Matched by Ally Condie

My new favorite ARC that I haven't had time to blog about was sent to me by Penguin. Out in Nov., 2010 (and also in the hands of greedy 8th graders already) is the novel Matched by Ally Condie. A fantastic combination of The Giver and The Hunger Games, Matched is the dystopian story of Cassia who is living in a futuristic society where you are "matched" with a life partner at 17 years-old via personal data by the Officials. The novel begins as Cassia discovers her "match" to be her best friend, Xander, who is by all means, perfect. Cassia couldn't be happier and when she puts the microcard into her "port" at home to see all of Xander's information (even though she knows most of it already) his picture fades away and is replaced by another face she knows- that of Ky. This sets into motion all sorts of events, leaving Cassia to wonder who her real match truly is. This novel will suck in all readers trying to decide between Peeta and Gale and those who adore Katsa and Po. The love story and the current trend toward can't-put-it-down-dystopian novels will have this book flying off the shelves. I read this on a three day trip to Chicago with the 8th graders and as I finished on the bus, four girls were begging me to allow them to read it over the summer. I have a list of five others to pass it on to after I receive it back in the mail. For sure, this one is a winner. Another book I'll have to have 6-7 copies of in my library once it's published. Thankfully, this is a trilogy because I really want to do more traveling around this world with Cassia.