which she is to be moved to her permanent placement, and Soldiers come for two of her bunk mates- one of them runs. Cassia can only hope she makes it and pray that where ever the Society plans to drop her is closer to Ky...
"Ky is heavy in my mind, deep in my heart, his palm warm on my empty hands. I have to try and find him. Loving him gave me wings and all my work has given me the strength to move them." ~Cassia
Only instead of being placed in a permanent work position, Cassia is sent to a DECOY camp... the same one that Ky had escaped from two days earlier! I know!!!
Despite all the horrible things Cassia is going through, she doesn't break. She simply FIGHTS. She holds her head up against the Society, and all but gives them the finger. Obstacle after obstacle, hurdle after hurdle Cassia manages to come out on top. Does she find Ky only to lose him all over again? Will small deceptions turn into larger betrayals? And more importantly, will they be forgiven?
I LOVED how much Cassia grew and learned about herself from Matched to Crossed.. Ky may have taught her that she COULD do things, but she knows now that she can do them them HERSELF.
Crossed opens with a chapter from Ky's perspective, he's standing in a
Show More
river that the Society has convinced people is poisonous... so no one ever tries to cross it. I am filled completely with despair while he is forced to dispose of a dead body of an aberration- like himself...He is barely surviving at the "camp" in which he is being imprisoned. Ky and the others in the camp are used as human decoys in daily attacks on their "village". With barely enough food and water to survive, much less defend themselves with the FAKE weapons the Society gave them... his fellow Aberrations fall around him from starvation, dehydration or bullets.
Cassia has been moved from work camp to work camp, hoping for her chance to escape in order to search for Ky. The morning comes in which she is to be moved to her permanent placement, and Soldiers come for two of her bunk mates- one of them runs. Cassia can only hope she makes it and pray that where ever the Society plans to drop her is closer to Ky...
"Ky is heavy in my mind, deep in my heart, his palm warm on my empty hands. I have to try and find him. Loving him gave me wings and all my work has given me the strength to move them." ~Cassia
Only instead of being placed in a permanent work position, Cassia is sent to a DECOY camp... the same one that Ky had escaped from two days earlier! I know!!!
Despite all the horrible things Cassia is going through, she doesn't break. She simply FIGHTS. She holds her head up against the Society, and all but gives them the finger. Obstacle after obstacle, hurdle after hurdle Cassia manages to come out on top. Does she find Ky only to lose him all over again? Will small deceptions turn into larger betrayals? And more importantly, will they be forgiven?
I LOVED how much Cassia grew and learned about herself from Matched to Crossed.. Ky may have taught her that she COULD do things, but she knows now that she can do them them HERSELF.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mjmbecky
Following on the heels of Matched, we know that Ky has been sent to the Outer Provinces and Cassia has watched her friend, teacher, and love be taken away from her. For any reader of the first book, we have been anxiously waiting to find out what Cassia was going to do and where exactly Ky went.
Without giving away much-anticipated information, I can say that Cassia sets off to find Ky. The opening of the book was actually a little slow as it set up what had and was happening to both Cassia and Ky. The narrative is split into chapters that tell each of their stories, so we are allowed to hear what they are both thinking and what they are witnessing. Honestly, these opening "journey chapters," as I like to call them, give us a bit more information about the society that we just have to have. Sadly, it's still not enough information! With what little we know, it gives the novel this foreboding, ominous tone. There is this sadness and anxiety that hangs over the story as our two main characters narrate their journies and travel along different, but hopefully converging paths.
Although the opening chapters have a lot of story to cover and build up, I felt that it was all necessary to the story and helped me wrap my head around what this society was trying to achieve. It still feels odd and needs A LOT of explaining, but we're finding out little bit more in this installment. The final 1/3 of the novel is where the real crux of the action takes place, and many questions are answered, while even more questions are born. I love that these characters are thinkers, that are complex and emotional. At times I felt they were unreal, but so is this entire society, so it allowed me to give them their reactions. With a new list of characters, a most surprising direction to the plot, and an ending that leaves me thinking and wanting answers now, I felt that this second novel in the series was a really surprising addition. I can see that some readers might not like the slow pacing, and might even be upset by some of the twists revealed, but I thought they added a complex layer to the story that will have me eagerly waiting book three. Now, when does that book come out?!?
Show More
Beyond that, what in the world is going on in this controlling society and what were we not being told? In essence, it was all such a mystery that this follow up novel was highly anticipated for the answers it held.Without giving away much-anticipated information, I can say that Cassia sets off to find Ky. The opening of the book was actually a little slow as it set up what had and was happening to both Cassia and Ky. The narrative is split into chapters that tell each of their stories, so we are allowed to hear what they are both thinking and what they are witnessing. Honestly, these opening "journey chapters," as I like to call them, give us a bit more information about the society that we just have to have. Sadly, it's still not enough information! With what little we know, it gives the novel this foreboding, ominous tone. There is this sadness and anxiety that hangs over the story as our two main characters narrate their journies and travel along different, but hopefully converging paths.
Although the opening chapters have a lot of story to cover and build up, I felt that it was all necessary to the story and helped me wrap my head around what this society was trying to achieve. It still feels odd and needs A LOT of explaining, but we're finding out little bit more in this installment. The final 1/3 of the novel is where the real crux of the action takes place, and many questions are answered, while even more questions are born. I love that these characters are thinkers, that are complex and emotional. At times I felt they were unreal, but so is this entire society, so it allowed me to give them their reactions. With a new list of characters, a most surprising direction to the plot, and an ending that leaves me thinking and wanting answers now, I felt that this second novel in the series was a really surprising addition. I can see that some readers might not like the slow pacing, and might even be upset by some of the twists revealed, but I thought they added a complex layer to the story that will have me eagerly waiting book three. Now, when does that book come out?!?
Show Less
LibraryThing member 4sarad
Some people thought Matched was slow and dull, but I quite liked it. Crossed however, is a real bore. In 360 pages you see Cassia and Ky make absolutely no progress, you learn nothing new... it's just a whole lot of nothing. Cassia comes off as if she has some sort of brain injury with all of her
Show More
three word sentences that do nothing but point out the obvious. Ky seems too wise (and too boring) for his age and spends the entire book staring at the sky and thinking about painting. This book seriously wasn't worth reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
This is volume two in the YA series that started with Matched, in which a teenage girl discovers that her supposedly perfect society is very far from perfect, starting when her scientifically calculated arranged marriage match-up features a tiny but disconcerting technical hiccup.
I liked Matched a
And there's just not much here that's nearly as engaging as the first volume. Matched had two great strengths. One was the world-building, which showed us detailed, day-to-day life in a society that seemed pleasant on the surface, but was in fact oppressive, culturally impoverished, and full of small, mundane horrors. This installment takes us out onto the periphery of that society, which is potentially interesting, but it doesn't flesh its new settings out anywhere near as well, giving us a lot of tedious trekking through canyons instead. The second was the development of the character of Cassia as she slowly began to understand the darker aspects of her world and came to the realization that she could no longer be a complacent citizen of her society. By the time Crossed begins, though, that progression is pretty much done, and there's not really anywhere left to go in terms of character development, so she mostly just goes places physically instead. That's probably at least part of the reason why only half of this book in her POV, but I can't help but feel that the guy who makes up the other half was actually more interesting before we could see inside his head.
