The Best Reader [Search results for ally condie] 

Matched by Ally Condie Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (November 30th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 366 pages Series: Matched, book #1 Source: Won Rating: 4 of 5 stars Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate.. until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
Review: The world in Matched is one where the citizens have little to no control over each aspect of their lives. From their careers and children, to their spouses and death, each individual is at the power of the Society. People have learned over time that this is the best way to live and most never question what the Society decides. Cassia is at a turning point in her life; she's being matched. Her partner will be picked for her and she is excited to find out who is in her future. Once she discovers she is matched with her best friend Xander she is thrilled. Later, when she views her card at home, she sees another guy she knows, Ky, on the screen.
The idea behind this story is a fascinating one because it is a fear of most people. Many worry about not having control over certain aspects of their lives. The idea is to find out if you would fight the system or go along with what they decide. Going from the advice of her grandfather, Cassia begins questioning the intentions of the Society and the future of her and Xander.
Matched spends a lot of time explaining the way their world runs, which was needed, but I felt the story needed a little more action. Cassia is a great character but I would have liked to see a little more emotion from her. But I do understand that in this world emotions are not often seen. Ky and Xander were both great characters but I couldn't help but think that maybe Cassia was interested in Ky only because she was told he was to never be matched. Even with his quiet personality, it was obvious Ky cared for Cassia. On the other hand, Xander brought the life to the story for me. I enjoyed his playfulness and fun personality.

Ally Condie has a terrific writing style and her worldbuilding was amazing. Although Matched presented a completely altered world, it was easy to follow and understand how things worked. One of my favorite parts of the book involved Cassia's grandfather. Even though he isn't in much of the story, his personality carries a lot of significance in what Cassia feels throughout the book.

I'm excited to see what happens in the next book in this series. Matched leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions and I look forward to seeing how Cassia deals with the drama.

Overall- Matched will give readers an interesting take into a world controlled by others. Even with much of life having an order, love may break the ties and lead Cassia into a fight for her freedom.

Cover- I have to say that this is one of the best covers I have seen. The shimmer effect is beautiful and I love the simplicity and significance of it. Very nice! I hope the other covers in the series follow suit.

Find Ally Condie Ally Condie / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Matched Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Book Trailer

"Whenever I was going to put this book down to do something productive, I found the chapter that I was about put down too seductive to release indefinitely." — Miss Remmers

Release Date: November 1st, 2011
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Challenges: Off the Shelf, 100+ Reading Challenge, Dystopia Challenge

"In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky — taken by the Society to his certain death — only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.
Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander — who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart — change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever."
It feels like this review has been a long time coming. As many of you know, last year at BEA 2011 this was the prize book that was stolen — the one book I was really upset about. I'm over it and have moved — but it was still bitter sweet opening this book again for the first time. You see, after receiving this book I went to stand in line somewhere else and I began to read it while in line. But when I realized I was behind a blogger I knew, I put it in my bag of books instead of my purse. That movement still haunts me — if only I had put the book in my purse (to be read later)! But anyway, the past is the past and I've finally completed this book.

Sorry for the poor quality — Blackberry photo

I couldn't contain my excitement!
Lately, "Matched" and "Crossed" have been on my mind for other reasons (you know, rather than their awesomeness). Last month I talked about Cursive: The Lost Art Form and how I connected the loss of creativity to a not-so distant dystopia. And now, as I've finished "Crossed," I have so many more thoughts and questions.

First of all, it took me a long time to get into this book but I think it's mostly because I didn't really remember what went on at the end of "Matched." I read "Matched" in September 2010, that's a long time to remember something. I trudged through the murky remembrance of details (on my part) and slowly the story came back to me. A few times I had to rely on the help of Twitter friends to sift through the details (such as: what did the three pills stand for?). This didn't completely put me off this book (as it was more my fault than fault of the book's) but I wish (unrealistically) I could have remembered more prior to starting "Crossed."

Once the details came back to me, I couldn't put this book down. I finished it in a day while my students had meetings with the counselors in regards to college preparation (talk about a great day!). I will mention that the last chapter of this book did completely baffle me — I'm assuming the ambiguity was purposeful. But I still felt like I was missing something and that it didn't necessary flow well with the rest of the novel.

As for the characters and plot, there were enough surprises and twists to keep each chapter exciting. Whenever I was going to put this book down to do something productive, I found the chapter that I was about put down too seductive to release indefinitely. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the final installment of this novel.

Also, anyone but me hoping the final novel cover will be red to continue the theme? But if it is, what can that mean!?!?!

-Visit Ally around the web here: Website | Goodreads | Twitter
-BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook

To the FTC, with love: Loved and Bought

According to this article from the beginning of November, cursive is becoming a lost art form and I completely agree. When I write on the board in cursive I always have one of my students say "I can't read cursive." My friend Button (an elementary teacher) and I have had numerous discussions on the importance of cursive in the classroom and much of this discussion stemmed from reading "Matched" by Ally Condie. So I thought it was only fitting that the article be printed a week before "Crossed" released.

