Monday, October 31, 2011

Review: Crossed

CROSSED (Matched #2)
Ally Condie
Young Adult/Dystopian
384 pages
Dutton/Penguin
Available November 1st
Received at BEA

Warning: synopsis contains spoilers from Matched.

THE STORY
Ky is gone. Taken by the Society to the Outer Provinces where death is most likely inevitable. With the help of her parents as well as her Match and best friend Xander, Cassia finds work in places that will take her closer to the Outer Provinces and give her the best opportunity to try and find Ky.

When she finally puts her plan into action and makes it to Ky's camp she finds Ky has already escaped and made a run for freedom. Deciding she's come too far to give up now, Cassia follows in Ky's footsteps hoping she's not to late to be reunited with the boy who taught her to write, to question, and to love.

What Cassia learns in her search for Ky is that not everything is as it seems, with revelations about Ky himself, Xander, and the Society making her see that change to her previous world of flawless perfection is necessary, and she's going to do whatever it takes to see it come to pass.

MY THOUGHTS
Crossed is one of those books that despite being made of featherlight paper and ink feels indescribably heavier, the weight of what's written both considerable and memorable. The word count on each page seems to double that found in other books with similarly-sized pages, as every line printed is compounded by the empty space between it and the line following, allowing what is to be inferred from the negative space of what’s not expressly written to carry equal weight as that which is told to us directly. As with Matched, Crossed moves very slowly, the intensity not stemming from large action sequences but from the unpredictability of Ky and Cassia’s future as they try to outrun the far-reaching shadow of the Society. Crossed does have the feel of a middle book though, picking up not long after events of book one then progressing gradually along a road lined with new questions until it concludes with very little certainty. Some secrets are revealed along the way, yet we are ultimately kept in the dark in tantalizing preparation for book three.

The quietness of Matched created a feeling of intimacy as we partook in the removal of Cassia’s Society blinders, creating a delicious tension as she and Ky engaged in tiny defiant gestures that had us riding a razor’s edge wondering if or when they’d get caught. That desirable apprehension is missing a bit in Crossed, the slowness not as savory as it was previously, instead becoming a bit tedious as Cassia and Ky literally walk circles around each other for close to two hundred pages. No longer are the extended silences and still moments charged with possibility and the potential for love, but rather they are merely seconds and minutes we spend waiting for them to find their way to one another again so their rebellious feelings can return that sense of danger, placing the seductive burden of possible exposure back on our shoulders to bear right along with them.

When the inevitable reunion finally does take place we begin to remember why this world of false perfection and happiness is so interesting, with both Cassia and Ky beginning to struggle with conflicting secondary needs and wants now that their primary goal of finding the other has been achieved. We get a disturbing look at what exists outside the pristine borders of the Society, but we are also left a bit confused as to all the different factions warring with one another to the obliviousness of the Citizens. Fighting the Society in the Outer Provinces is the Enemy, someone or something we know very little about, and then in this second installment we are also introduced to the Rising, a rebellion against the Society attempting to affect change from within. All the elements to this story become just a bit muddled, our thriving connection Cassia and Ky in Matched dimming slightly as their extended separation and opposing desires for the future chip away at the solid foundation we believed them to have.

Overall, Crossed is a beautifully written story but one that should be approached with patience and the understanding that the pages will not fly by at blurring speed nor will we get all the answers we seek. By the end we find ourselves and the characters seemingly back to square one, only with a new goal and purpose heading into book three. While Crossed doesn’t hold us transfixed quite the way Matched did, it does set us up for what will hopefully be an enlightening final installment.

Rating: 3/5

35 comments:

  1. Hmm, I've been hearing that a lot of people are disappointed with this one. Sounds like it definitely suffers from middle book syndrome. I'm getting a bit frustrated with it just by reading your review, actually.

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  2. I still haven't read Matched but it's disappointing to hear that the second book is not as good.(Usually the second book is amazing!)


    Krazyyme @ Young Readers

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  3. Although I read Matched and enjoyed the book, I did not love it. I thought the pace dragged and was not that caught up in Ky and Cassia's romance, reading your review of Crossed confirms some of my concerns that this book might be more of the same and then some. I think the summary sounded as if this would drag even more and based on your review I was right. Still I will eventually pick this one up just to see what happens. Great review!