I also thought the romance angle was handled much less deftly in this one, with a lot more of the characters thinking about how in love they are and a lot less actual chemistry between them.
Despite all this, I will definitely be on board for volume three, but I'm really hoping that the story picks up significantly from here.
I liked Matched a
Show More
lot, but, unfortunately, I found this one disappointing by comparison. I think it suffers badly from second-book-in-a-trilogy syndrome, where the middle volume clearly exists mainly just to connect Part One with Part Three. In this case, it takes the protagonists half the book just to meet up with each other again, and then they spend the other half slowly traveling to a place that neither we nor they learn much of anything about, only to have the book end with dizzying abruptness when they finally get there. And there's just not much here that's nearly as engaging as the first volume. Matched had two great strengths. One was the world-building, which showed us detailed, day-to-day life in a society that seemed pleasant on the surface, but was in fact oppressive, culturally impoverished, and full of small, mundane horrors. This installment takes us out onto the periphery of that society, which is potentially interesting, but it doesn't flesh its new settings out anywhere near as well, giving us a lot of tedious trekking through canyons instead. The second was the development of the character of Cassia as she slowly began to understand the darker aspects of her world and came to the realization that she could no longer be a complacent citizen of her society. By the time Crossed begins, though, that progression is pretty much done, and there's not really anywhere left to go in terms of character development, so she mostly just goes places physically instead. That's probably at least part of the reason why only half of this book in her POV, but I can't help but feel that the guy who makes up the other half was actually more interesting before we could see inside his head.
I also thought the romance angle was handled much less deftly in this one, with a lot more of the characters thinking about how in love they are and a lot less actual chemistry between them.
Despite all this, I will definitely be on board for volume three, but I'm really hoping that the story picks up significantly from here.
Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
I really, really enjoyed Matched and was eager to read Crossed. Crossed was a bit disappointing, there just isn't much that happens in this book. It kind of came off as a necessary transition to book 3. I still enjoyed reading it, but was disappointed that it didn't grab my attention like the first
Cassia has gotten herself reclassified to the Outer Provinces so that she can search for Ky. Ky struggles to survive as he is placed in a wartime situation with other Aberrations. Ky and Cassia both escape their situations and struggle towards each other and towards the rumored rebellion.
My above description is pretty much what happens in the whole book. Cassia and Ky are in bad situations and escape separately with different companions. The story switches between Ky and Cassia's viewpoints. Cassia basically chases Ky in a series of near misses for a good portion of the book. This is frustrating because there is that whole, "oh, if she had just been a little quicker she would have found him" thing going on. When they finally do meet up there are so many secrets between them that relationship felt a bit flat to me. Ky and Cassia constantly preach that they can't live without each other but when it comes to what really drives them towards their goals they have completely different ideas about what to do.
Xander is in the story very little, yet has more impact on the story in the end than Ky does. Xander has a big secret which is revealed to the reader late in the book.
This whole book is basically the story of how Cassia and Ky escape the society and hunt down the rebellion. Seems like a good basis but so much of the book is spent with them trudging around trying to decide what to do. A number of new characters are introduced as well; they are interesting characters but are never filled out all that well.
All the complaining aside. I still really did enjoy Condie's way with words; she has some beautiful writing and beautiful descriptions in this book...it is all just very deliberately paced. I really do enjoy Cassia as a character as well; she has a drive and a brightness to her that draws me in.
Secrets about the Society are revealed but despite this I still feel like more questions were created than answered. This again left me with a feeling of not much happening by the end of the book. The ending itself left me feeling a bit empty as well; it was just so anti-climatic.
Overall this was an okay book. The writing is beautiful and some of the descriptions absolutely wonderful; Cassia is a great character. We learn more background on Ky, meet some new characters, and learn more about the Society. Despite all of this I felt the story progressed slowly, didn't answer many questions, and that not much happened. The ending was anti-climatic and although I finished the book, the whole thing kind of left me with a "Huh, so what" feeling in the end. This seemed like a necessary transition book and in the end I feel like we didn't make much ground in this story. I will read the final book because I am curious to see what happens, but I was disappointed that this book didn't suck me in like Matched did.
Show More
book.Cassia has gotten herself reclassified to the Outer Provinces so that she can search for Ky. Ky struggles to survive as he is placed in a wartime situation with other Aberrations. Ky and Cassia both escape their situations and struggle towards each other and towards the rumored rebellion.
My above description is pretty much what happens in the whole book. Cassia and Ky are in bad situations and escape separately with different companions. The story switches between Ky and Cassia's viewpoints. Cassia basically chases Ky in a series of near misses for a good portion of the book. This is frustrating because there is that whole, "oh, if she had just been a little quicker she would have found him" thing going on. When they finally do meet up there are so many secrets between them that relationship felt a bit flat to me. Ky and Cassia constantly preach that they can't live without each other but when it comes to what really drives them towards their goals they have completely different ideas about what to do.
Xander is in the story very little, yet has more impact on the story in the end than Ky does. Xander has a big secret which is revealed to the reader late in the book.
This whole book is basically the story of how Cassia and Ky escape the society and hunt down the rebellion. Seems like a good basis but so much of the book is spent with them trudging around trying to decide what to do. A number of new characters are introduced as well; they are interesting characters but are never filled out all that well.
All the complaining aside. I still really did enjoy Condie's way with words; she has some beautiful writing and beautiful descriptions in this book...it is all just very deliberately paced. I really do enjoy Cassia as a character as well; she has a drive and a brightness to her that draws me in.
Secrets about the Society are revealed but despite this I still feel like more questions were created than answered. This again left me with a feeling of not much happening by the end of the book. The ending itself left me feeling a bit empty as well; it was just so anti-climatic.
Overall this was an okay book. The writing is beautiful and some of the descriptions absolutely wonderful; Cassia is a great character. We learn more background on Ky, meet some new characters, and learn more about the Society. Despite all of this I felt the story progressed slowly, didn't answer many questions, and that not much happened. The ending was anti-climatic and although I finished the book, the whole thing kind of left me with a "Huh, so what" feeling in the end. This seemed like a necessary transition book and in the end I feel like we didn't make much ground in this story. I will read the final book because I am curious to see what happens, but I was disappointed that this book didn't suck me in like Matched did.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Dukiebri
I wanted to like this book. I really did. I thought Matched was okay, but I figured this book would make or break the series for me. Well, it broke.
I like Ally Condie’s poetic writing style, but that is about the only good thing I can say. I like her use of poems and I think her descriptions are
Unfortunately, I thought the characters were also lacking. Condie tells half the story from Ky’s perspective and the other half from Cassia’s. I got a little excited about it the beginning, thinking that I could learn more about Ky and his past, but all this did was show how similar ALL the characters are. Even though the chapters said either “Ky” or “Cassia” in the beginning, it was really hard for me to differentiate between whose POV it was since their voices sounded exactly the same. I kept having to go back to the start of the chapter to remind myself whose chapter it was, and that was really annoying. It was the same with the minor characters. Here is this 12-13 year old boy named Eli who talks and acts just like the mature and emotionally scarred/drained 22 year old named Hunter. Really? There was nothing that stood out about any of the characters and I did not connect to them in the slightest.
