A Real Page Turner

For the young adult reader, Legend by Marie Lu is the whole package. A dystopian future, tragic loss, teen angst, rebellion and love. What more could you want? I found myself reading this book well into the night, I could not put it down! As I write this, I’m itching to read the second one already!

Anyone who liked the Hunger Games will enjoy this book. There is the bad-ass girl, June Iparis, who fights for what is right, a devastatingly handsome boy with a tough exterior and a soft heart, Day, and even a little innocent girl, Tess, the “Rue” of the story. From the very first chapter, the reader is engaged by vivid imagery of Day’s world, and the challenges he faces. The next chapter, narrated by June, gives the reader insight into the Republic, and the elite population.I liked how Lue chose to alternate the narrator of each chapter between June and Day because the reader gets to know what each of them are thinking in a clear way. Young adult readers will appreciate the fast-paced action and the not-too-complex plot, a book that they could probably devour in a few days.

Legend would be an excellent source in the classroom to engage kids in discussions of relevant issues such as, authority, patriotism, class, power, etc. Paired with a non-fiction text, having students read Legend helps educators to create a lesson plan that would give their students a deeper understanding of complicated subjects. Due to some violent content, I would suggest that this book be offered to 7th graders and up.