65. Legend. (Legend #1) Marie Lu. 2011. 318 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopia, YA Fiction, YA Romance] [5 Stars]
First sentence: My mother thinks I’m dead. Obviously I’m not dead, but it’s safer for
her to think so. At least twice a month, I see my Wanted poster flashed
on the JumboTrons scattered throughout downtown Los Angeles. It looks
out of place up there. Most of the pictures on the screens are of happy
things: smiling children standing under a bright blue sky, tourists
posting before the Golden Gate Ruins, Republic commercials in neon
colors. There’s also anti-Colonies propaganda. “The colonies want our
land,” the ads declare. “They want what they don’t have. Don’t let them
conquer your homes! Support the cause!”
Premise/plot: Legend is YA dystopia. The novel has two narrators: a guy named Day (Daniel) and a girl named
June. Both underwent the “trials” at age 10. June received a perfect,
perfect score earning her not only the right to higher education (high
school and college) but the right to the best education possible,
the kind of education that will prepare her for serving the Republic.
Day, well, he didn’t pass his trials. And like all other low-scoring 10
year olds, he was sent away to labor camp. Once a 10 year old is sent to
labor camp, they’re never ever heard from again.
When the novel opens, both teens are about 15. Day is a wanted criminal,
an outlaw. He doesn’t legally exist in the Republic database, in the
Republic records. The authorities don’t even know what he looks
like–what race or ethnicity he may be. So their wanted posters change
quite often allowing for every possibility. (It’s the occasional finger
print on the crime scene that links Day to particular crimes.) Day is in
Los Angeles spying on his family. His older brother, John, is the only
one in the neighborhood who still knows he’s alive. And it is to John he
delivers gifts–food, clothes, medicine, money, etc. Day becomes
worried when his family’s home is marked with a red X–a symbol that
someone within the home has the plague. This is very bad news indeed.
June, on the other hand, is at the top of her class. Though she’s just
fifteen, she’s almost finished with her training, her education. June is
anxious to start working for the Republic, to start serving in the
military, to start tracking down criminals like Day. Her wish comes
true–but not in the way she expected. She wanted to start working with
her older brother, Metias. Instead, she takes his place after he is
murdered. And it appears that Day is the one responsible for his
stabbing. Metias was trying to stop Day from escaping from the hospital
after a break in. (Day was hoping to find plague cures for his family.)
June is on a mission, and it is personal. She’ll track down Day and
bring him to justice no matter what.
My thoughts: The chapters alternate in narrators, and for once I think this is a
great idea. Usually, I’m not a big fan of this in novels, but in this
case, it not only works, it works well! I was able to care about Day and
June–almost from the start!
Legend is action-packed. It’s an intense read. But an enjoyable one! I’d definitely recommend it!!!
I first read this one in June of 2011. I reread it in August of 2024.
© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky’s Book Reviews