The one thing that annoyed me the most was Cassia and her stupidity. To be honest, I do not know if it was so much her stupidity as much as her inability to see the (GLARINGLY) obvious. She spends the whole book traveling with a girl named Indie, who is a rather suspicious character. (view spoiler) Then why, oh why, does Cassia spend so much time wondering if Indie is her friend??? If someone lies to you, steals from you, and you cannot trust them, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND AND YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER BEING FRIENDS WITH THEM. Cassia also gets determined to join the Rising, even though she has no real idea as to who they are, and that just leads to a stupid fight between her and Ky! I mean, seriously? And no matter how many times Ky and everyone else tell her the blue pills are poison, she refuses to believe it even after she took one and then felt like curling up in a ball and sleeping forever. GRRRRRRR.
FRUSTRATING.
This book also left me with even more questions. Almost nothing was explained! Who is behind The Society? How did The Rising come about and gain inside support when The Society monitors everything so well? Why are some people (such as members of The Rising) immune to the red tablets and others aren’t? Who is The Enemy and what is their motivation for war? Are they fighting The Society or The Rising? There are so many questions and not enough answers and in the end, I was just CONFUSED.
The third book in the series, which is still untitled, is due out November 2012. I may read the last book just to say that I finished the series, but is it even worth it? I will get no bragging rights, will I? We'll see, we'll see. (Why is Fallen popping into my head right now? Hmmmm. I wonder….)
I like Ally Condie’s poetic writing style, but that is about the only good thing I can say. I like her use of poems and I think her descriptions are
Show More
gorgeous (and poetic). However, beautiful prose cannot make up for weak characters and plot lines. At the end of the book, I thought that almost nothing happened, at least nothing significant. The story did not draw me in and I actually had a hard time staying focused. There was no climax to the plot, no heightened emotions, and no action that would have kept me reading. Never once did I wonder what would happen next, nor did I really care, for that matter. Overall, I found the story’s plot and tone rather weak and dull. Unfortunately, I thought the characters were also lacking. Condie tells half the story from Ky’s perspective and the other half from Cassia’s. I got a little excited about it the beginning, thinking that I could learn more about Ky and his past, but all this did was show how similar ALL the characters are. Even though the chapters said either “Ky” or “Cassia” in the beginning, it was really hard for me to differentiate between whose POV it was since their voices sounded exactly the same. I kept having to go back to the start of the chapter to remind myself whose chapter it was, and that was really annoying. It was the same with the minor characters. Here is this 12-13 year old boy named Eli who talks and acts just like the mature and emotionally scarred/drained 22 year old named Hunter. Really? There was nothing that stood out about any of the characters and I did not connect to them in the slightest.
The one thing that annoyed me the most was Cassia and her stupidity. To be honest, I do not know if it was so much her stupidity as much as her inability to see the (GLARINGLY) obvious. She spends the whole book traveling with a girl named Indie, who is a rather suspicious character. (view spoiler) Then why, oh why, does Cassia spend so much time wondering if Indie is her friend??? If someone lies to you, steals from you, and you cannot trust them, THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND AND YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER BEING FRIENDS WITH THEM. Cassia also gets determined to join the Rising, even though she has no real idea as to who they are, and that just leads to a stupid fight between her and Ky! I mean, seriously? And no matter how many times Ky and everyone else tell her the blue pills are poison, she refuses to believe it even after she took one and then felt like curling up in a ball and sleeping forever. GRRRRRRR.
FRUSTRATING.
This book also left me with even more questions. Almost nothing was explained! Who is behind The Society? How did The Rising come about and gain inside support when The Society monitors everything so well? Why are some people (such as members of The Rising) immune to the red tablets and others aren’t? Who is The Enemy and what is their motivation for war? Are they fighting The Society or The Rising? There are so many questions and not enough answers and in the end, I was just CONFUSED.
The third book in the series, which is still untitled, is due out November 2012. I may read the last book just to say that I finished the series, but is it even worth it? I will get no bragging rights, will I? We'll see, we'll see. (Why is Fallen popping into my head right now? Hmmmm. I wonder….)
Show Less
LibraryThing member hoosgracie
I enjoyed this sequel to Matched. Told in alternating voices being Cassia and Ky, while they search for escape from The Society. It was, like many second books in a trilogy, a bit of filler, but it's still a good series.
LibraryThing member chickey1981
I had this on my to read list for a year after Matched came out. I wasn't disappointed.
I felt like this novel really showed growth in all of the characters: in particular, Cassia and Xander (off screen). This novel only reinforced that I think Xander is the more deserving of the two of Cassia's
I thought this book was stronger paced and better written than Matched, and that Ally Condie did a great job of widening and broadening her scope. It's much easier to write about a place that is tightly enclosed. But she had to move her characters into the unknown landscapes outside, which is much more difficult, but she succeeded.
I will be watching for the last book, and I'm excited to see what she does with her characters as each installment has been better than the last!
I felt like this novel really showed growth in all of the characters: in particular, Cassia and Xander (off screen). This novel only reinforced that I think Xander is the more deserving of the two of Cassia's
Show More
affections, but we will see who she chooses in the next book!I thought this book was stronger paced and better written than Matched, and that Ally Condie did a great job of widening and broadening her scope. It's much easier to write about a place that is tightly enclosed. But she had to move her characters into the unknown landscapes outside, which is much more difficult, but she succeeded.
I will be watching for the last book, and I'm excited to see what she does with her characters as each installment has been better than the last!
Show Less
LibraryThing member cablesclasses
Cassia and Ky's relationship develops, at least, after reading 300+ pages, you might think so, but you might also feel that the end was similar to the beginning. But, to Condie's credit, much has been accomplished. Ky and Cassia have a deeper understanding of what a relationship
What a treat to have finished the second installment in this trilogy. Still unanswered, those looming questions like...who will Cassia choose, Ky or Xander. Who will choose Cassia and accept her? Who will become the Pilot? So much left to be answered in the final installment. Can't wait!
Show More
entails...commitment, security, trust, and much, much more. They also have a better idea of what potential each holds; this self-realization allows for the development of both and holds a carrot out for the readers of this series because we don't know what they will do with this personal knowledge. What a treat to have finished the second installment in this trilogy. Still unanswered, those looming questions like...who will Cassia choose, Ky or Xander. Who will choose Cassia and accept her? Who will become the Pilot? So much left to be answered in the final installment. Can't wait!
Show Less
LibraryThing member iShanella
In a society that dictates every aspect of a person’s life - what they eat, where they work, who they should marry, even when they die - Cassia, made her first non-society choice between a boy that society has chosen for her (her best childhood friend) and the boy that society deems an
Ally Condie’s Crossed, written from the point of view of Cassia and Ky, follows soon after Matched. Setting-wise we are introduced to different districts and lands outside of Society’s rule. Ally isn’t very descriptive in her writing so it’s a little hard to imagine the setting unless you’re filling in the space on your own. This isn’t usually a problem for my imagination, but some readers might be put off by this.
The narrative, from Ky’s point of view, illuminates aspects of his personality that we didn’t necessarily get to see though Cassia’s rose-tinted glasses in Matched. It makes him more three dimensional and highlights flaws that were easily overlooked in the first book.
Xander hardly makes an appearance, however, more is revealed about his personality and background through the other characters. I enjoyed the layer of complexity this brought to the story.
