Welcome to The Crossed Blog Tour

Posted By: Cassia     •     185 Comments

Happy Book Birthday Ally Condie. We are so excited that Penguin has given us the opportunity to participate in the Crossed Blog Tour.

Ally Condie is the author of the international bestseller Matched, and its newly-released sequel, Crossed. Matched was chosen as one of YALSA’s 2011 Teens’ Top Ten, named as one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Children’s Books of 2010, selected as the #1 Pick on the Winter Kid’s Indie Next List, and received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publisher’s Weekly. In a starred review for the sequel, Crossed, Kirkus called the Matched series an “addictive, layered dystopic trilogy.”

A former English teacher (who still keeps her license current, just in case!), she lives with her husband and three sons outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves reading, writing, running, and listening to her husband play guitar.

We are excited that Ally has written an exclusive blog post for us today, What’s In a Name?

 

What’s in a Name (Cassia)

When I was choosing Cassia’s name, I knew that I wanted it to be a real name, but something uncommon. I also wanted the name to have a classical feel and be very feminine, and I also wanted it to have a botanical association (because Cassia’s mother is a botanist and would give her daughter a meaningful name derived from something wonderful in nature). That’s a lot of criteria! It was my sister Elaine who first introduced me to this beautiful name, and it’s a perfect fit for the character at the center of the Matched trilogy.

If you’ve read Julius Caesar, you’ve encountered the character Cassius (pronounced CASH-us) and so you may have figured out that Cassia’s name is pronounced CASH-a. Lots of people (including my own agent!) pronounce it Cass-e-ah, and that is fine with me too. Either way, it’s a fantastic name with a lot of lovely meanings.

The first meaning I found for it online was “pure,” which fits the character very well. Also, did you know that there was also a female composer and poet named Cassia (often spelled Kassia or Kassiani) back in the 800s during the Byzantine Empire? I found this association particularly meaningful, because Cassia is also a poet in her own way.

The word “cassia” is Greek for cinnamon. There are medicinal uses for cassia, and a friend of mine who knows about essential oils (of which I am completely ignorant!) sent me this lovely note:

Cassia essential oil is a wonderful remedy for the shy and timid. It helps those who hold back and try to hide. When we avoid being the center of attention, cassia can restore our confidence. Similar to cinnamon, cassia dispels fear and replaces it with self-assurance. Cassia aids those who feel foolish by helping them see their own brilliance. It is an oil that invites us to “let our light shine,” and live from our authentic self.

Cassia’s mother, while outwardly obedient to the Society, is also capable of resisting in small ways. I like to think this name was a gift from Cassia’s mother to her daughter, a way to express how much potential she sees in Cassia.

© Brook Andreoli

We are thankful that Penguin is letting us give away an amazing prize pack. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post.

We have one (1) prize pack to give away to a winner in the US. The prize pack includes:

We’ll pick a winner on November 8th.

185 Comments


  1. Ronni Preiss said:

    These are the kinds of books that I love. These books were written beautifully and I literally cannot wait till the next one comes out. I will probably be spending the whole day reading Crossed :)

  2. Brooke said:

    Very interesting about the name. Thanks for the pronounciation guide.

  3. Caitlin said:

    So technically Cassia means pure cinnamon if you put it together lol. My name also means pure I like that.

  4. Em @ Sash & Em said:

    This is amazing!
    I absolutely LOVED BOTH books and would be stoked to get a signed/finished copy of Crossed!

    Thanks for the giveaway & Happy Release Day to Ally Condie!

    -Em

  5. Liz said:

    Interesting. I have a few friends named Cassie, I wonder if that is related too.

  6. Kari said:

    I loved reading about the meaning behind Cassia’s name. When I read the book, I pronounced it “Cass-e-ah” in my head. But, I much prefer the “Cash-a” pronunciation. Very pretty!

  7. Alicia Justice said:

    I can’t wait to read Crossed, I just finished Matched and I’m dying to read the next one!

    Ali

  8. Shanella said:

    I enjoyed the explanation of the name. It makes the story a little more satisfying, knowing that Cassia’s name was carefully chosen.

  9. Leigh Smith said:

    Yay! I loved Matched and can’t wait to read Crossed. I just so happen to also love Cassia’s name. Thanks for the contest and the chance to win a great prize.

  10. Melissa said:

    I don’t know why it didn’t post my first comment :(

    I love Matched, and I know I’m going to love Crossed too! Ally, you are awesome!

    I’d LOVE to win the prize pack!!!

  11. Krista M said:

    Since I’m broke and cannot make it to her signing tonight at The Kings English, I really hope I win a copy, I cannot wait to read this book!

