Matched Predictions

Cassia Reyes’ grandfather is almost 80 years old and it’s time for him to die. While the family visits him on his dying day to comfort him and wish him well, he gives Cassia an old paper with old lettering. He puts it inside of the compact so it is hidden. Cassia thinks to herself, Why would this need to be hidden? What is written on this paper?? But she kept her thoughts to herself and decided she would read it later.

Grandfather passed minutes later with his loving family at his side…

A few days later, Cassia goes on a hiking trip with a few other students. The Officials give them no help or guidance on how they should hike up to the top, so they do it on their own. Cassia is very athletic, so she assumed she would make it to the top first. She decided now would be a good time to to open the compact and read the old papers. It's a poem! A poem from decades before; the society only picks a hundred poems people can access, and the rest they burn. This poem was supposed to be burned because it tells you to fight. The poem spoke to her and she understood it fully, even though it wasn't up-to-date with the language they have now. 

I predict that the officials will soon find the poem and possibly arrest Cassia and her family for having it. "Quickly, I fold up the paper and put it away. I have lingered too long....." "It isn't until I'm almost at the top of the hill that realization hits me: There's a reason they didn't keep this poem. This poem tells you to fight." (pg. 97,98)

Will Cassia get in trouble, or will her secrets be kept? Or will one of her friends betray her by telling her secrets?

I can connect to this book, because if I had something like an old poem that isn't supposed to exist that meant a lot to me, I would be very protective of it even though it would put me at a higher risk for getting in trouble. 

Matched is similar to  The Hunger Games and The Twilight Saga. It is similar to The Hunger Games because both their governments are very restrictive and strict with the rules they have. In The Hunger Games, there are different districts and in Matched there are different Provinces. The government in The Hunger Games makes each resident from when you're a child to a teenager to take part in the Hunger Games where you have to try to survive on you're own..Matched is not as intense but they still are very strict with the way you eat, communicate, and basically live! Matched

A connection I can make with the world, is the government. They can invade our privacy by listening in on our phone conversations! Plus, they even restrict some internet sites because it gives information they don't want us to know; but nothing compared to the day and age of Cassia's society.
 

Update on Clouded Rainbow

I've been reading another book along with this one, so I haven't read much more; probably 3 chapters or so. Don't get me wrong, I do find this book really interesting, it's just been really hard to follow. So much more has happened since; Roger and his wife both got in a fatal car accident and were sent to seperate hospitals!

The author had a great idea for this book, but I think he just didn't tell the story like it should have been. You know what i mean? Like, he rushed his writing some how. The conflict appeared too soon in the beginning and I feel predict the book's going to end soon with a happy ever after.

Will Roger recover from his head injury? Will he ever find his wife?
This blogger feels exactly the same way i do: Clouded Rainbow Review

Matched by Allie Condie

I've heard a lot of raves about this book, so I've been wanting to read it for a very long time.When i finally found it on my teacher's bookshelf i picked it up. Although I am still in the middle of another book, i couldn't resist. Flipping through the first few pages, I noticed many good reviews. People comparing it to other books like The Hunger Games and The Twilight Saga, or people saying they recommend it to all young adult readers. 50 pages in, I have to say I truly agree. It is so well written; down to the word choices and the character descriptions. I am so tempted to not do the rest of my homework, just so I can read!

This book is about the future, and that 'The Society' makes matches for who you will marry, where you will work, and when you die. The main character, Cassia Reyes, just has turned 17 years old and her turn is up to be matched at the Match Banquet. All of the girls are both nervous an excited to find out their match. Their matches can be anywhere in the city and in other regions. But Cassia got extremely lucky! Her match is her best friend, Xander Carrow. They have known each other since they were very young, and they couldn't believe how it happened. 'The Society' was so shocked because of how uncommon this was. "I smile as Xander's face appears on the portscreen immediately following the recorded message. It's a good picture of him. As always, his smile looks bright and real, his blue eyes kind. He is handsome. I'd never dare think that he might be my Match, of course, but now that it's happened I am interested. Intrigued. A little scared about this might change our friendship, but mostly just happy." (pg. 1)

Matched is one of those very few books that is both very well written, and addictive. It starts of really slow, but I can tell it's heading in a new direction already!