The story was well-paced; I was hoping that Cassia and Ky’s paths would intersect early in the narrative and found the timing for this to be just right. Still, I wished there was more Xander, I’ve always found his character to be more interesting than Ky’s - from his introduction in Matched, Xander has always been the one I viewed as the bad-boy/risk-taker due to his citizen status.
While Crossed did a good job in setting up the final book of the trilogy, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I’m curious to see how Ally Condie will tie them all up and am looking forward to the conclusion of Cassia’s story.
Show More
aberration; untouchable, but suddenly desirable to Cassia. Ally Condie’s Crossed, written from the point of view of Cassia and Ky, follows soon after Matched. Setting-wise we are introduced to different districts and lands outside of Society’s rule. Ally isn’t very descriptive in her writing so it’s a little hard to imagine the setting unless you’re filling in the space on your own. This isn’t usually a problem for my imagination, but some readers might be put off by this.
The narrative, from Ky’s point of view, illuminates aspects of his personality that we didn’t necessarily get to see though Cassia’s rose-tinted glasses in Matched. It makes him more three dimensional and highlights flaws that were easily overlooked in the first book.
Xander hardly makes an appearance, however, more is revealed about his personality and background through the other characters. I enjoyed the layer of complexity this brought to the story.
The story was well-paced; I was hoping that Cassia and Ky’s paths would intersect early in the narrative and found the timing for this to be just right. Still, I wished there was more Xander, I’ve always found his character to be more interesting than Ky’s - from his introduction in Matched, Xander has always been the one I viewed as the bad-boy/risk-taker due to his citizen status.
While Crossed did a good job in setting up the final book of the trilogy, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I’m curious to see how Ally Condie will tie them all up and am looking forward to the conclusion of Cassia’s story.
Show Less
LibraryThing member booknerdreviews
Crossed is the second installment in Ally Condie’s Matched series. Crossed picks up where Matched leaves us where Ky has been sent to the Outter Provinces sentenced virtually to die, and Cassia is determined to break out of The Society to try and find him to be with him once again.
I was really
So one of the things that I really liked about Crossed is Ally Condie’s ability to just create a whole world in front of us. She litterally has a map in the start of the book panning out The Society, The Carving and the Outer Provinces which is fantastic, because you really get a visual understanding of what she’s created in her mind.
I also am still enjoying the alternating narrative from Ky and Cassia’s perspectives. It was something I liked about Matched, and this has carried over to Crossed, which I think helped the reader to understand what was happening in the minds of both Cassia and Ky.
I DID enjoy the story line itself. I can see that Ally Condie has all three books clearly mapped in her mind and it seems she has a clear directive of how she wants them to go and knows what’s going to happen from start to finish. I also really quite enjoy her writing style and find that easy to read and it flows quite well.
What I didn’t love about Crossed though is whilst she has this clear directive in mind in regards to the story, Crossed just for the most part didn’t have a whole lot going on. For the majority of the book, Cassia and Ky as well as the people they met along the way Eli and Indie were just walking through the canyons known as The Carving. They were trying to survive and trying not to get killed, but they were walking.. walking.. climbing.. walking. It just moved very slowly for me personally, and for me to take over two weeks to get through a book is unheard of. But everytime I picked this up it just moved too slowly for my attention span (which to my defense is normally very good).
Also, something which I enjoyed about Matched but just wasn’t feeling in Crossed is the connection between Cassia and Ky. The words were all there, the idea behind them ruiniting was there too.. but I just didn’t really feel the electricity that I have felt reading other YA books with a romance in it. And that disappointed me, because I had such high hopes for Cassia and Ky!
That being said, the book picked up near the end and I am interested in the direction it now seems to be taking with the third installment, so I am definitely not going to be giving up on this series, I will be reading the third book upon its release.
For those of you who have read Matched, I still think you should give this book a try, because SO many people have said that they did love it. I personally wasn’t really feeling it, but I am rating this a 3/5 because overall taking all things into consideration I can say I liked it as a whole.
I was really
Show More
excited to read this book – I had even pre-ordered this a month or so prior to it’s realise. Which is why it saddens me to say that this book (which promised so much) delivered so little. I was really expecting a lot more from it. Now people on Goodreads are either saying they loved it or hated it, it doesn’t appear there is too much in between – however I am going to be one of those in between people, because there were parts of it I loved and parts not so much. So to be fair, I wanted to discuss what I liked and disliked about the book itself.So one of the things that I really liked about Crossed is Ally Condie’s ability to just create a whole world in front of us. She litterally has a map in the start of the book panning out The Society, The Carving and the Outer Provinces which is fantastic, because you really get a visual understanding of what she’s created in her mind.
I also am still enjoying the alternating narrative from Ky and Cassia’s perspectives. It was something I liked about Matched, and this has carried over to Crossed, which I think helped the reader to understand what was happening in the minds of both Cassia and Ky.
I DID enjoy the story line itself. I can see that Ally Condie has all three books clearly mapped in her mind and it seems she has a clear directive of how she wants them to go and knows what’s going to happen from start to finish. I also really quite enjoy her writing style and find that easy to read and it flows quite well.
What I didn’t love about Crossed though is whilst she has this clear directive in mind in regards to the story, Crossed just for the most part didn’t have a whole lot going on. For the majority of the book, Cassia and Ky as well as the people they met along the way Eli and Indie were just walking through the canyons known as The Carving. They were trying to survive and trying not to get killed, but they were walking.. walking.. climbing.. walking. It just moved very slowly for me personally, and for me to take over two weeks to get through a book is unheard of. But everytime I picked this up it just moved too slowly for my attention span (which to my defense is normally very good).
Also, something which I enjoyed about Matched but just wasn’t feeling in Crossed is the connection between Cassia and Ky. The words were all there, the idea behind them ruiniting was there too.. but I just didn’t really feel the electricity that I have felt reading other YA books with a romance in it. And that disappointed me, because I had such high hopes for Cassia and Ky!
That being said, the book picked up near the end and I am interested in the direction it now seems to be taking with the third installment, so I am definitely not going to be giving up on this series, I will be reading the third book upon its release.
For those of you who have read Matched, I still think you should give this book a try, because SO many people have said that they did love it. I personally wasn’t really feeling it, but I am rating this a 3/5 because overall taking all things into consideration I can say I liked it as a whole.
Show Less
LibraryThing member calmclam
While engaging, this falls into the biggest trap for second books in a trilogy: while we get a little bit of worldbuilding, a little characterization, and a little bit of plot, the entire novel could have been condensed into fifty pages at the start of the next book.
LibraryThing member cay250
Ky and Cassia are both on the run. Cassia slyly gets herself moved from a work camp to the Outer Provinces, where kids are shipped to die as “decoys”—defenseless shooting fodder for the Enemy. The two alternate narrating in first-person present. Ky’s voice is dry and harsh, Cassia’s
Show More
lusher, befitting their life histories. They’re desperate to find each other. She’s exhilarated at whispers of an anti-Society rebellion called the Rising; Ky hates the Rising but holds his reasons close, parceling out his story slowly. When Cassia and Ky find each other, deception looms large, as does Cassia's official Match, Xander, geographically distant but sharply relevant. Show Less
LibraryThing member mimi-vee
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars!