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  4. Aww, it's too bad you didn't like this one as much as the first book! :( I ADORED Matched, and I was so excited to read this one too!

    But I think that this is kind of stationary with middle books -- they're usually that awkward part in the middle that isn't quite the beginning and isn't quite the end LOL! x) Well, only sometimes, at least!

    Awesome review, Jenny! I hope book three blows you away enough to make up for this one! :)

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  5. I have a feeling this one is going to be too slow paced for me. I felt like Matched dragged at times, and from reading your review I think the same is going to happen here! :/

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  6. I loved the first book and for sure will read this one. I love the way you put that last paragraph, thats usually the case for book 2's....except for Cascade, that was awesome!!

    **Team Greco**

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  7. Aylee - It's certainly a middle book. It just took them so long to find one another again that I got a bit tired of reading. So much of the interest of Matched for me was their relationship and the dangers it presented, and that was just missing for so much of this book.

    Krazzyme - Her writing is beautiful as always, the slowness of this one just didn't work as well for me as it did with book one. I still have high hopes for book 3 though:)

    Jan - This one definitely won't be for you if you weren't the biggest fan of Matched. It's even slower.

    Mimi - I was hoping I would adore this one since Matched was a favorite, but I just quite get into it the same way. Still looking forward to book 3!

    Leanna - Yes, this one definitely drags. I just felt like we got a whole slew of new information and not a lot of answers to old questions. Then combine that with Cassia and Ky being apart for majority of the book and it just didn't work quite as well for me. I did enjoy getting Ky's POV in this one though:)

    Tina - Very true, Cascade rocked. If you liked Matched, this is definitely worth the read, it's just a bit slower and more tedious to work your way through!

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  8. Great review! I'm so looking forward to this one, since I really loved Matched. Cassie and Ky have such an interesting relationship dynamic that it keeps me reading even if the plot progresses slowly

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  9. I loved this book! I am so happy that I got to read it. There is so much drama in it!!!

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  10. You know I only liked MATCHED anyhow. I was hoping for a faster CROSSED because her plan is to rebel so she can find Ky. I suppose maybe the third book will give us that. Between you and me, (and anyone else who reads this comment, LOL!) I keep hitting the 2nd book in YA series and they continuously feel like a transition book. It kind of drives me nuts. So many of the adult books seem to just get better as the series continues.

    [back to CROSSED] I definitely want to finish this series, so I'm going to read CROSSED, but I'm going to wait until book 3 is out. I loved this review, Jenny. It's nice to see a book that gives me details about what to expect without giving away plot. You rock!

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  11. Aww, bummer. I was hoping for a bit more action, but I kinda like how Cassie and Ky dance around one another. I'm not completely sold on Ky. There's something about him that I can't quite pin point but I don't trust him. I'm super curious what's going on outside of the society. I'm very much interested in the book and look forward to reading it, but thanks so much for pointing out the slow pace and the few action scenes. I know what I can expect when I read the book.

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  12. I gently looked at this review because I still need to read Matched which I hope to be able to do soon. I see Shatter Me is up next so getting that book as soon as it comes out. Also I am making Nov my Dystopian month. I will be reading some great books like Dearly Departed, The hunger games, divergent and shatter me. Super excited to get to those reads. Hope to read Matched soon too!

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  13. Excellent review. Best I've read yet for this book. Thank you for your advice and your honesty.

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  14. ReadingPenguin - Thanks! I adored Matched as well, and this one was just such a middle book that I got frustrated a bit. Still love the overall story though:)

    Savy - Definitely not short on drama!

    Jen - This is certainly a transition book, I'm really hoping book 3 just blows me away:) Glad I could give you some details on this one without spoiling, I try really hard not to.

    Laura - Sounds like you're going to have a great November, you have some fabulous titles to read:) Hunger Games is an all time favorite.

    Juju - Thank you! I know you loved Matched too, so I'll be curious to see what you think of this one:)

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  15. I don't mind books that I have to be patient with, as long as the plot keeps moving along. I still haven't read Matched though. Once again, a beautifully written review with amazing insight.

