Crossed

Crossed is a young adult novel written by Allyson Braithwaite Condie. It is the sequel to Matched and the second book in the Matched trilogy, which concludes with Reached. Told in the alternating perspectives of Cassia and Ky, the novel is largely set in a desert canyon which was inspired by Condie's experience growing up in southern Utah. The plot follows Cassia and Ky's respective journeys to find each other again in the outer provinces as they begin to learn of a growing rebellion against the Society. Reception to the novel was mixed to positive and the novel reached The New York Times bestseller's list for children's chapter books. Background According to Condie, she decided right away that the novel needed to be told from the perspectives of Ky and Cassia. While Cassia is important and still the main character, she considers Crossed Ky's book. Additionally, the novel's desert canyon setting was inspired by her childhood experiences of growing up in southern Utah. Plot The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Ky and Cassia. The outer provinces are filled with male "aberrations", including Ky and his new friend Vick who are moved around from village to village to make them appear inhabited to an unnamed enemy. Cassia, now at a work camp in Tana province, plans to find Ky. She is surprised by a visit from Xander who, as her match, was able to arrange a meeting with Cassia. At Cassia's request, they go to a small museum where Cassia trades Ky's compass with an archivist in order to obtain information that could help her find Ky. Meanwhile, Ky and the other decoys are moved to Ky's home village where a new shipment of decoys arrives filled with young teenage boys. Cassia's message from the archivist tells of "the rising", a rebellion against the Society, led by "the pilot". In the morning, Cassia sneaks onto an airship taking some of the girls, including her friend Indie, to the outer provinces. During the Enemy attack that night, Ky, Vick, and Eli, one of the new villagers, escape and head toward the canyon, called the Carving. Cassia and Indie arrive at the outer provinces and meet a boy who claimed to see Ky, Vick, and Eli escape. That night, they escape to the Carving together and reach it before dawn where the boy parts ways with the girls. Meanwhile, Ky, Vick, and Eli find a recently abandoned farmers township where they find a map of the canyon.