6. Soundtrack

5. Warrior by Demi Lovato
Ky began to lose hope of ever finding his way to Cassia near the middle of the story when many obstacles came his way while on the mission of the Rising because they sent Cassia elsewhere on her mission trip.  But he learned to keep hope, like I think Demi did when she wrote this song about her struggles.
4. Almost is Never Enough by Ariana Grande
Xander loved Cassia, and always loved her as his Match but Cassia fell out of love with him when Ky came along on her microcard after the Match Banquet, and she fell in love with Ky soon after.  So they're nearly in love, but it's only 'almost' because Cassia doesn't love him as much as he loves her.  And their relationship never works out because Almost is Never Enough.
3. Daydreamin' by Ariana Grande
When all of the people effected by the plague that went around Oria and Central, they were forced into small containment cells that were completely see-through of all four walls around, so I imagine that they were daydreaming of being in a better and happier place.
2. ET by Katy Perry
When Ky and Cassia were placed into cities nearly as far from each other as they could possibly be to finish their mission work, I'm sure they felt like they were from 'a whole other world, different dimension'.
1. Problem by Ariana Grande
Plain and simple, the gang has gone through many struggles throughout the story so far, and once they released that stress after completing some of their missions and taking down most of what was wrong with the Society they probably felt as if they had, "one less problem without them".

5. Most Important Line

In Reached by Ally Condie that I'm reading right now, the most important quote was, "You cannot change your journey if you are unwilling to move at all."
This quote was significant because even though it was an idea from Cassia (main character), it applies to all characters in the book and us as readers also.  It relates to Cassia because she is struggling with stolen poems that she needed in order to 'trade her way' to Ky, and Ky cannot even reach Cassia if he doesn't carry out his duties with the Rising first.  Xander, lastly, needs to continue mending his broken love with Cassia, because if he doesn't act swiftly she will already be gone and content in her love with Ky.
Most importantly, this quote relates to the readers and their lives I think because if we don't work, we can't change our futures, and in everyone's own special way they can relate that idea back to something they dream of for their life.  This lesson gives the author a way to connect with the reader of the story, and gives Condie more credibility because she understands this concept.  We want her to understand.

4. Symbolism

I am reading Reached by Ally Condie.
A symbol I would offer to Cassia is lone wolf because she is very independent in general, even though she is very attached to Ky, she still thinks and makes decisions for herself.  For instance, when The Rising came along, Ky did not want to join because his father was in it before he died and he was still bitter towards his dad for not protecting as many people throughout it as he should have.  And yet, Cassia still chose to join whether Ky would or not.
I would symbolize Ky as a functioning broken heart because although his heart is shattered at times knowing that he may not find Cassia anytime soon or as soon as he'd like, he can still function along the way to get work done.  But, once he finds Cassia, nothing else in the world matters anymore: people, their safety, his friends: none of it.  Finding Cassia is all that truly matters to him.
I would symbolize Xander as a fish, because he keeps on swimming and swimming and swimming but can't ever seem to get to Cassia as much as Ky.  It hurts him, but he never stops swimming because he feels like the top is close than it truly is.

Krista Ramsey Column Summary

      I read an article about her children using cute phrases.  It's adorable for one, and we should therefore appreciate what they say because it only lasts so long while they are really little.  A quote that stood out to me was: ""..." this is one of the many thought-provoking writer and speaker Maya Angelou."  I really liked the diction-choice she used here.  Based on "lead" she used mostly casual diction, and also (with her great use of the word "thought-provoking") spiced the medium-length sentence up with some elevated diction.  In terms of syntax there's not much spice to it.  I interpreted that as meaningful because that's all she wanted - to state her feelings of Angelou; nothing more.  I like simplicity because sometimes it's great and I'm sure Maya appreciates it.
     All of her columns contain meaningful simple sentences as well - almost always representing her opinion of someone / something like here: "Life is not two-dimensional." (not her words but she placed them strategically at the end of the article)  And her writing craft is very admirable!
     Questions for Krista:
-What provoked your family member to say, "don't mess with a happy baby,"?
-What inspired you to become the person you are today in society?
-How long (on average) does it take you to write and edit one of your columns?
-Why do you choose to write about the things you do? (relating to the world AND to personal life?)
-When did you decide this to be your full occupation and did you always enjoy it?

3. What I like best about my book

     I'm still reading Reached by Ally Condie, and it's very interesting so far.  Something I really like about the author's writing style and how it has changed throughout the series is that in the first book, the only perspective you heard was Cassia's (the main character) throughout the entire book.  Then in the second one you hear the perspective of Cassia and her love Ky, and then in the third book you can hear the perspective of Cassia, Ky and her other love Xander; this increases the drama because it gives you empathy for the different characters and what they are experiencing and what is being played out within the love triangle between them.  It makes decision-making a lot harder for Cassia because although she loves Ky, she can't help but love Xander too because he has always been her friend since childhood and was also her Match in the first book.
     She'll never forget how happy she was in that first Match Banquet a long time ago (well it feels like such a long time ago, although it's really only been about 5 months) when she was Matched with Xander.  But the feelings began coming to her when the Society made a 'mistake' which she later found out to be planned for some silly experiment they were trying on Cassia and Ky to see how they would react.  She's conflicted now; which boy to choose and be happy with once the Rising comes along... IF it ever comes.  No one even knows who the Pilot is (the leader of the Rising) and some even suspect he is dead.  There is much suspense, I'm ready to hear the decisions Cassia/Ky/Xander make in the near future as the story comes to a close.

2. Why I chose my book

     I chose the book I just started reading, Reached, first of all simply because it's the next book in a riveting trilogy called Matched, and I really got into it at the first chapter of the first book because of how well-written it was.  It was a very interesting journey that you go on with a young teenage girl named Cassia whom was born into this futuristic society where everything is based on odds, chances; numbers.  They predict everyone's behavior and moods all based on the data they've collected of them and their ancestors through the years they have been in power and that is what helps the Society stay in control of the people: because they know what the people will do (or there's a good chance of it) and can prepare themselves for it.
     The second book in the trilogy, Crossed, I thought was really dragged out for a short number of events.  There was 'a lot going on' in a sense, but most of what was happening was really in Ky's and Cassia's thinking process which made it really hard to get through and enjoy.  I still reached for the third book because I knew that where the storyline had come to,  that the third one would have very interesting twists.  Xander has come into play now in this love triangle (a lot like 'Twilight') and the readers are now aware that he is a part of the Rising; always has been.  It's shocking because we'd never expect that rule-abiding genius kid Xander would have any opposing views, but turns out we don't know as much about him as we thought.  I can't wait to get further in the book and hear what Cassia is going to do next. 

1. Character Change

[Crossed]
     I just finished Crossed which I had started at the end of last trimester.
     This was an interesting sequel to Matched by Ally Condie and I have to say the main characters changed throughout the story a lot.  Cassia Reyes, a teenage girl born into the Society was (in Matched) very obedient.  But once her newfound love Ky and her old one Xander showed her a bit of what is wrong with the Society, and that it isn't perfect after all.  Now Cassia is fighting for Ky because she wants to be with him forever, and can't do this within her society because they matched her with Xander, and it is either him or no one.  She can't have that.
     So to clarify on the change that we see throughout the book, Cassia was once obedient and loved the Society because it made her feel safe, but now she sees that feeling safe isn't worth having all your choices taken away from you, or made by someone else who thinks they know what is best for you.  Ky also has changed from a passive boy, to one who is willing to fight for Cassia the love of his life.  But one thing he cannot do for her, is join the Rising.  This is a group of people that may or may not exist whom people believe are trying to overthrow the government from outside.  Ky does not want to be part of it, an idea coming forth from his childhood and his parents' choices that he did not always approve of. 
     Cassia and Ky always thought that they were equal; the same; one.  But now they are beginning to distance themselves from each other.  It is all Cassia really wants (besides to be with Ky) to join the Rising.  She is passionate after learning the evils of the world they live in and wants to do something about it; and when all Ky wants to do is leave everyone else the way they are so the two of them can be alone and happy, she takes it as pure selfishness and is infuriated that he wants to leave people behind.  Some, literally, to die.