Review: Legend by Marie Lu

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

My Review:

Legend takes place in a great dystopian world that seems like a fairly plausible one.  The characterization is done well.  The book is told in alternating 1st person POVs between two characters with very different lives.  They are pretty much on the opposite ends of their society.  This contrast was shown really well.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD
  
June is the one person who received a perfect score on her Trial.  She is privileged because of this.  She went to college early and graduated early, and she will be working for the Republic's government.  Near the beginning of this book, she loses her brother Metias to a murder, and she is told that the murder was committed by Day, an infamous criminal.  She goes off to find him since she is determined to find justice for her brother's death.  She has already lost her parents, and now that she's lost Metias, she has no one left.

Day has committed crimes, but he is a boy who cares about his family, and commits his crimes to help people.  He failed his trial and was taken away to "labor camps," so his family thinks that he is dead.  Only his older brother John knows he is alive.  When his youngest brother gets the plague, Day breaks into a hospital to steal plague medicine.  That night, he hits Metias in the shoulder with a knife.  The knife couldn't have been what killed him, though, and Day knows he's not a murderer.  One relationship that is touching is the one between Day and Tess.  Tess is an orphan whom Day befriended years ago.  She's two years younger than him, and they can rely on each other.  They care about each other and are good friends.  I think they are almost like family to each other.

The relationship between June and Day is touching and sweet.  They meet at a fight while she is investigating and trying to find out information about Day.  He and Tess save her from being injured or killed, but Day doesn't tell her his name.  They become friends, and they do kiss each other one night.  Eventually, she realizes he's Day, and she turns him in.  He's angry about this, but eventually, she realizes she made a mistake, because Day's not guilty of her brother's murder.  Day realizes that she went after him because the government told her that he killed her brother.  He discovers she's just a girl who's hurting at the loss of her older brother.  

If you like YA dystopian, read this book.

Katie