I honestly can't believe how much I loved this book! I think I might be one of the few people who liked Crossed more than its predecessor, Matched.
One of my favourite things about Crossed was that it was told through alternating first person narratives between Cassia and
Admittedly, Crossed was a little hard to get into at first because the pacing was slower. But once I did, I couldn't put it down! And not because it was a fast-paced adventure with lots of action, but because it was a gripping and surprising journey that had me rooting for the characters all the way through!
There's something beautiful about the way Ally Condie writes. It's like poetry, but not! At first they just look like words, sometimes a little confusing, but when you understand them they move you. They have meaning. They make your heart ache and your mind float and I love it.
Beautiful, heart-aching, and definitely inspirational, Crossed is a sequel I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone who enjoyed Matched! And don't get me wrong -- you'll love this book if you're Team Xander too! I can't wait until I can get my hands on the next installment!
BUY or BORROW?: To be completely honest, I LOVE having this book on my shelf and I would love it if you guys bought it too! But I know that some people may not enjoy it as much as I did, so I would be totally content if you borrowed it as long as you pick it up somehow! :)
I honestly can't believe how much I loved this book! I think I might be one of the few people who liked Crossed more than its predecessor, Matched.
One of my favourite things about Crossed was that it was told through alternating first person narratives between Cassia and
Show More
Ky, because I loved being able to see how they saw each other. Cassia and Ky were both such sweet, emotionally strong, and realistically flawed characters, and their romance made me ache in places that shouldn't be able to ache.Admittedly, Crossed was a little hard to get into at first because the pacing was slower. But once I did, I couldn't put it down! And not because it was a fast-paced adventure with lots of action, but because it was a gripping and surprising journey that had me rooting for the characters all the way through!
There's something beautiful about the way Ally Condie writes. It's like poetry, but not! At first they just look like words, sometimes a little confusing, but when you understand them they move you. They have meaning. They make your heart ache and your mind float and I love it.
Beautiful, heart-aching, and definitely inspirational, Crossed is a sequel I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone who enjoyed Matched! And don't get me wrong -- you'll love this book if you're Team Xander too! I can't wait until I can get my hands on the next installment!
BUY or BORROW?: To be completely honest, I LOVE having this book on my shelf and I would love it if you guys bought it too! But I know that some people may not enjoy it as much as I did, so I would be totally content if you borrowed it as long as you pick it up somehow! :)
Show Less
LibraryThing member KaliSkittles
This book really disappointed me. First of all, I did not care for the two POVs. I mean, I really really really did not care for them. I actually felt like Cassia's chapters were the most boring, which surprises me because at first I was pissed off that Ky was getting his own. I felt Cassia was
Show More
lacking everything that made her an awesome character in the first one. I will not be reading the third one. It was just..so boring for me. It felt completely different than Matched. I think the supporting characters had more..flare..to them than the original two. Ky and Cassia were beyond boring. I couldn't stand how they thought about each other through so much of the book and couldn't wait to be with the other again, and then they're having second thoughts? Really?I liked Indie's character at first, but later on she becomes really sneaky and I couldn't stand how Cassia felt about it. Cassia has NO backbone in this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookishBrunette
The end of Matched was completely heart-breaking for me… traumatic if you will! They haul Ky away and Cassia’s world basically folds in on itself as everything she has ever known about life and the Society seems to crumble.
Crossed opens with a chapter from Ky’s perspective, he’s standing in
He is barely surviving at the “camp” in which he is being imprisoned. Ky and the others in the camp are used as human decoys in daily attacks on their “village”. With barely enough food and water to survive, much less defend themselves with the FAKE weapons the Society gave them… his fellow Aberrations fall around him from starvation, dehydration or bullets.
Cassia has been moved from work camp to work camp, hoping for her chance to escape in order to search for Ky. The morning comes in which she is to be moved to her permanent placement, and Soldiers come for two of her bunk mates- one of them runs. Cassia can only hope she makes it and pray that where ever the Society plans to drop her is closer to Ky…
“Ky is heavy in my mind, deep in my heart, his palm warm on my empty hands. I have to try and find him. Loving him gave me wings and all my work has given me the strength to move them.” ~Cassia
Only instead of being placed in a permanent work position, Cassia is sent to a DECOY camp… the same one that Ky had escaped from two days earlier! I know!!!
All the while Cassia journeys to find Ky, she writing him a poem in her head (this is NOT cheesy… if you’ve read the first book, you’ll understand it’s significance.) These were the lines that stuck with me:
“I climbed into the dark for you
Are you waiting in the stars for me?”
Xander plays little in the thick of this book, but I have a feeling that in the third installment… all the small things will come together ans end up turning into something much bigger for Xander and Cassia. *ahem… Team Ky*
Despite all the horrible things Cassia is going through, she doesn’t break. She simply FIGHTS. She holds her head up against the Society, and all but gives them the finger. Obstacle after obstacle, hurdle after hurdle Cassia manages to come out on top. Does she find Ky only to lose him all over again? Will small deceptions turn into larger betrayals? And more importantly, will they be forgiven?
I LOVED how much Cassia grew and learned about herself from Matched to Crossed.. Ky may have taught her that she COULD do things, but she knows now that she can do them HERSELF.
Crossed opens with a chapter from Ky’s perspective, he’s standing in
Show More
a river that the Society has convinced people is poisonous… so no one ever tries to cross it. I am filled completely with despair while he is forced to dispose of a dead body of an aberration- like himself…He is barely surviving at the “camp” in which he is being imprisoned. Ky and the others in the camp are used as human decoys in daily attacks on their “village”. With barely enough food and water to survive, much less defend themselves with the FAKE weapons the Society gave them… his fellow Aberrations fall around him from starvation, dehydration or bullets.
Cassia has been moved from work camp to work camp, hoping for her chance to escape in order to search for Ky. The morning comes in which she is to be moved to her permanent placement, and Soldiers come for two of her bunk mates- one of them runs. Cassia can only hope she makes it and pray that where ever the Society plans to drop her is closer to Ky…
“Ky is heavy in my mind, deep in my heart, his palm warm on my empty hands. I have to try and find him. Loving him gave me wings and all my work has given me the strength to move them.” ~Cassia
Only instead of being placed in a permanent work position, Cassia is sent to a DECOY camp… the same one that Ky had escaped from two days earlier! I know!!!
All the while Cassia journeys to find Ky, she writing him a poem in her head (this is NOT cheesy… if you’ve read the first book, you’ll understand it’s significance.) These were the lines that stuck with me:
“I climbed into the dark for you
Are you waiting in the stars for me?”
Xander plays little in the thick of this book, but I have a feeling that in the third installment… all the small things will come together ans end up turning into something much bigger for Xander and Cassia. *ahem… Team Ky*
Despite all the horrible things Cassia is going through, she doesn’t break. She simply FIGHTS. She holds her head up against the Society, and all but gives them the finger. Obstacle after obstacle, hurdle after hurdle Cassia manages to come out on top. Does she find Ky only to lose him all over again? Will small deceptions turn into larger betrayals? And more importantly, will they be forgiven?