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  16. I definitely don't think I'll be picking this one up, because the slow pace of "Matched" nearly drove me insane. I also hate the whole 2nd book syndrome where not a lot actually happens to progress the overall series plot. I'm sure if people loved "Matched" more than me they would probably enjoy this one as well, but it's probably better if I steer clear.

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  17. Very balanced review. I really liked Matched. I was particularly captivated by the writing, which wasn't particularly pretty, but was so easy to read that the book flew by. It sounds like this one drags a bit. But I'm interested enough in the series that I definitely want to read it.

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  18. I'm not a very patient reader, I'm afraid. *sheepish grin* I've been trying to decide whether or not Crossed is worth my time, and from your review it seems like it is. It'll probably just take me some time to get through it. :) Thanks for the review, Jenny!

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  19. I completely agree that this book was quite heavy. It really is more of a marathon read then a 5k.

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  20. Oh I think I'll wait until all 3 are out. Then perhaps I won't need so much patience. I've been curious about this series, and yes... I think I'll wait until the 3rd. Especially since this one sets up that 3rd. Thanks for the brilly review!

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  21. Pam - Give Matched a try and see if you like the slowness of that one. If you do, pick up Crossed. It's even slower (at least it was to me), but you'll be more prepared for it if you enjoyed Matched.

    Ashley - This one is not for you then. Definitely slower than Matched:)

    Alison - Thanks! I loved Matched like nobody's business, and while some new developments happened in this one, it didn't quite grab me the same way.

    Lauren - I go back and forth. Sometimes I'm super patient and sometimes I just cannot deal with a slow book at all. I have no idea why:)

    Lisa - Perfect way of putting it!

    Melissa - Probably a good idea. This transition book might work better for you if you have book 3 waiting in the wings:)

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  22. I suggested this series to a teen that loved it. Though she didn't think I would like it at all--she is pretty good picking the YA I would love. I will tell her there is another book in the series though I am guessing she is all over it.

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  23. I'm not big on dystopians especially slow ones so I've avoided Matched. Your review for Crossed and Hafsah's make me pretty sure I won't be able to get through this one so I guess I'll be skipping this series. I'll just find out what happens in Book 3 from you :P

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  24. Hm, I was middling on Matched but I'm still really interested in seeing where the story goes. I appreciate the thoughtful review, as well as your words of caution/advice at the end!

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  25. I just do not know, something makes me think that I would not enjoy this dystopia series. i can't put my finger on what

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  26. See I really liked this one for completely different reasons than I liked Matched... The slowness was something I could live through to see where we were going! Lol I am completely DYING for the third book!

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  27. While Matched wasn't my favorite of the batch of dystopians that came out around the same time, it was still a very interesting, well-written story. So, even with the slow pacing and middle-book-feel, I'm going to have to pick this one up just to see what happens! Thanks for a great review!

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  28. I loved Matched and have been really looking forward to Crossed, so I guess it's good to have my expectations level-set. Still, I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

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  29. As you know, I felt the same way about Crossed. I really liked Matched and I felt Crossed was slow at times....definitely a middle book like you said. I can't deny that Condie is a beautiful writer, but I struggled at times with the pace of this book. Once I got to the past part of Crossed, I was really into it, so hopefully the last book will be awesome!

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  30. Aaagh! 200 pages to find each other?! Nooooo!

    I've been struggling a bit lately with slow paced books, so I'm not a happy camper right now. Maybe if I give it a listen on audiobook, but still, it's kind of disheartening to learn that their wants are exactly matching up. harhar!

    Thanks for the cautionary words, Jenny. I'll have to pick this one up when I'm feeling particularly patient.

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  31. I listened to the audio of Matched and wasn't impressed. It did not live up to the hype as far as I was concerned so I wasn't even sure I'd read this one. You've convinced me that it's definitely one I'll check out from the library if I do continue the series.
    As always I love the breakdown and the honesty.

    Heather

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  32. I've been seeing a lot of mixed reviews. I haven't read Matched yet so I have no context. I'm just curious.

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  33. It sounds like the Empire Strikes Back book version. :)

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  34. *Sputters* 3/5? Oh Jenny, you have made me so scared to read this book! I am currently rereading Matched and hoping to get to this in the next couple of days. Not as gripping as the first? Ugh....

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  35. I agree with you. Although I didn't think Crossed was bad, it just was not as good as Matched.

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