Documented and Controversial Societal Issue

In the Society of Matched, everything is documented. Well almost everything. Cameras and Officials are everywhere to see everything. Dream tags are used to observe sleep patterns and thoughts. Trackers (a type of treadmill) is used to keep track how fit a person is. So naturally there is a documented controversial issue in the novel.  When Cassia was younger a friend of hers was killed by an Anomaly. This event was documented. Up until after Cassia's sixteenth birthday she thought the murder was just a glitch in the Society. But now she believes that the Society might have let the Anomaly kill her friend to remind her and other citizens who was in charge. Who was keeping them safe. This makes the issue controversial.

Author's Purpose

Ally Condie's purpose in writing this novel was to reveal her world view. She has two world views she reveals in this novel:

The first one is that the government has so much control that it can trick us without us even realizing. In Matched, Cassia thinks she's making her own choices but really the government anticipated her every move. they had so much control over Cassia that she didn't even notice how she was being tricked.

Ally Condie's other world view is that passion is to often given up for perfection. When given a choice people often choose the 'perfect' option. For example: people would often rather have a job that they hate but pays extremely well than have a job that they love that isn't going to earn a Mercedes. However Cassia, being the protagonist, chooses passion instead.

Compare/Contrast to 'Normal' People

Cassia's mom would never go against the Society and its choices. This makes her a normal citizen. Someone I know in today's society that would never go against the government is my Grandma. She always follows the rules. This makes her similar to Cassia's mother. However, unlike my Grandma, Cassia's mother is proud to watch her husband tweak the rules. my Grandma hates rule breaking.

Another normal character in Matched is Cassia's best friend Em. Em is so oblivious to what's happening in Cassia's life that she isn't exposed to the bad side of the Society. She would never question its choices. Someone I know in today's society that is oblivious to the bad side of the world is my cousin. She has lived in a small town in Alaska her whole life and hasn't been exposed to the bad side of the world. She doesn't quite understand big cities and how in some parts of them you try to avoid for your own safety. Both she and Em haven't had enough exposure.

Why is Matched considered a Science Fiction Book?

Matched is considered science fiction because it takes place in a futuristic American society.  In this society everything is sorted and balanced.  People only learn what they need to for their future job, only eat what is proportional for their body size, and only exercise what is appreciable for their fitness.  Also every job is some kind of sorting.  Cassia's mother sorts plants, Cassia's father sorts artifacts, and Cassia will one day sort something as well.  But this futuristic society is much like the society of today.  The citizens rely on medicine almost as much as we do.  They carry a blue, green, and red tablet with them wherever they go in case of emergencies.

Summary of the Novel "Matched" by Ally Condie

Cassia Reyes lives in a futuristic American society where everything is perfect.  Officials in the Society decide everything to create 'optimal results'.  This equals a happy and healthy lifestyle.  You even have a perfect Match.  But when Cassia witnesses a flaw in the Society her eyes are opened.  She slowly and self-consciously begins to fall in love with someone who isn't her Match: Ky.  Ky also falls for Cassia.  But when the Officials find out Ky is shipped off to somewhere he will probably die.  Cassia decides that she is going to go against the Society and find Ky.

The reason I chose this book is because it sounded interesting.  There were also reviews saying that "if you liked the Hunger Games, you'll love Matched".

Chapter Thirty (Last Chapter) of "Kidnapped"

After striking the deal Davie has to help Alan escape to France. He also desires to clear the name of James Stewart, but to do so would risk having himself caught and blamed, and possibly hanged. However Davie decides to take the risk. Rankeillor gives him two letters to help him. Davie also plans to give some money to Alan so that he can buy passage to France. Alan arranges for a lawyer to get the money from Davie and give it to him. The two walk away from the House of Shaws, then part.

As he continues on, Davie goes to Edinburgh and, as the book ends, comes to the doors of the British Linen Company.

P.S I hate when books leave the ending open!

Chapter Twenty Nine of "Kidnapped"

After meeting, Davie, Alan and Rankeillor head to the House of Shaws. Alan goes to the door and tells Ebenezer that he captured Davie and is going to kill him if he doesn't get reward money. Ebenezer ponders at the choices and in the process admits that he had sent Davie to become a slave. At that, Rankeillor and Davie reveal themselves. Ebenezer is shocked, and remains speechless. There is a small celebration as Rankeillor and Ebenezer come up with an agreement. Davie is to get two thirds of the yearly Shaws income, while Ebenezer keeps the other third and the estate.