In "Matched" cursive writing was one of the first things "done away with" or "outlawed" because of the creativity (I assume, it's been a while since I read it). Printing very formalized and standard (unless you have some of the students I do) whereas cursive is very much an individual's creativity in letters. I remember as a child learning cursive experimenting with all of the different curves and hoops and to this day I experiment with my signature and new last name.

The article states that the controversy lies in where our time is better spent — teaching cursive (a creative art form) to students or on the more "important" core material. As an English teacher (albeit a high school teacher) I see a great importance in cursive writing. It allows students to write as an individual rather than as a human sized type writer. I think it gives the students time to think for themselves and create for themselves rather than memorize and trace what has been done for them — much like in the society of Matched.

What about art classes? If the almighty "they" think cursive is a waste of our instructional time and we are all aware that art classes have been in jeopardy for a while, what will "they" take away from us next? Art and cursive are ambiguous, creative, and completely subjective. Well, can't the same be said for poetry?

Is losing the creative art form that is cursive the first step toward a dystopian society where everything is formalized and the concept of art and poetry is lost? I don't know, it just scares me to see parts of a favorite dystopian novel coming true.

Wow, has it really been that long?

Tuesday was super busy in the Expo. I got some great books but stuck to my plan of being selective. Tuesday night I went to the Bookrageous Bash at the Lolita Bar with Heather and Megan and ended up meeting with Kim, Ash, Cass, and Amy and had a great time! It was nice to relax and talk to other bloggers.

Wednesday I spent most of my morning in lines. I stood in line for Rick Riordan for two hours and Ally Condie's "Crossed" for about an hour. Rick's book was personalized for my best friend Button as a "thank you for being in my wedding" gift as it's her favorite author. I spent the rest of Wednesday walking around, talking to people, and taking in all of the sights of the Expo. After the Expo Sheila and I returned to the hotel and to relax before going to the Harper Collins reception and dinner with Heather (and others).

Thursday morning we hit the Expo early again because at 10:30 we left to go on a walking tour of Greenwich Village with Adriana Trigiani. I spent the morning finishing up talking to publishers and other people I had promised a meeting with. We left for Greenwich at about 10:40 and had a great time walking with our tour guide Nikki. Many of the stops on the tour were from Adriana's novel. I'll post pictures next week. We then went to the Standard Grill and met up with Adriana and had a fantastic dinner. This woman is amazingly funny and genuine. I haven't read a novel of hers (yet) but after listening to her stories I am SO excited to get my hands on those books. It was an absolutely fantastic day Adriana — thank you!

After lunch we returned to the Expo to find that our boxes of books down in the shipping area were open and basically pillaged. Of course there were tears when I realized that both "Crossed" and Button's book by Rick Riordan were gone. I have no one to blame but myself as I should have just carried them with me. The other down side is that because I was extremely selective all three days I only had a total of probably 20 books from BEA 2011 at the beginning — today I shipped home about 10. Now, the lesson here (besides guard your ARCS) is that books aren't everything. This mantra is literally what's getting me through the day. I didn't come to BEA for books and I believe that I "preached" that enough before BEA (so perhaps this is a test). I came to network, make connections, and reconnect with "internet friends." I'm most upset over the loss of the signed Kane novel for Button as everything else can be bought later. But again, books aren't everything and definitely not the reason I attended BEA. I had a great trip, met some fantastic authors and bloggers, and, honestly, it could be worse. Our hotel could have been robbed (laptops, Nooks, etc), we could have been mugged (or kidnapped), I could be unemployed and homeless, D could leave me at the altar... the list goes on. Am I upset — yes. Is it my own darn fault — yes. Will I get over it — yes. My added advice to all future BEA goers — take your precious items with you at all times.

After that excitement Sheila and I walked the several blocks to the Post Office (as I didn't want to pay the $37 handling fee for ten books) to mail my small box home. We then traveled to the Atria Reception and had a fantastic time! I met some more great bloggers, publicists, and authors. It was very relaxing and not crowded (thank goodness). After that Sheila and I viewed the Empire State Building (because, why not), returned to the hotel, and are gearing up for the BBC tomorrow.

If you'll be at the BBC tomorrow look for me at the following panels: Ask a Publisher or Publicist, Author Speed Dating, and Technology for Blogging.


I really appreciate all of the bloggers who have come up to me and complimented on the BEA vlogs and my blog in general. You have all made me smile throughout this entire trip and I hope to see you tomorrow and get to know you each a bit better. I'll be posting pictures next week and I'll link this post when I have a bit more time (and am not completely exhausted) at a later time in the near future.

Thanks for all you do and see you tomorrow!

Hosted by Sheila — Thank you!
Last week was probably my most productive in a long time! I finished "Crossed" by Ally Condie, "Silence" by Becca Fitzpatrick, and "Replication: The Jason Experiment" by Jill Williamson! I'm feeling on fire!:) This week I'd like to finished "Cinder" by Marissa Meyer and "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern.

"Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl... .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

"The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. "

Hey everyone. I have a big pile of books from this past month. These include review books, Christmas gifts and purchased books too so there is a lot! Thanks to all the wonderful publishers (and Lisa from A Life Bound By Books!) for sending these fantastic books!

Review
The File by Angelyn Stark
Extraordinary by Adam Selzer
Finding Somewhere by Joseph Monninger
A Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell
Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan
Blood Sun by David Gilman
Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough
Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron
Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
Pretty Little Liars: Pretty Little Secrets by Sara Shepard
Girl Meets Boy by Various Authors
Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Fracture (ARC) by Megan Miranda
The Way We Fall (ARC) by Megan Crewe
Slide (ARC) by Jill Hathaway (2nd copy)
Immortal Beloved (ARC) by Cate Tiernan
Switched by Amanda Hocking
The Ivy: Rivals (ARC) by Lauren Kanuz
Glimmer (ARC) by Phoebe Kitanidis
The Last Echo (ARC) by Kimberly Derting
Forbidden by Syrie James and Ryan M. James (2nd copy)
Partials (ARC) by Dan Wells (2nd copy)
The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #5: The Asylum by L.J. Smith
Masque of the Red Death (ARC) by Bethany Griffin
The Calling by Kelley Armstrong
The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont
Unraveling (ARC) by Elizabeth Norris
The Invisible Sun (ARC) by David Macinnis Gill
Social Suicide (ARC) by Gemma Halliday
Thumped (ARC) by Mean McCafferty
Temptation (ARC) by Alisa Valdes
Dark Eden 2: Eve of Destruction (ARC) by Patrick Carman
The Selection (ARC) by Kiera Cass
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters (ARC) by Meredith Zeitlin
The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten
Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith
Love & Leftovers by Sarah Tregay
Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Purchased
Crossed by Ally Condie
Ruling Passion by Alyxandra Harvey
Royally Crushed by Niki Burnham
Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson
How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles
How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles

Gifted
Ashfall by Mike Mullin
Eve by Anna Carey
Crash Test Love (SIGNED) by Ted Michael
Anew: The Archers of Avalon (SIGNED) by Chelsea Fine
Unbreakable Love (SIGNED) by Angela Carling
Dollhouse (SIGNED) by Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian

I got Dollhouse from the BookPerk website. If you haven't signed up yet, DO IT! They have a ton of great offers and signed books come up all the time. It's a great site: ) This is the 2nd signed copy of a book I've purchased. The first was a copy of I Am Number Four signed by the MOVIE CAST!: )

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Once the school bells ring, signalling that Thanksgiving Break has finally started, I will be Thankfully Reading. While I can't devote my entire weekend to reading as my family will be here tonight and tomorrow, I do want to rejuvenate and hopefully kick over my TBR where it needs to be (doubtful).

Tonight, for instance, my family will be visiting from Northern Minnesota. As I prepare dinner and clean the house I'll be listening to "Torment" by Lauren Kate. On Thursday as we relax/cook before the feast I'll be reading "Crossed."

So between books and audios, this weekend I'd like to complete:

1. Crossed by Ally Condie
2. Torment by Lauren Kate (audiobook)
3. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
   

"I don't know about you, but during the duration of reading this book I wrote entirely in cursive. What an inspiring concept!" — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow."

Why I read this: The cover and premise really intrigued me.

Plot: The plot was very similar to "The Hunger Games" in regards to the society and its' people. I love the whole idea of a Society that runs everything, it was different with "Matched" because the Society does such a great job of "taking care" of their citizens. It was so fun to follow the journey that Cassia was on as she discovered the truth about her Society. The Society was so intricately weaved, I was never bored.

Characters: I did struggle a bit with Cassia at first, simply because of the betrayal. But as the relationship between Ky and Cassia developed I found myself captivated. By the end of the novel, I was as upset and enraged as Cassia. When I turned that last page I felt as though friends were waiting for me and book #2 couldn't come any faster.

Cover: What an ABSOLUTELY beautiful cover.

Random Thoughts: I loved how important writing had become to those who don't write. I also loved that, like "The Hunger Games," it was set in a futuristic society where the government controlled the people. I have found that this is a theme that really draws readers in. The technology component was also extremely interesting; past generations had been so overwhelmed by all the technology at their every fingertip has now "de-whelmed" their people by only having the basic technologies available. They have also found that society is too materialistic, so they have rid themselves of all personal objects and purged through its histories and arts. It was absolutely FANTASTIC!

I know I keep mentioning "The Hunger Games," I don't want anyone to misinterpret this as "Matching" being a knock-off of "THG." But it's important to realize that "THG" is a story that every student in my class is talking about and I want them to know that because of the the societal similarities "Matched" and "THG" students will devour this book.

Final Thoughts: WOW! I can't stop talking about this books. On November 30th, I will be bringing a copy of this book into my classroom. I can't recommend it enough.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 99/100 A

To the FTC, with love: Review Book

This book will be released on November 30th, 2010