Reading Response on Reached

Finally, I have started the last book in the Matched trilogy by Ally Condle: Reached. (Although I thoroughly enjoy reading these books, I think I am going to take a break from Sci-Fi for a while.) In this series, I’ve noticed a bit of a theme about what lies underneath, and not judging things too quickly.

One example of this is that, in book one, Cassia and most of the city, believe every law and rule that is given to them without question. The Officials have set up this environment of false security, when really it is a network of lies. When the slightest thing goes wrong, the citizens are made to take a red pill that will erase all memories from the previous 12 hours so the people can go on with their daily lives without suspecting a thing. This is, for the Society, just a simple cover up to continue on with the illusion of their perfectly safe world.

Another example happens in the second book. Cassia’s interest in Ky Markhams is sparked when she suspects that he isn’t normal like everybody else. He has a backstory, and playing along to the manicured lifestyle Cassia knows was never a part of him. Of course, as the story progresses, she develops a deep love for Ky, but you can’t help wondering, if he were the same like all the rest of him, would their relationship still exist. Then, in Crossed, a secret is revealed about Xander, Cassia’s childhood friend and loyal and ordinary match; he was part of the uprising too. Ky never told Cassia this because he feared she would love him instead. I actually can see where Ky is coming from. If Cassia knew that her “normal” match Xander had a streak of danger in him, would she be in love with him and not Ky? I think that even though she loves Ky, it is kind of shallow to be interested in someone just because of his or her background. If she had actually taken the time to accept Xander as her match and not cast him away for a better, more interesting option, maybe she would know his secret now instead of being sheltered from it.

Nothing new has been revealed about the plot so far, but I suspect that as the uprising grows, more and more people of the city will be revealed to be involved in it. Like I said before, this series is all about what lies beneath the surface, and who/what you can actually count on to know about. It is a good theme. Despite the fact that we don’t live in a futuristic world where this is happening, there are lots of lies in our daily lives. I even think reading this book could make you think about looking a little closer at what goes on around you, especially because this book is targeted at the government and head power that is in control.