  12. Kate said:

    Great post! I love reading about why authors choose particular names. Cassia is a great name (although I have been pronouncing it cass-ia LOL)

    Thanks for the great contest!

  13. Abby said:

    That’s cool! I didn’t know her name was supposed to be pronounced “CASH-A” I like the name even more now! I loved Matched and I can’t wait to read Crossed! :D

  14. CLAUDIA said:

    I am so excited about this book! I believe that since she is a teacher she may have more insight into what Young Adults read and using history as inspiration for the book is great!

  15. Elissa said:

    Mmmmm, cinnamon.

  16. Jenny S. Morris said:

    I can’t wait to read Crossed. I love how Ally picked Cassia’s name. I spend a lot of time looking at meaning when I’m picking a characters name, too.

  17. Jenny S. Morris said:

    Oops, it put the wrong blogspot. Let’s try this again. I would LOVE to win Crossed. I can’t wait to read it.

  18. Charlotte said:

    I’ve found quite a few dystopian books to be copy-cat, but I thought yours was truly original and thought-provoking. It took me a day to finish, which shows you how much I liked it! Really looking forward to reading CROSSED and finding out what becomes of Ky and Cassia’s relationship.

  19. Debz said:

    I am so excited for Crossed! I can’t wait to read it! Matched was so amazing, I’m sure Crossed is, too!

  20. Tristan said:

    I would love to win this – the first book was wonderful and I’m ready to see what happens next!

  21. Chrissy said:

    I love Cassia’s name even more now! Thanks for explaining your creative process!! And Happy Birthday to Ally Condie!

  22. Kathryn @ Clean Teen Fiction said:

    I love the note about cassia essential oil. Beautiful. I think Cassia the heroine in the Matched trilogy also inspires bravery and confidence.

  23. Nadine said:

    Wow! There is so much insight into her name! I know that nothing is chosen lightly in a novel and I figured that her name had more meaning than just being a pretty feminine name. I especially like knowing how to pronounce it correctly. I, too, referred to her as Cass-EE-ah, but I like to have things right. Her name fits her perfectly. :)

  24. Ameera said:

    OH GOSH i knew i was forgetting something….
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! <3

  25. Jordan Finch said:

    And to think I’ve been pronouncing her name wrong this entire time! I’ll be sure to read it correctly when I start my re-read this week. Can’t wait to meet Ally next week at the St. Louis County Library. Oh, and Happy Book Birthday, Ally!
    Jordan

  26. ashelynn hetland said:

    I’ve always loved Cassia’s name, but now I know how to pronounce it (I pronounced it like Cass-e-ah.) I always wondered how long it took you to figure out her name. Thanks for the giveaway, and happy release day!! :)

  27. milena said:

    Cassia is a fairly common name in Brazil, where I am from, and we pronounce it the way Ally’s agent does. I haven’t bought a copy of crossed yet, though I do own Matched, so it would be awesome to win :)

  28. Christina Kit. said:

    I love the way Cassia’s name links to her mom :)

    ccfioriole at gmail dot com

  29. I. Rugger said:

    I LOVE this blog post! Thanks for the inside info and the giveaway!

    iolerugger at gmail dot com

  30. Marie Kaye said:

    Great historical research!

    Happy Crossed Birthday:)

  31. L. Mod. said:

    Thanks for the giveaway – and for the homeopathic connections between Cassia, cinnamon and her personality.

  32. STefiH. said:

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

    I loved Matched – and what a great way to launch the blog tour, by showing us the origins of Cassia’s name.

  33. Patty Curtis said:

    I LOVE MATCHED! Congrats Ally Condie:))

    pattycurtis9 at gmail dot com

  34. Flip G. said:

    I hope I win Crossed:) Thanks for Matched and Crossed, Ally Condie!

    flipgideon at gmail dot com

  35. Kayla said:

    OH my! I always thought I pronounced her name wrong. I am so glad I know how to pronounce it while I continue to read the trilogy. The name has beautiful meaning, could not have worked out more perfect. Congratulations on the book’s birthday!

  36. Brenda Sills said:

    I love this! Cassia and her mother feel SO real to me. I love thinking of her mother choosing her name this way and that she’s telling her daughter she believes in her and to believe in herself. Fantastic!

    I love your voice, Ally, and I immensely enjoyed reading MATCHED. I can’t wait to read CROSSED! Thanks for writing such wonderful books!

  37. crystal said:

    I just posted a comment but it is not showing up? here goes my second try.
    I really liked how hard she worked on picking the name. I can not wait to read crossed. Ally Condie really creates a world one can get lost in for hours. Hope it post this time. :)

  38. Jessica said:

    I think my comment wasn’t posted :/

    I’ll check back later to make sure…

  39. Jessica said:

    Yup, it wasn’t posted. Let me try this again…:/ If this is a double-post, pleaaaaaase forgive me!