I totally recommend this book to anyone. It's not just for girls, even though it is written in her perspective.

So far I love this book, and can't wait to continue the series! (:

The Fat Boy Chronicles By Diane Lang

Though "The Fat Boy Chronicles" was assigned to read for Health class, I enjoyed reading this book. It's about a boy named Jimmy in middle school. He's overweight and gets picked on for it. Jimmy was a new student so, he had no friends to stick up for him. Through his journey he encounters bullies like no other; backstabbing friends and people he doesn't even know who are making fun of his weight. Even adults! From the text: "I'm the big kid who sits in the last seat by the door. I stay in the back so you don't have to constantly hear, "We can't see around Jimmy!" And: "I'm the diet-challenged kid who sits in the last seat by the door. I'm probably bigger than I was this morning because your class isright after lunch and homeroom." Notes from the author: "...I went from being a kid who sat alone, to a cool kid everyone wanted to know." Quote that motivated him to keep losing weight: "For the rest of my life?" - referring to the doctor telling him that he will be obese forver if he didn't drop the weight. He questions suicide because of how much he hates his body. Eventually he starts to see hope; he trusts in God and sees light through the dark.

As soon as Jimmy heard from his doctor that he was obese and that if he didn't drop that weight now he could stay obese forever, him, his mother and father started exercising and dieting to get rid of the weight.

I noticed how his character changed from beginning to end, just based on being 60 pounds lighter in the end. He became less self-conscious, and had more friends. It's sad that he had to lose weight to stop the bullying, but true in today's day and age.

His friends made him feel comfortable because they didn't judge him about the way he looked. His best friends throughout the story include: Sabel, Allen, and Paul. I think the theme of the book is to believe in yourself no matter what others think, because Jimmy explains that he had a perfectly fine life right up until he started noticing the looks from others and before the bullying began.

All in all,  this book was extremely touching. And not just because it's based on a true story of a student who went to Mason, but because it told anyone who is overweight, they have a chance.

Movie Trailer for "The Fat Boy Chronicles":

First Few Chapters of "Clouded Rainbow" by Jonathan Sturak

Honestly, I knew nothing about this book when I purchased it. The cover just looked just interesting and I've been wanting to read a lot lately.

As I read the first chapter, I was completely lost and confused. It started with a man walking through the rain, then a few pages later "...blood oozing from the orifice." What I get from reading this is that the man got hit by a car...but it was just a dream. Literally that is all that happened that chapter. What kind of book is this?? I kept asking myself. I convinced myself that it must get better and that I don't have any other book right now to read anyways. I noticed right away, that the author is great at describing the thoughts of characters and their description! I could picture myself in the main character's situation and knowing what he looked like. It is evident that the man is daring and confident because: "The unresponsive man continues on his journey. His eyes maintain focus straight ahead at the encroaching force, but does not blink. It is as if he has no worries, no fear, and no pain. Something is motivating the man to continue down the deadly path-something incomprehensible, something in his determined eyes. A slight yet distinctive glow in his dilated pupils proves his force." (loc.825) It is evident that Roger is persistent and won't give up in trying to get his memory back because: "Roger looked deep into the man's hazel eyes. He longed to find the lost memory that held his home address. His mind throbbed with pain, but Roger kept trying, kept focusing." (loc. 789)

Roger is a hard-working man with a beautiful wife named Lois. Roger planned on having the job he has now after he graduated from Penn State with a degree in finance.

About 3 chapters in now, I've noticed that Roger and Lois have had a pretty perfect life. Living in a half-million dollar house, a great relationship, and great jobs, there's no sadness. Not that I'm wanting sadness, but I infer that something unexpected is going to happen to this couple because of how cheery it has started. I also infer that Roger will have to go through a lot to get what he wants; whatever that is.

Looking back at chapter 1, it seems as if it has nothing to do with anything that I am reading now. No one got hit by a car yet! I have no idea what's going to happen, but I'm going to keep reading to find out!

Clouded Rainbow Animatic