Crossed

Gr 7 Up—Cassia, Ky, and Xander are back in this eagerly awaited sequel to Matched (Dutton, 2010), joined by new friends and facing new obstacles. Ky has been banished to the outer provinces along with many other young Aberrations to serve as cannon fodder for the unseen enemy of the Society. It is a brutish-and certain to be very short-life. But Ky and his friends Vick and Eli escape into The Carving, a vast system of canyons seemingly beyond the reach of the Society. Meanwhile, Cassia escapes a Society work camp and flees into the canyons, risking everything to find Ky and a rumored rebellion called the Rising, once again leaving behind Xander. Ky reluctantly shares bits of his past with her, only hinting at his aversion to the Rising. Xander, though not physically present in the canyons, intrudes on their relationship again and again and is withholding important information. Caught between the Society and the Rising, and wanting only to be together, Ky and Cassia must choose a side if they are to survive. Told in alternating chapters from their points of view, the book gives readers full access to the hearts and minds of two memorable characters. Their needs, love, and internal conflicts are palpable. Their voices are distinct and authentic, and the writing is often poetic. But this volume resolves little, leaving readers hungry for the final book in the trilogy.—Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School, CA