    I LOVE the name Cassia. The way I used to pronounce it was Cass-ee-ah, but I later found out by watching one of your videos, Ally, that it’s pronounced Cash-ah. I facepalmed and felt like an idiot :P But now I know I wasn’t totally wrong! :)

    I love that her name is so poetic, especially the cinnamon/oil thing; that’s just an incredible interpretation of the name. It fits Cassia SO well it’s just unbelievable.

    Also, I’m so glad you’re a NaNoWriMo pep talker! :D I got the email from NaNo and read your pep talk – that’s such great advice about the “more” thing. I appreciate the support! I totally freaked out when I saw you were a NaNo pep talker :)

    Sorry about the long comment…I had a lot to say!

  40. Hannah said:

    Awesome blog! I always pronounce it Caw-sha. I don’t know why. I guess I’m just weird. Anyway, here’s my comment! I loved Matched and Crossed’ll be just as good probably(maybe even better…If possible!) :) This was really interesting because when I write I always have a tough time choosing what name I should do. I usually just pick a random name in the uncommon baby names thing online. :D Love this post!

  41. Gina Tempest said:

    I love her name! It’s classic, beautiful, and unique. I’m so excited to read Crossed. :)

  42. Jenni Elyse said:

    I love the tidbit about the essential oils. It fits with Cassia’s character so well.

    Thanks for letting us know about the creative process in picking a name. Names are always the hardest for me to come up with because I want them to have meaning.

  43. Emmy said:

    Ally, I would first off like to say that I found the book Matched, a few days previous and was instantly hooked. When I found out that in was coming out November First I was thrilled. As a aspiring writer, I take a lot of inspiration out of Matched to help me when I get writers blocked. Thank you so much for taking us to such a realistic world, that we can escape to whenever we need. Just got my copy of Crossed today at Barnes and Noble, about to start reading, so pumped ;) Much Love, -Emmy

  44. Jorge said:

    Very, very impresived! Since I read the book I loved the name Cassia (and yes, I must admit that I pronounce it “Cass-e-ah”), but now that I know its true meaning, she (Cassia) and the whole history have now a deepest, and more interesting sense, because her name fits really good with her relationship with Ky. Happy Birthday and anxious to read Crossed!

  45. Natalie Sepulveda said:

    Matched was absolutely amazing! In 2 days! But of course I read it over and over again because it was so good! I’m so excited that crossed came out today! I read the first few chapters today at school! I love the meaning of Cassia and also how it is a very uncommon, unique name! I love reading and it is such an adventure to read your books Ally Condie!:) I love you!

  46. Natalie Sepulveda said:

    I forgot to complet my sentence! I read it in two days when I first began reading it!^^^^^ Your such an inspiration to my writing!:)

  47. Mary | Anxirium said:

    That is so cool about the oil! And the cinnamon! There just so much in her name.

  48. Franny said:

    Cassia is a beautiful name. I love it even more now that I know how to pronounce it correctly. It is always interesting to find out the story behind an author’s choice. I look forward to reading Crossed!!!

  49. The-Society.NET • Your number one 24/7 source for the 'Matched' book trilogy! said:

    [...] writing guest blog posts for various sites celebrating the release of Crossed. Today she guests on The Matched Department, writing more about the name [...]

  50. Emily V. said:

    I LOVE Cassia’s name. And I cannot wait to read Crossed!
    Thanks so much for writing books Ally!

  51. Angie G said:

    So does the blog tour mean you will stop by blogs or goodreads groups?? ?? http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/77917?group_id=3551

    Would love for you to stop by! I love that there is so much thought put behind Cassia’s name. Let me know if you can stop by the YA Book Club!!
    Angie

  52. Benji @ The Non Reluctant Reader said:

    Wow! I loved Cassia’s name from the start but now it has special meaning! Happy release day Ally, I’ll be seeing this week in Seattle. Can’t wait!

  53. Vivien said:

    It’s great to find out about the name origin. I always loved Cassia. It flows so well. I can’t wait to continue reading this series. It’s fantastic so far!

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

  54. Julianna Helms said:

    That’s such an interesting story behind Cassia’s name! I never knew it meant cinnamon. :) Thanks for the giveaway!

  55. Angel said:

    Well, It’s good to know the actual pronunciation, since I’ve been saying it wrong all along. I was definitely in the Cass-ee-uh camp on this one.

  56. Alejandra said:

    Its was great to find out how to pronounce her name. I always thought it was Cassa, like in Spanish house is casa. But the CA- part longer. MATCHED was a really good book and I can’t wait to read CROSED. Happy “Bookday” Ally Condie!

  57. PamM said:

    Thanks for the post. I like her name and think it suits her very well. Thanks for the giveaway.

  58. Ethan Cobb said:

    Cassia is a great name. Looking forward to reading Crossed. Good luck with the blog tour.

  59. Jennifer said:

    I’m a little late in the game lol I just picked Matched up at my local Walmart about 2 days ago. I can’t put it down! I’m not a teen, but I’m still close to Cassia’s age (or at least I like to think so. I’m 21). I’ve always loved the name Cassia. I’m a huge poetry fan, and a history nut. I love philosophy the best. I have a habit of reading before I go to bed while my husband watches tv and he’s joked that I read longer than I used to lol This book is exciting, and scientific and forces me to use my imagination and I’m always wondering what it would be like to live in Cassia’s world. Thank you for this wonderful book. :)

    P.S. I ordered my copy of Crossed today. <3

  60. melissa @ 1lbr said:

    Interesting! Who knew there were so many things associated with one name!

  61. blog tour day two and nanowrimo || allyson condie said:

    [...] and other goodies)! There are quite a few entries on her blog, but guess what? If you head over here to yesterday’s blog post at the Matched Department, there are many less entries for the same [...]

  62. Lauren said:

    I love it when names have meanings behind them. So looking forward to reading this!

  63. Alyssa (Redhead Heroines) said:

    I love the deeper meanings and connections with Cassia’s name! It makes the novels all the more interesting :)

    redheadheroines at gmail dot com

  64. Tanya said:

    I’ve tried to post twice now and it wont go :(
    I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Matched and can’t wait to get my hands on Crossed!
    As a writer and a librarian I really appreciate your imagination!
    Also glad I now know how to pronounce Cassia’s name correctly.

  65. Amy in Atlanta said:

    I thought I left a comment yesterday, but it doesn’t look like it showed up? Maybe you only display four comments at a time? I apologize if this is a duplicate–Ally pointed out on her website that there were only 4 entries over here so I just wanted to be sure I’m entered.

  66. stacie said:

    i fell in love with your writting and stoy of MATCHED. i got my friends to read it as well we cant wait for CROSSED. I wish i could write or even just think like you as a writter. im so excited for CROSSED to see what may or maynot happen. thanks for sharing your stories.

  67. Ashley R. said:

    This is such a beautiful post. I love Cassia’s name, and the meaning it gives to the novel. :)

  68. Gaby said:

    I’ve always pronounced it Cass-ee-a as well. Interesting to hear another pronunciation. So excited to read Crossed!!

  69. Lenmeo said:

    Cassia is a wonderful name. Perfect for the girl who goes with her heart!

  70. Elizabeth Layton said:

    Thank you so much for sharing this great information about your process and the research you did in naming this wonderful main character. I am also glad that this blog has educated me in the proper pronunciation of Cassia’s name. I agree with Chrissy – I love Cassia’s name even more now that I know the deeper meaning.

  71. Hannah said:

    I really like the name Cassia, but never knew it was pronounced like Cassius.

  72. Sarah F. said:

    I’m so excited to start reading! Thank you for the insight, and happy release day!

  73. Amanda Bagley said:

    I have it on Audiobook so I heard the way the reader pronounces it.
    I want the first peek at book 3 poster! I finished Crossed already and can’t wait for the next one!

  74. Shannon Allen said:

    I love hearing how author’s choose a name and really what all is behind it. Makes the writing so much richer. Thank you!

  75. Saige Brages said:

    You are such an amazing writer. I love the name Cassia. I think it fits her character so well. Me and my Teacher are in love with your books! Thank you for inspiring me!

  76. Ameera said:

    When I made my family read the book, they were all like, wait, how do you say her name? AND I SAID OMG IVE SAIT IT ABOUT 100000 TIMES!! I also love how you put so much thought into picking a name,instead of just picking random!! And to think, it suits cassia so well!! (Oh,and by the way the people I made read it, all loved it!! And 3 of them were adults!! :)

  77. Claire said:

    I fell in love with this series as soon as I opened to the 1st page. This is a book I can truly fall into, and I never want to leave Cassia. I love her name too, and I can’t wait to read Crossed.

  78. Katie said:

    I instantly fell in love with this name and it’s awesome to hear about the origin of it.(: Although I never knew it was pronounced CASH-a. I say it the other way: Cass-e-ah. Oh well, it’s a gorgeous name either way!

    Thanks!
    Katie at katiethemapler@hotmail.com

  79. Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen said:

    LOVE that you told us the meaning of her name!!! I’m also glad that now I know the right pronunciation, too. Thanks for sharing!!!!

