Matched by Ally Condie

Condie, Ally Matched, 366 p. Dutton (Penguin), 2010.  Content: G.  Cassia has been eagerly looking forward to her Match Day, the day she learns whom the state has chosen for her mate.  She is a bit confused, but ultimately delighted when she learns that Xander, already her best friend, is her match.  When she goes to view Xander’s info, however, someone else’s picture appears – someone Cassia knows.  And now Cassia is filled with questions – about the system, about her acceptance, about where her life really should go from here.  Her first time out, Ally Condie has created a powerful, romantic and introspective novel.  While it might be called dystopian, because its roots are in government control, it transcends that label.  MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher