Crossed

Ky and his friend Vick are moved from village to village to make them look inhabited. Cassia, at a work camp, trades Ky's compass for clues and hears of a rebellion against the Society, the Rising, led by the Pilot. She escapes on an airship with her friend Indie. Ky, Vick and a boy named Eli flee into a canyon, and Vick dies in an attack. Cassia and Ky reunite and find a cavern where the Society stores tissue samples of every citizen. The group reaches a Rising camp. Ky trains as a pilot, but Cassia is sent back to work for the Rising inside the Society. Months later, she gets a message from Ky and plans to meet him.

1. Behind the scenesKy's book

   Condie knew from the start that this book had to be told by both Cassia and Ky, in alternating chapters. She calls it Ky's book, though Cassia is still the main character.

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2. Behind the scenesChildhood canyons

   The book's canyons and desert come from the author's childhood in southern Utah. Ally Condie was born in Cedar City, near parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon.

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3. ReferenceTennyson again

   The forbidden poems from the first book are still part of the story. Here, Ky recites Alfred Tennyson's Crossing the Bar at an improvised farewell.

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4. Behind the scenesNumber two on the Times list

   In November 2011, the book hit No. 2 on The New York Times children's chapter books list.

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5. SetupWatch Indie

   Indie, the friend Cassia meets at the work camp, keeps more secrets than she lets on. Pay attention to what she carries.

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