  80. Nancy said:

    It’s interesting to see how many different associations there can be with one name. I can’t begin to tell you how much I LOVE the name Cassia. And I think I could use that cassia herb. I’m quite shy. Mind sending me some? Haha.
    Thanks for telling us and this opportunity to win.
    Nancy (prowalker41@hotmail.com)

  81. Cassidy said:

    Wow – I loved reading about your thought process behind the name. I always take great care into naming characters as well.

  82. Amanda @ The Hopeless Bibliophile said:

    I have heard Cassia’s name pronounced both ways, so thanks for clearing up the confusion. Luckily the voice actor pronounced it correctly in the audiobook! I loved the symbolism as well, especially the bit about Cassia’s mother choosing the name as her little piece of the rebellion.

  83. fishgirl182 said:

    Cassia is such s pretty name and now I know how to pronounce it. Thanks for the giveaway and interview!

  84. Erica said:

    I love Cassia’s name, it adds that femininity but keeps an edge to it that is much needed and shapes her character well! Beautiful name for an amazing character!

  85. Caitlin O. said:

    I don’t know another Cassia. I didn’t know how to pronounce it before now. And I’ve never used the essential oil. So to me, Cassia is the definition of her own name. For someone like myself, with a common name, I think it says a lot about who you wanted her to be in the story from the start. In a society that’s all about equality – even if that ends up meaning life is actually quite unfair – Cassia’s name makes her stand out from the very beginning.

  86. Jessica Longwisch said:

    I can’t wait to read Crossed!

  87. Sara Castro said:

    I would love to win that prize pack! Can’t wait to read CROSSED :)

  88. Robyn said:

    Wow, thanks for sharing the story of Cassia’s name! I just love bits of trivia like this. They always enhance the story for me. :D

  89. Mary said:

    Can’t wait to read Crossed! I loved every page of Matched. Cassia’s name is perfect for her character.

  90. LIndsey Bradley said:

    I love hearing how authors choose the characters’ names!The origin is really interesting and Cassia is such a pretty name! I was pronouncing it Cass-e-a while I was reading too. :) Can’t wait to read crossed! Happy Birthday, Ally Condie!

  91. Pica said:

    I love reading about how authors choose names. Cassia is a beautiful name, and it fits the character so well. I’m so excited to read Crossed!

  92. Pam said:

    I’m very much wanting to read Matched and Crossed so this is a great chance to win Crossed. Thank you!

  93. Olivia said:

    I love that her name has so many meanings!
    Olivia

  94. Fatima A. said:

    Well I am always an adept book reader but this book took my breth away i will have to wait till it comes out in liberies but stil.

  95. Aeriell said:

    I always pronounced her name Cass-e-ah too but I love the correct pronunciation even more. I can’t wait to read Crossed!

  96. Saige Mariah said:

    You are such an amazing writer. How much thought you put into the name Cassia is inspiring. I love reading your books. You just keep on making me smile after each and every word.

  97. Divya said:

    Oh wow I had no idea I was saying Cassia’s name wrong all this time. Pronounced either way I think her name is so beautiful and elegant!!

  98. sara bowers said:

    Love the post, I learned some new things. Thanks.

  99. Lauren said:

    I knew Cassia sounded familiar… :)

  100. Annmarie said:

    I loved “Matched” and everything about it: the beautiful green cover, the captivating storyline, and I can’t forget about KY! I kept rereading and rereading it! I haven’t purchased it’s sequel, “Crossed” yet, but i am looking forward to it on the weekend! I am so excited! I think Cassia is a wonderful name. It’s very unique and yet not unusual. I love the meaning behind her name and I think it suits her character and personality wonderfully. Thanks Ally Condie for writing this amazing book for us!

  101. Andrea said:

    So excited to read Crossed! The name background was really interesting. It’ll be good to read Crossed using the correct pronunciation. :)

  102. Elizabeth Hope said:

    Hi Ally, I met you at ALA in D.C., and I know this won’t increase my chances, but I went to SUU and took a few art classes taught by your mom! Small world huh! I loved Matched and am anxious to read Crossed! Thanks!

  103. Michelle said:

    I love learning how authors decided on the names of their characters. It can make the story itself so much more interesting. I have to admit that when I read “Matched”, I mispronounced the her name. That will not be happening when I read “Crossed”. Oh, and Happy Birthday Ally!

  104. Redbootpearl said:

    Choosing a character’s name can be so hard sometimes, this is a perfect fit!

  105. Brinda Choquette said:

    I usually don’t pick up a book to read if there are more books coming in the series (I have no patience to wait for the next books) but I picked up Matched and could not put it down. I love that you completed the story but still left it open for the next book. I can’t wait to read Crossed!