I LOVED how much Cassia grew and learned about herself from Matched to Crossed.. Ky may have taught her that she COULD do things, but she knows now that she can do them HERSELF.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mountie9
The Good Stuff
Exceptionally good for a second novel in a trilogy
Plenty of action, once you start this one, you do not want to put it down
Less boy angst in this one, as an adult I really enjoyed this (target audience may be disappointed in this though)
Introduction of some new intriguing secondary
Don't want to spoil anything, but one part broke my heart
Liked that it was narrated from both Ky and Cassia's point of view
Good character development for both Ky and Cassia
Found out so much more about how Society came to be and about what is going on in their world -- kept me wanting to find out more
Some good moral questions entwined within the story, would be great for discussion
The Not So Good Stuff
Barely any Xander, would have liked more of his story
The same for Cassia's family -- barely any mention of them - hoping the final book brings them back
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Xander is not usually a mystery to me. He's open, honest, a story I read again and again and love every time. But, in this moment, I can't tell what he thinks."
"And then they rewarded him?" I say, my breath ragged. "Did an airship come down and save him?"
"No," she says. "He delivered his message. Then he died."
"I start to laugh, which isn't good for saving breath, and Indie laughs, too. "I told you that you wouldn't want to hear it."
"My father wanted to be the person who changed everything and saved everyone. It was dangerous. But they all believed in him. The vilagers. My Mother. Me. Then I grew older and realized he could never win. I didn't die with him because I no longer went to any of the meetings. I stopped believing."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Obviously if you enjoyed the first book in the series, you will enjoy this one
I wouldn't recommend reading this if you haven't read the first book, you would be pretty lost, you could do it, but I don't recommend it
Fans of Dystopian and Post Apocolyptic fiction will enjoy
4.25 Dewey's
I borrowed this from Jenn
Exceptionally good for a second novel in a trilogy
Plenty of action, once you start this one, you do not want to put it down
Less boy angst in this one, as an adult I really enjoyed this (target audience may be disappointed in this though)
Introduction of some new intriguing secondary
Show More
characters (Indie, Vick and Eli)Don't want to spoil anything, but one part broke my heart
Liked that it was narrated from both Ky and Cassia's point of view
Good character development for both Ky and Cassia
Found out so much more about how Society came to be and about what is going on in their world -- kept me wanting to find out more
Some good moral questions entwined within the story, would be great for discussion
The Not So Good Stuff
Barely any Xander, would have liked more of his story
The same for Cassia's family -- barely any mention of them - hoping the final book brings them back
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Xander is not usually a mystery to me. He's open, honest, a story I read again and again and love every time. But, in this moment, I can't tell what he thinks."
"And then they rewarded him?" I say, my breath ragged. "Did an airship come down and save him?"
"No," she says. "He delivered his message. Then he died."
"I start to laugh, which isn't good for saving breath, and Indie laughs, too. "I told you that you wouldn't want to hear it."
"My father wanted to be the person who changed everything and saved everyone. It was dangerous. But they all believed in him. The vilagers. My Mother. Me. Then I grew older and realized he could never win. I didn't die with him because I no longer went to any of the meetings. I stopped believing."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Obviously if you enjoyed the first book in the series, you will enjoy this one
I wouldn't recommend reading this if you haven't read the first book, you would be pretty lost, you could do it, but I don't recommend it
Fans of Dystopian and Post Apocolyptic fiction will enjoy
4.25 Dewey's
I borrowed this from Jenn
Show Less
LibraryThing member yearningtoread
Crossed by Ally Condie (Matched #2)
Pages: 367
Release Date: November 1st, 2011
Date Read: 2012, January 8th-11th
Received: Own
Rating: 5/5 stars
Recommended to: 13+
SUMMARY -
Cassia has been sent to work camps so she can learn submission to the Society after her love for Ky was discovered. But she is
MY THOUGHTS -
I am a very expressive reader. Meaning, I jump, scream, squeal, blush, giggle, laugh, groan, and more - very openly. My poor family... ;) In any case, as far as the louder, more intense expressions of emotion go - I save those for the best of the best. So know I'm telling you the truth when I say that Crossed is one of the best of the best. I screamed at least seven times, blushed, giggled, jumped, and groaned - all in this book. And the screaming - it was loud. Just sayin'.
Even more shocking and amazing is that my sister, who is not one to show such strong emotions while reading, not only did the same as I did, but also screamed/giggled with me when I read it!
Not only did it excite me (and my sister) to extremes, but it also made me want to sit still (I know, ironic, huh?) and contemplate the beautiful, poetry-like prose, the deeper meanings, the lyrical tones.
While reading I came across the sentences -
So many beginnings. I tell myself that in a way it's good that I haven't found Ky yet, because I still don't know what to whisper to him when I see him, which words would be the very best ones to give. (Page 111)
These words are beautiful, and they portray something deeper than just Cassia thinking of what she'll say to Ky. It's about how precious speech is, how important it is to her that Ky taught her to write, to speak and give life to words. It's about not taking your words for granted. They are important, down to the very smallest word. Cassia has grown up in a world where words - your own words, spoken or written - are like diamonds.
This careful choice of words is not only portrayed in the characters, but also in Ally Condie's writing itself. Her word choices are so precise, carefully portraying the scenes and the deep emotions carried throughout. It's like poetry, but not. I don't even know how to describe the full beauty of it.
CHARACTER NOTES -
Here is how well I know these characters, how distinctly they are portrayed:
When the book arrived in the mail two months ago, before I knew really anything about it, I picked it up and started reading. My thoughts were, "This is great, but it doesn't feel like...Cassia. It doesn't sound like her voice at all. I like it, but I'm confused..." I put it on my shelf to read soon. My sister got to it first, and came to me, saying excitedly, "It's from Cassia AND Ky's perspectives!"
After a bit of sleuth-work, I discovered that the chapter I read was about Ky, from his perspective - and suddenly, it all fell together. When I was actually reading the book, I never had an issue, determining which voice was which. I mean, the chapters are labeled one or the other, but I didn't need that. They both had a voice distinct form the other. That amazed me, especially when both are written in first person, present tense.
Vick, Indie, Eli, Hunter, and Xander were all really well-developed side characters, and I appreciate that. I didn't love some of the characters themselves, but loved who they were for the story.
And... I love Ky. Oh, how I love Ky.
Cassia really grew in this book. She matured and did selfless things that made her radiant. Her love for Ky makes her strong, glowing. Makes her want to live to the fullest. She loves deeply, cares so much, and wants to do the right thing. She doesn't always, but that's how we learn sometimes. Cassia is just like you and me, and that's the beauty of it.
STORY NOTES -
Everything about this book had me grasping for more. It's so refreshing to read this story and get lost in it. I loved the journeys the characters had to face, together and apart. There were scenes that made me scream and squeal with joy, and others that had my heart aching with sadness. The emotions were so real and big and alive.
I love Cassia and Ky's love story. I love the reality of it, how heartfelt it is. I feel like a lot of young adult love stories are full of couples whose only issue is that they're unable to be together, and other dramatic situations of the same kind. Other than that, the relationships have virtually no issues, or very small ones. I have nothing against that - a few of my forever favorites are that kind of love story. But Ky and Cassia are different. Out in the wild, they are allowed to be together - but they struggle because they have disagreements. Because they have to ask, how much will I do for you? How much do I really love you? That is one of the many things I respect about their relationship. It's perfect, with every argument, every kiss.
