Book Review: “Legend”

By Marie Lu
Putnam Juvenile, 2011

Reviewed by Imani Johnson, 14
Ohio

In a futuristic world where the western United States is the Republic—a nation that is always at war with its neighbors—live two 15 year olds, Day and June. June was born into one of the Republic’s richest regions. She is one of the few lucky citizens with money, food, electricity, and medicine to help fight against the plague that has swept the nation. As a child prodigy, she plans to follow in her brother’s footsteps and join the Republic’s most elite military group. Day, born in the slums, has hopes of his family having a better life, but Day’s status as the most wanted criminal working for the Resistance doesn’t help.

When June’s brother is murdered, Day is the prime suspect. June’s first military assignment is to hunt down Day. After spending several days secretly watching Day and reading his journal, she realizes he’s not the person she once thought he was.

Mary Lu’s Legend is definitely an action-filled novel. What kept me from completely enjoying the book, though, was a lack of depth and complexity in the characters and some parts of the story that were too predictable. However, if you’re looking for a book with plenty of thrill and suspense, then Legend is a book I’d recommend reading.

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