  106. Rebecca said:

    I’m superexcited to read Crossed, it’s on my Christmas wishlist! :D
    I’ve always pronounced Cassia’s name Cuh-sigh-uh, kind of like Josiah… if that makes sense. I think it sounds really pretty.
    I thought I already commented on this, but I can’t find it on here anyway… so maybe I didn’t… Anyway, good luck with the rest of this series and thanks for being a great author!

  107. Alysa said:

    Awesome contest! And I LOVE Cassia’s name. I waffle back and forth on how I say it, personally.

  108. Erin said:

    Thanks for the insight into this book :0)

  109. Mariam said:

    I would love to win a copy of Crossed.

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  111. Kristin said:

    I’m looking forward to reading Crossed!!

  112. JFC Librarian said:

    I read Crossed until midnight to finish it. I didn’t want to have to give it up to my students without finishing it. Thanks for another great read.

  113. Carrie Ardoin said:

    I loved getting new insight into Cassia! Can’t wait to read the book.

  114. Julie said:

    I can’t wait to read Crossed! I love Cassia’s name (and now I know how to pronounce it)

  115. Irvin said:

    Squee, I can’t wait to read Crossed! So excited for this book!

  116. Jackie said:

    I love the book so far. And I never realized till I heard an interview you did that it’s pronounced Cashya. I thought it was ca sea. Love it though!

  117. Laura said:

    I’m so glad to know how to say her name now! I was trying to get to your book signing tonight with my friend Anna near SF, but my husband didn’t get home in time :( . But she was picking up a couple books for me so I can’t wait to read it!! I can’t wait to learn more about your books!! Thanks for the beautiful writing!

  118. Christina Kit. said:

    I love all this background info on Cassia’s name! Especially how her mom linked her botany background with hope for her daughter.

  119. IoleR. said:

    I loved Matched. And now I know so much more about Cassia:) It’s the perfect name for her.

  120. Sophia said:

    Oops, i have been pronouncing it wrong! The name is so beautiful, it fits the character so well! I can’t imagine a better name.

  121. Ines said:

    I really loved Matched! And I love the characters… Cassia, Ky, Xander… Matched is a beautiful book!

  122. Ines said:

    Sorry… I’m the girl of the 26th comment… the problem is that I’m Italian…

  123. Kim Corona said:

    I love hearing about the name origin! Who knew I was pronouncing Cassia wrong the whole time! This adds so much to her character! I cannot wait to read Crossed :D

  124. kaye (paper reader) said:

    When I picked Matched up for the first time I loved the brevity of the name Cassia, but also the sound and look of it. I’ve always pronounced it cash-a in my head, so I’m glad I was on the button. Reading about little tidbits of the story like this makes me happy – it’s always so neat to find out. :)

  125. BARBARA BISHOP said:

    I LOVED YOUR BOOK “MATCHED” I COULDNT WAIT FOR “CROSSED” TO COME OUT…. I WENT OUT YESTERDAY WHICH WAS 11-2-2011 AND BOUGHT THE BOOK AND JUST LIKE “MATCHED” I COULDNT PUT IT DOWN ONCE I STARTED READING IT..I LOVE THEM AND I LOVE THE NAME YOU HAVE CHOOSEN . IT FITS PERFECTLY 2 THE CHARACTER…..

  126. Aimee said:

    I think of Cassia as “lean and hungry” like Cassius from Julius Caesar, but hungry for truth rather than power. Love the name! And loving Crossed…now back to reading…

  127. Stephanie said:

    I think the name is perfect for her! Thanks for sharing the history of it.I loved your first two books and cant wait for the third!

  128. Alice said:

    I’m glad I know how to say her name now. I was part of team cass-e-ah but have found the light. :) I’m so excited to get started on Crossed!

  129. Kaylene Thayne said:

    I love this series. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked the names but I have to say they have grown on me and now I love them all.

  130. Catherine Z. said:

    Super excited to read this book :D !

  131. Kel said:

    I love the name even more now that its been explained. Its so pretty and unique and it totally fits perfectly with the character.

  132. Melanie said:

    When you read a book, you really get to know the first person very well. And when you find out how/why the author chose his or her name. It opens a whole new understanding of the novel in a really interesting way.

  133. Tricia C. said:

    Wow, who knew there could be so much to a name? I always love hearing an author’s reason for picking the name s/he did. Cassia (I’ll admit, I was one of the many who pronounced it cass-I-a) is a beautiful name and I can see how it fits the character so well, without drawing attention to the connection. Thanks for sharing!

  134. Emily said:

    I loved hearing more about the signification of Cassia’s name. It always is amazing to learned about how much care goes into picking names for characters that mean something. It is also great to know the correct pronunciation of the character’s name. I, too, am one of the people who had been putting the extra e sound at the end of the name.

