“In the end you can't always choose what to keep. You can only choose how to let it go." Crossed begins with this quote to foreshadow that the novel is not about what is taken, but how the characters deal with what is lost. Ally Condie's science fiction novel Crossed is incredible thanks to the excellent characters, to the perfectly paced plot and realistic setting. Condie's novel Crossed has excellent characters, such as the main characters, Cassia and Ky, who are both round characters. The author exposes the characters' pasts to reveal the reason for which they have certain mannerisms. “My mother painted with water.” Ky explains: “And my father played with fire.”(243) Ky explains that his father took enormous risks which led to their low social standing, so he is very cautious.The novel is dual narrative, so the reader understands how the two characters connect without using dialogue.At the beginning of the novel, Cassia no longer feels connected to Ky, and consequently exchanges the compass that he gives her gifted with information regarding a rebellion: “I thought twice before giving the compass to Ky… I hadn’t seen him in months and wondered if he was still alive, if he still loved me. (39) The compass is a symbol of their fading connection, which has more meaning than a monologue would have. The characters in Crossed are excellent, because they are well-rounded and also the dual narration gives the reader a deeper understanding of the story. The plot revolves around the central theme of being who you are and loving who you love, regardless of what society says. . The plot follows both Cassia and Ky as they attempt to find each other in a treacherous canyon while fleeing their totalitarian society. Ky is not allowed to love Cassia because he is… at the center of the card… being who they want to be. Condie's world does not contain time travel, UFOs or other unrealistic objects. Crossed instead aims to inform the current generation about the risks of a totalitarian society, which is more dynamic, realistic and powerful than entertaining the audience with time travel and futuristic machines. Cassia notes that there aren't many futuristic vehicles in her world: “The only means of transportation we have is the airship, very similar to the ancient airplane, but bigger.” Condie focuses more on society than inventions. In summary, Crossed's setting is a great visual asset and contains no unrealistic machinery. In conclusion, Crossed is a fantastic science fiction novel thanks to its excellent characters, fast-paced plot, and numerous literary devices. Crossed is definitely a must-read modern science fiction novel.