Everyone has to sacrifice in this story, and that builds and strengthens the story/characters in a huge way.
SUMMING IT UP -
Indescribably beautiful. It's like, I can't even express my love. Please, read Matched and Crossed. Please.
Please.
For the Parents -
Nondescript kissing. Recommended 13+
Pages: 367
Release Date: November 1st, 2011
Date Read: 2012, January 8th-11th
Received: Own
Rating: 5/5 stars
Recommended to: 13+
SUMMARY -
Cassia has been sent to work camps so she can learn submission to the Society after her love for Ky was discovered. But she is
Show More
really here to find Ky, who was sorted and taken away. And she was the one who sorted him. Now it's up to her to find him; if she could only get into the Outer Provinces... She has the Compass from Ky and the blue tablets from Xander, and she will use both of them to find her way. Two boys, two worlds, and one journey that will break hearts, heal hearts, and change them.MY THOUGHTS -
I am a very expressive reader. Meaning, I jump, scream, squeal, blush, giggle, laugh, groan, and more - very openly. My poor family... ;) In any case, as far as the louder, more intense expressions of emotion go - I save those for the best of the best. So know I'm telling you the truth when I say that Crossed is one of the best of the best. I screamed at least seven times, blushed, giggled, jumped, and groaned - all in this book. And the screaming - it was loud. Just sayin'.
Even more shocking and amazing is that my sister, who is not one to show such strong emotions while reading, not only did the same as I did, but also screamed/giggled with me when I read it!
Not only did it excite me (and my sister) to extremes, but it also made me want to sit still (I know, ironic, huh?) and contemplate the beautiful, poetry-like prose, the deeper meanings, the lyrical tones.
While reading I came across the sentences -
So many beginnings. I tell myself that in a way it's good that I haven't found Ky yet, because I still don't know what to whisper to him when I see him, which words would be the very best ones to give. (Page 111)
These words are beautiful, and they portray something deeper than just Cassia thinking of what she'll say to Ky. It's about how precious speech is, how important it is to her that Ky taught her to write, to speak and give life to words. It's about not taking your words for granted. They are important, down to the very smallest word. Cassia has grown up in a world where words - your own words, spoken or written - are like diamonds.
This careful choice of words is not only portrayed in the characters, but also in Ally Condie's writing itself. Her word choices are so precise, carefully portraying the scenes and the deep emotions carried throughout. It's like poetry, but not. I don't even know how to describe the full beauty of it.
CHARACTER NOTES -
Here is how well I know these characters, how distinctly they are portrayed:
When the book arrived in the mail two months ago, before I knew really anything about it, I picked it up and started reading. My thoughts were, "This is great, but it doesn't feel like...Cassia. It doesn't sound like her voice at all. I like it, but I'm confused..." I put it on my shelf to read soon. My sister got to it first, and came to me, saying excitedly, "It's from Cassia AND Ky's perspectives!"
After a bit of sleuth-work, I discovered that the chapter I read was about Ky, from his perspective - and suddenly, it all fell together. When I was actually reading the book, I never had an issue, determining which voice was which. I mean, the chapters are labeled one or the other, but I didn't need that. They both had a voice distinct form the other. That amazed me, especially when both are written in first person, present tense.
Vick, Indie, Eli, Hunter, and Xander were all really well-developed side characters, and I appreciate that. I didn't love some of the characters themselves, but loved who they were for the story.
And... I love Ky. Oh, how I love Ky.
Cassia really grew in this book. She matured and did selfless things that made her radiant. Her love for Ky makes her strong, glowing. Makes her want to live to the fullest. She loves deeply, cares so much, and wants to do the right thing. She doesn't always, but that's how we learn sometimes. Cassia is just like you and me, and that's the beauty of it.
STORY NOTES -
Everything about this book had me grasping for more. It's so refreshing to read this story and get lost in it. I loved the journeys the characters had to face, together and apart. There were scenes that made me scream and squeal with joy, and others that had my heart aching with sadness. The emotions were so real and big and alive.
I love Cassia and Ky's love story. I love the reality of it, how heartfelt it is. I feel like a lot of young adult love stories are full of couples whose only issue is that they're unable to be together, and other dramatic situations of the same kind. Other than that, the relationships have virtually no issues, or very small ones. I have nothing against that - a few of my forever favorites are that kind of love story. But Ky and Cassia are different. Out in the wild, they are allowed to be together - but they struggle because they have disagreements. Because they have to ask, how much will I do for you? How much do I really love you? That is one of the many things I respect about their relationship. It's perfect, with every argument, every kiss.
Everyone has to sacrifice in this story, and that builds and strengthens the story/characters in a huge way.
SUMMING IT UP -
Indescribably beautiful. It's like, I can't even express my love. Please, read Matched and Crossed. Please.
Please.
For the Parents -
Nondescript kissing. Recommended 13+
Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
If you like toltalrian government and romance its a perfect blend. Q4P4 AHS/Julie I
LibraryThing member johannabr
Crossed, the much anticipated sequel to Matched, picks up shortly after Matched leaves off with Cassia working in the fields to try to get to Ky. She spends quite a bit of time there looking for the best opportunity to get to the outer provinces, where she believes Ky is, but is slowly losing hope
Show More
of finding one. Cassia is about to be moved to another assignment when she receives a visit from Xander, her lifelong friend and actual match assigned to her by The Society. Xander is also who helped set her on her way on this journey to find Ky armed with a large stash of blue pills.Cassia is allowed to have a supervised outing with Xander, since he's really her match, and during this outing she finds an archivist who trades with her some information about "The Pilot". This Pilot will be key throughout the whole book as it represents the leader of The Rising, the rebellion that is taking place against The Society. She finds a way to make it to the outer Provinces and goes on a personal mission to find Ky whatever it takes while taking with her a girl she met at her previous assignment, Indie.In the meantime, Ky is dealing with the fact that he is being sent by the Society from Village to Village as a decoy in order to fool the enemy (the Rising) into thinking that there are actually villagers living there. He knows they aren't fooling anyone though because they are getting fired upon and tons of them are dying, from being fired upon and also from not having any way of defending themselves. They are sitting ducks in hostile territory. Ky had been lucky so far by staying alive and devised a plan to escape into The Carving, a mountainous territory with canyons where he believes lives a community of farmers independent from The Society. The book focuses on Cassia and Ky's journey, to find each other first, through basically the same territory. They both find themselves in The Carving finding clues about where the other might be. When they finally do find each other, the book's focus changes on how the plan to get out of there and what their plans are for the future. Secrets are revealed, unlikely relationships are formed, and shocking revelations are found hiding in The Carving. The story is told from alternating viewpoints, from Cassia to Ky, which I really enjoyed. It was nice seeing things from Ky's perspective after reading Matched which was all from Cassia's point of view.I cannot say, however, that I was happy with the way the book ended. I know that there is another book in the series which I am looking forward to reading, especially after the way things were left off in Crossed. It's not much of a cliffhanger but rather a disappointing decision that is made that really angered me. I felt like the characters had gone through way too much for this lapse in judgement to take place. I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say that you won't look at Cassia the same way after that.All in all, fans of Matched should definitely read this sequel. I view it as a stepping stone to Matched before the third book comes out. Not much resolution in the end there but probably what had to happen before the real action. Ally Condie's writing is very pleasant and easy to follow and she has once again given us complex characters faced with complex situations in a not so perfect Society. Show Less
LibraryThing member suz.haugland
Crossed is a fantastically well written and fast-paced adventure that will keep reader's on the edge of their seats all the way through. There is so much that this novel has to offer and it gives the reader a whole new outlook on the Soceity itself. There are highly intense emotional moments
So much more was tackled in Crossed than there was in Matched and it's done in such a magnifient way. It's not just a story about love and friendship, it's so much more than that. It's a story about hope, about fighting that great epic battle and believing in something so much that you would risk everything for it - including your life - however small or hard it may be. Both Ky and Xander will break your heart and make you love them so many times over and Cassia shows so much strength and heart and courage as she fights for everything she believes in throwing everything she has and is into it.
