Parents' Guide to

Matched, Book 1

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Fun, provoking start to dystopian series for teens.

Book Ally Condie Science Fiction 2010
Matched, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 11+

Based on 23 parent reviews

Rose C.
Rose C. Adult
May 3, 2023
age 10+
In my opinion, the book was pretty boring. The plot wasn’t complex and moved along fast. I expected it to be a thrilling romance, but there was really not that much romance and it wasn’t too thrilling.
SojourningSmiths
SojourningSmiths Parent of 13 and 15-year-old
September 1, 2022
age 9+

Just kind of boring (I’m not a parent don’t know why it says that on the profile)

So I like this book it’s fine. I don’t want to be negative but I feel like I couldn’t relate with the characters. In the beginning of this book I was really excited and had high expectations for this book. I thought it was going to spiral off into some dramatic forbidden romantic “I’ll risk the consequences if I get to love you” it kind of was but it moved to fast without development. They were talking with once and she just was like I love him. THEY BARELY KNEW EACH OTHER! From what I took from it they knew each other for like 3 weeks and only saw each other once a week… It was a good-ish fill in read if you just want to soak up words but not so much of a story line :)

This title has:

Great role models
See all 23 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Cassie has never doubted the choices of the Society, which decides what she eats, whom she'll love, where she'll work, and even when she'll die. She's thrilled to learn she’s to marry Xander, her best friend. But then why does the face of her neighbor, Ky, flash on her Match microcard instead? The Officials tell her it was a rare mistake, but a tiny seed of doubt is planted. And as she grows to love Ky, she begins to see the darker truths of the Society. She embarks with him on a risky, dangerous path -- with the Society watching their every move.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (23 ):
Kids say (129 ):

MATCHED invites comparisons to The Giver and Brave New World, and some science fiction fans may rightly complain that it’s derivative. But most teen readers will agree that author Condie has crafted a fine addition to the genre. Her characters are complex and surprising; even the peripheral characters carry real weight. Cassie’s awakening -- to the harm caused by the Society, to love, to the complexity of the adults who have raised her -- feels authentic. As Cassie’s relationship with Ky deepens, so do her relationships with her parents, her brother, and even Xander.

This could easily turn into just another hand-wringing love triangle, or a ho-hum story of teen rebellion. Instead, it's a great coming-of-age story, one that encourages readers to think long and hard about their relationships -- to people, to technology, and to authority. There are just enough details about the Society to tell the story, making it pretty light as far as sci-fi goes -- so this will appeal to readers who don't consider themselves fans of the genre normally. Overall, it's a terrific start to the planned trilogy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of dystopian novels. What makes them appealing as a setting for teenage characters? Why do you think they are particularly popular right now?

  • Is it important to read stories about our possible futures? How could a book like this affect the choices we make in the present?

  • Does a future government like the Society seem plausible to you? What do you think might promote or discourage this kind of a future?

Book Details

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