Ally Condie triumphs with her final novel in the Matched series. I loved the first book, but felt there wasn’t anything really new there–another well-written dystopian novel I enjoyed reading. Reached, however, is in an entirely different league. It’s different, it’s creative, it’s new, and it’s brilliant! 

Condie wraps up this trilogy in a most satisfying way–there aren’t any huge surprises, but there is definitely some page-turning tension. While other series occasionally leave invested readers feeling let down somehow, I can almost guarantee that won’t be the case with Reached. I closed the book feeling completely at peace with the ending and where I felt these characters were headed.  

Narrated by three main characters this time, the story is not at all confusing. The transitions are seamless, and I felt absolutely comfortable moving in and out of these people’s heads as the story progressed. At its weakest, Condie’s writing is skillful–at its strongest it is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Matched was good, Crossed was better, and Reached makes the whole series worth reading. I wholeheartedly recommend the entire series for the reader who enjoys a great dystopian adventure.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: 6 mild obscenities.

Violence/Gore: A character draws blood for medical purposes; several characters are very briefly seen with blood coming from their mouths as a result of illness; characters briefly tell about others who have been killed.

Sex/Nudity: Characters kiss briefly several times; a character touches another character’s face in an affectionate way; two characters hug briefly.

Mature Subject Matter:

Widespread disease; death from serious illness; death of family members and close friends.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None