 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Crossed
- By Ally Condie
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Dark, unsettling second installment in dystopian saga.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book is much more violent than its predecessor. The violence can be gruesome, including a scene with dozens of charred bodies after an attack. Young children, orphaned or taken from their families, are put into extraordinary peril by the Society that supposedly is caring for them.
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. The getting-there can be plodding, but 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.
What families can talk 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?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Just a tad disappointing...
Some violence and a lot of kissing. I think it was a little disappointing in comparison to Matched. I don't remember anybody having sex. If they're talking about Hunter having a daughter, yeah it never said he and Catherine were married, but it never said they weren't. I thought the whole middle part was a oxymoron because Cassia and Ky were separated again, but the cliffhanger will keep you begging for the final novel.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
More violent than the first book
After reading Matched, I was excited to read the sequel. I don't like it as much as the first. It's slow on some parts, Cassia and Ky bicker a lot, and it was a little confusing. There is a lot of mentions of dead bodies, and some people bleed. There is some kissing, but I don't remember anyone having sex. At one point Cassia says that she strips down to her underwear when she is changing her clothes. They use d*mm, but mostly it says people cursed instead of saying the language (like in Matched). I personally think Matched was better.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
good not GREAT!!!
it wasn't the great sequel we all expected, no, but it is definitely still worth reading. and there's the 3rd coming out this fall
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
NOT a very good book
I really like Matched better. The book was really boring at times, and most of the book was just traveling, not much action. Not the best conclusion either. I don't recommend this book, but if you want to read it, go ahead- but it's really boring.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Just a little bit of a let down!
Well after Matched i was expecting something really good and i have to say i was a bit disappointed but all in all the book was pretty good just not as great as matched but if your interested in the trilogy you have to read the second novel! It wasn't a waste of my tie just a tad disappointing.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Cassia is now an air head.
I finished this book a while ago and it's still good but there seemed like there is too much drama. Plus, Cassia doesn't really compare Ky and Xander like she did in the first book and wondering what to do. Should she go against the way of life that she grew up to know or follow what she is told to do like a living puppet? In this book, she doesn't really consider anything except Ky and being with him. By the way, there are a few slutter scenes so make sure you're able to handle that gore. It's still a good book nether the less.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
READ!
This book was amazing, it was a great story of teamwork, love and trust. I highly suggest it for kids ages 13+
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Ally Condie |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Publisher: | Dutton Books |
| Publication date: | November 1, 2011 |
| Number of pages: | 364 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