  135. lexi said:

    Loved matched and cant wait to read crossed!!!!! Glad I know how to say Cassias name now i’ve been saying i wrong just like some of the names in Percy Jackson!

  136. Gabie said:

    I’v always loved the name Cassia, and now that I know what it means, I’m intrigued by it even more. Matched was one of the best books I’v ever read and I’m really excited to read Crossed.

  137. Laura Hartness said:

    Interesting background on Cassia’s name. I took alot of time picking my sons’ names, as I think it’s an important part of your identity.

    Laura
    CalicoCritic at gmail dot com

  138. Kaitlyn said:

    I like pronouncing it Cass-E-a because that’s what I first thought it was. I love the name even more now because of the way it links into her very deeply. Well done Ally! :)

  139. Kelly said:

    I can’t wait to read the new book! I really enjoyed learning more in-depth info about these characters. Thanks for doing these give aways!

  140. Bethany said:

    What a great interview! Such a fascinating look behind the scenes. I loved Matched and can’t wait to read Crossed!

  141. Heather said:

    That’s a very beautiful name, and I’m looking forward to hearing the next part of the story!

  142. MK said:

    When I read Matched, I thought Cassia was pronounced Cass-e-ah. But after seeing an interview with Ally Condie about the book, I realized I was saying it incorrect. I am glad I know the correct way to pronounce her name because it sounds so much better as CASH-a. :) Unique, just like Cassia.

  143. Angie Kuhlmann said:

    I love this! My favorite part was Cassia learning how to write her name in cursive and I feel like this makes it THAT much better, knowing the background behind it! Can’t wait to read Crossed!

  144. Stephanie said:

    I was caught off guard when I heard the pronunciation is St. George. But I have to say, I like the way you pronounced it better. It was fun reading it the correct way throughout Crossed. : )

  145. Chris said:

    I have so enjoyed your book, Matched, and I’m hoping they will make a movie out of it. I’ll have to retrain my brain to say CASH-a while I’m reading Crossed. I’ve shared the first book with both my daughters, and then sent it on to my best friend. She told all her friends about it, and they all bought it and read it. We had our first book club meeting on Matched. Thanks for the wonderful stories! I can’t wait to read the sequels.

  146. Nellie Schalasky said:

    hi pick me

  147. Andrea said:

    My sister inlaw recomended Matched to me a few weeks ago. It just so happened I was in the book store on Nov. 1st to buy it. I asked if the second book was out yet because I did not want to come back for it latter. I didn’t know it was the release day. Four days latter and I’m done with both, and can’t wait for the next book to come out. New fan for life, thanks for the great read.

  148. Jessica said:

    Thank you for explaining Cassia’s name! I found this really interesting and more than once had wondered about the name, as I had never heard it before. I too pronounce it Cass-e-ah, but I think both pronunciations are pretty and fitting!

    Jessica

  149. Jodi said:

    I had the pleasure of hearing Ally Condie speak about Matched and Crossed today and am such a fan! What a cool blog and an awesome prize.

  150. Edith D. said:

    I would love to win a copy. I love Ally.

  151. Gbemi Soyebo said:

    Hi Ms. Allie!!!!! I love the first book in your series, Matched. It is literally THE BEST book I’ve ever read. i read the ENTIRE Twilight series and thought it was the best, but once I read Matched i looked up everything about you on the internet because it made twilight look like nothing!!! I am sooo looking forward to trying to buy Crossed!!!! I”ve read the excerpt and it left me begging for more!!!

  152. Emily L said:

    It’s very interesting reading the different meaning of Cassia! Can’t wait to read Crossed!

  153. Tim Lee said:

    I love these books, though I am not a Tween, I enjoy your writing very much. So from your adult fans, thank you for such a great story cant wait to read Crossed and see you here in Atlanta next week 11/10!!!!!!

  154. Jennifer said:

    One of my favorite parts about writing is figuring out character names and like Cassia’s the best ones have multiple meanings. Finding the right one always adds a bit of depth and intrest to the character’s personality. Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to read Crossed!

  155. Stephanie said:

    I have always loved Cassia’s name, but it’s amazing how much more I like it now that I know its meaning. I wonder if parents put as much thought into a name as Ally Condie did for Cassia. I also wonder how often authors really consider the name of their protagonist. I love the beauty and uniqueness of this name, and I love that every time I hear it I will certainly think of the Matched trilogy! Can’t wait for Book 3!

  156. Allie said:

    The name Cassia fits the charater perfectly.

  157. Jessica G. said:

    So excited to read Crossed! Great giveaway and I love how Ally got the name. I love researching names and it’s fun to see how authors come up with names for their characters.

  158. Emma Jackson said:

    I just finished reading Matched and actually wondered how to pronounce her name. Thanks for clearing that up, the background info is interesting too. I like it when authors put a lot of hidden meaning in their books. I can’t wait to read Crossed!

  159. Amanda said:

    -I loved the name Cassia right when I first started reading the book. As I continued reading, the name Cassia seemed to fit perfectly and I really thought that the names of the characters fit.
    -My name, Amanda, means “loved”. I’ve always been really interested in names. Though I do like the meaning of Amanda, I’ve always loved the names Alicia and Crystal.
    -Once I finished reading Matched, I thought about the plot for a long time. I related it to the Hunger Games, another series that I really liked. I thought about Cassia as Katniss, Ky as Peeta, and Xander as Gale. The two plots seem so similar, yet so different and both intriguing! I absolutely loved Matched and can’t wait to get Crossed!

  160. Amanda said:

    Amanda Bao. age 12.

  161. Natalie said:

    I pronounced her name Cass-e-a until I read this and now when I read Crossed I know how to pronounce it. Can’t wait for book 3!

  162. Nancy Piccione said:

    Just finished Matched and look forward to Crossed! Thanks for the giveaway.

  163. Tania said:

    I absolutley love these books! I just finished Crossed and, as usual, left me aching for the next book!! Thank you for the proper way to pronounce Cassia’s name. I am going to have to go back and re-read them again now!! Please hurry and get the third book out to us :-)

  164. Nicole S. said:

    Cassia name is so beautiful <3 I think it is very important to have a character with a fitting name or else the book just doesn't seem right. While trying to find character names to the book I am writing, I spent a lot of time looking up the meaning of names that I like. I feel a name will reflect upon the character making act (if you know the meaning of the name and not just use it because it is 'pretty') the way it seems it should. I cannot wait to read Crossed and know what happened to everyone :)

  165. Sylvia said:

    I can’t wait to read Crossed! Thank you so much for this contest! :)

  166. Dara said:

    It’s funny how we all assumed we were pronouncing her name correctly. Love the blog and I can’t wait to get my hands on Crossed!

  167. Jori Lynn said:

    I really appreciate the insight on choosing a name. I participating in NaNoWriMo, so I’ve been coming up with many name lately. Also, Cassia is such a pretty a name!

  168. Kayli said:

    I am so glad you explained her name. I was pronouncing it the wrong way and I did not like how it sounded but now that I know how it is pronounced and the meaning it is just beautiful to me! Saying it as cash-a how you meant for it to be pronounced just makes her character come to life more for me and I can see her beauty and pure heart even better. Honestly it makes a difference to me to know how to say her name and what it means! Thanks again, I can’t wait to read Crossed. I have been waiting for it to come out for months now and I am so excited!!

  169. Alex said:

    I love Cassia’s name! (I say it Cass-e-ah too) I was just thinking about all the names in this book after I finished the book yesterday (CROSSED) and I noticed they were all so unique and I’d heard almost none of them in real life before!!! I love them all and I think I’ll name my kids some of these names someday, they’re just so… Beautiful(:

  170. Aileen Renteria said:

    i actually wanted to know the origins or cassia and know i know and its kinda cool;cant wait to read finally crossed :D

  171. Aileen Renteria said:

    Actually meant to say of cassia but u get the point cant wait to read crossed :D

  172. Aileen Renteria said:

    First time i read the book couldn’t put it down not even for a second and i let my friend borrow the book and that happened to her 2. hope the second book has that same effect :)

  173. N'keeyah said:

    love the first book

  174. N'keeyah said:

    I love the details about the character names. I’ll admit to mispronouncing her name

  175. Nkeeyah said:

    I reread my fave parts of the book.

  176. Elizabeth said:

    Awesome! It fits the character perfectly.

  177. Ashley R. said:

    This is a beautiful post. It gives the book so much more character! I love it!

  178. Kimberly Oehrlein said:

    Thank you for sharing the story of Cassia’s name — and the pronunciation as well! I can’t wait to share it with my 11-year-old daughter who first recommended Matched to me. We both love the story and are excited to read more about Cassia’s world!

  179. carrie said:

    What a beautiful meaning for such a lovely name.

  180. Elijah B. said:

    Thanks for the awesome series Allie Condie!

  181. Elijah said:

    I love all of the new facts,

  182. Elijah B. said:

    Thanks for the awesome series Allie Condie!
    I love the way Cassia’s inner Thoughts drive the story opposed to violence.
    Keep it up!
    I sure hope my name turns the ice green color!

  183. Elijah B. said:

    Darn!

  184. Sandra "Jeanz" said:

    Can we have a UK Giveaway please as would love to win a copy for me and my 15 yr old daughter to read and review for our book blogs?

  185. Katie said:

    …I thought it was pronounced Cah-sigh-ah… Oh Well!

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