Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark, unsettling second installment in dystopian saga.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 30 kid reviews
Kids say that the sequel to the first book offers more action and violence, but falls short in terms of plot and pacing, with many finding it slow or disinteresting at times. While some appreciate the romantic elements and character development, others express disappointment and feel that it does not live up to the expectations set by its predecessor.
- more action
- slower pacing
- mixed reviews
- romantic elements
- less engaging
- character development
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
CROSSED, the second book in the dystopian MATCHED trilogy, finds Cassia in a work camp, far from home, searching for her love, Ky, who is fighting to survive amid the violence in the Outer Provinces and plotting to escape in search of Cassia. Their paths eventually lead them first to parallel canyons and finally to each other, with traveling companions in tow. Amid a backdrop of violence and death, they piece together information about the Rising, the rumored rebellion against the Society. Cassia is eager to find the Rising, but it's the one place Ky feels he can't go. All the while, the absent Xander -- Cassia's Society-chosen betrothed -- is revealed to have a surprising secret of his own.
Is It Any Good?
Told from the alternating viewpoints of Ky and Cassia, this is the journey stage of the saga, and while the getting-there can be plodding, there's much to discover on the way. The tone is very different from the first book, set in the polished, controlled Borough. The action -- and there's a lot of it -- is now in the wild Outer Provinces, where the Society uses its undesirables as cannon fodder. Away from Society oversight, the love story that blossomed in Matched grows thorny: Cassia and Ky had united against the Society's plans for them, but now they grapple with conflicting desires.
Ally Condie continues to write with a poetic voice, returning often to the poems that preface the novel. Yet after all the drama of the journey, the hurried conclusion is emotionally flat. Crossed is unlikely to seduce new readers, but fans will be fascinated by the farmers and their caves stuffed with treasured books, clues to the Society's sinister workings, and Xander's tantalizing secret.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the poems used in the book. What do you think Tennyson was writing about in "Crossing the Bar"? Do you think the Rising views it in the same way, or has it offered a completely new interpretation?
The farmers salvage a treasure trove of print materials, from classic works to piles of pamphlets. What works of art would you want to save?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Dutton Books
- Publication date : November 1, 2011
- Number of pages : 364
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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