Condie's use of classic poetry and her beautiful colorful imagery painted with words and flourishing descriptions are what make the story even more powerful and inspirational. There is struggle, triumph, fear, challenge, heartbreak, betrayals, and redemption all embrodiered into the story that follow along the many twists and turns making reader's want to see Ky and Cassia find one another and come out better for it having survived on the other side. As I've said, Crossed is a novel that packs a powerful emotional punch to the gut, that will leave reader's gasping for more.
One of my favorite things about Crossed, is that it is incredibly character driven and Condie has a way of writing in depth and layers to her character's, that make them more than just a name you're reading on a page. They seem to come alive and leap off of the page at you and it feels as if you've known them your whole entire life or you're just getting to know them and deciding whether or not you like them. They are written in such a relatable and wonderful way, that it's hard not to develop a strong sense of fondness for them and to want to root for them to survive and succeed.
The love triangle between Ky, Cassia, and Xander is handled in such a way that it was hard not to root for both couples at certain points of the story along the way. Their paths cross, yet also divides them at the same time, keeping them apart and forcing distance between them. As secrets are revealed, the past is discovered, and the future is contemplated things are changing all around them not just from the outside, but also from the inside as well. As they struggle to reconcide these feelings, they're faced with so many insecurities, hurts, and heartache that is so real, vivid, and palpable that you could almost feel it wafting off the pages. That's poweful, when an author is able to move you to tears and then make you smile through those same tears as well.
Make no mistake, that Crossed is not just a story about love, but it's also a story about war as well. War that is actually being fought in a very real and literal sense and war within the character's themselves as they face incredible (sometimes almost unbareable) odds and struggle to overcome them. Reader's will root for them to overcome their fears and rise up with the strength to fight for their own future, whatever it may be with whomever they choose.
Crossed is the ultimate symbol of courage, strength, and inspiration and Condie doesn't hesistate to deliver a stunning sequel in this wonderful series. I would most defintiely recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of dystopian fiction.
Show More
throughout Crossed that will have reader's feeling with the character's. The qualities and depth this story and the character's possess is absolutely phenomenal and they are both written with such style and finesse that you're almost left with your jaw agape.So much more was tackled in Crossed than there was in Matched and it's done in such a magnifient way. It's not just a story about love and friendship, it's so much more than that. It's a story about hope, about fighting that great epic battle and believing in something so much that you would risk everything for it - including your life - however small or hard it may be. Both Ky and Xander will break your heart and make you love them so many times over and Cassia shows so much strength and heart and courage as she fights for everything she believes in throwing everything she has and is into it.
Condie's use of classic poetry and her beautiful colorful imagery painted with words and flourishing descriptions are what make the story even more powerful and inspirational. There is struggle, triumph, fear, challenge, heartbreak, betrayals, and redemption all embrodiered into the story that follow along the many twists and turns making reader's want to see Ky and Cassia find one another and come out better for it having survived on the other side. As I've said, Crossed is a novel that packs a powerful emotional punch to the gut, that will leave reader's gasping for more.
One of my favorite things about Crossed, is that it is incredibly character driven and Condie has a way of writing in depth and layers to her character's, that make them more than just a name you're reading on a page. They seem to come alive and leap off of the page at you and it feels as if you've known them your whole entire life or you're just getting to know them and deciding whether or not you like them. They are written in such a relatable and wonderful way, that it's hard not to develop a strong sense of fondness for them and to want to root for them to survive and succeed.
The love triangle between Ky, Cassia, and Xander is handled in such a way that it was hard not to root for both couples at certain points of the story along the way. Their paths cross, yet also divides them at the same time, keeping them apart and forcing distance between them. As secrets are revealed, the past is discovered, and the future is contemplated things are changing all around them not just from the outside, but also from the inside as well. As they struggle to reconcide these feelings, they're faced with so many insecurities, hurts, and heartache that is so real, vivid, and palpable that you could almost feel it wafting off the pages. That's poweful, when an author is able to move you to tears and then make you smile through those same tears as well.
Make no mistake, that Crossed is not just a story about love, but it's also a story about war as well. War that is actually being fought in a very real and literal sense and war within the character's themselves as they face incredible (sometimes almost unbareable) odds and struggle to overcome them. Reader's will root for them to overcome their fears and rise up with the strength to fight for their own future, whatever it may be with whomever they choose.
Crossed is the ultimate symbol of courage, strength, and inspiration and Condie doesn't hesistate to deliver a stunning sequel in this wonderful series. I would most defintiely recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of dystopian fiction.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SheilaCornelisse
Seventeen-year-old Cassia has made her decision. Although she loves her bestfriend, and selected match, Xander, she truly loves Ky.
When her family is forced by the Society to leave their home in the city and become farmers, Cassia decides to do everything in her power to find Ky who has been
Complete with adventure, suspense, love, and despair, this sequel to "Matched" is worth reading. The perfect book for its intended young adult audience.
When her family is forced by the Society to leave their home in the city and become farmers, Cassia decides to do everything in her power to find Ky who has been
Show More
banished to the Outer Provinces to become a decoy in the war between the Society and an unknown "Enemy." Together Cassia, Ky, and a small group of friends they meet along the way, band together to find and join "The Rising," a group of people who rebelled against the Society and who still permit their people to have free choice.Complete with adventure, suspense, love, and despair, this sequel to "Matched" is worth reading. The perfect book for its intended young adult audience.
Show Less
LibraryThing member TammyPhillips
Ally Condie captured my attention with her first novel in this series, Matched. And because she made me care about the characters in Matched, I was determined to finish Crossed. I wanted to know the fates of Cassia, Ky, and Xander. However, it unfortunately was quite a chore. This novel was very
On a positive note, however, I do like Condie's writing style. She has a very poetic way with words. I appreciate her word choices and descriptive adjectives. And although I may not return to the third installment for this series, I do look forward to reading other works by this author.
Show More
slow moving. I pressed on, hoping that Cassia would find Ky, and instead of the happy reunion I was looking forward to, it was too breif and fraught with angst. Still, I was sure that there would be a happy ending, something to keep me reading. And yet, I was again disappointed. Without giving away the ending, I will say that it was not satisfying and it did not leave me wanting more.On a positive note, however, I do like Condie's writing style. She has a very poetic way with words. I appreciate her word choices and descriptive adjectives. And although I may not return to the third installment for this series, I do look forward to reading other works by this author.
Show Less
Awards
Young Adult Favorites Award (2012)
Language
Original publication date
2011-11-01