United States of America, Pre-Republic

Change of Mind

     June is taken to the capital city of Denver, a snow-covered city protected by a large shield war known as the Armor to meet the Elector, Anden. She is surprised by how different he is from his father. Anden opposes the Republic Senate's ideals, who wish to maintain their control over the nation. June tells him that someone wants to assassinate him, she does this as a decoy so that he trusts her and moves to the real assassination location. 

    June eventually manages to convince the Elector that the decoy assassination is real, and receives a pardon from the Republic. As she spends more time with Anden, she realizes how different he is from his father and how he wishes to change the nation. She also notices that he is in love with her and later kisses her. After a few days, Anden wants to remove the Trial system that divides the nation and also make the Republic of America a better place. June begins to have doubts, and attempts to send a signal to Day to stop the assassination.

    Anden tells June about how the Republic began and how its intentions were good in the early years. Global flooding submerged most of the Eastern United States under water, and people were filled with terror as thousands fled into the west. The Republic was formed by the military to establish order, and they blocked the East US. Soon, though, the military gained too much power and the Trials, originally optional and fair, became mandatory and were used as a means of population control. Anden wants to change the Republic and bring it back to the way it used to be. June is further convinced that Anden is not a threat and repeats her signal to Day.

    Day is sent on a mission by the Patriots to make a fake attack on a train to provide proof that there was in fact an assassination attempt. Day makes himself known to soldiers to feed the rumor amongst the people that he lives. He has mixed feelings about June's warning signal and asks himself how far does he mean for her to go? After seeing Anden and June's kiss on camera, he suspects she might only want him to stop because she is in love with Anden.

"In the midst of it all, I hear a few call out, 'Day lives! Day lives!'" (Lu, 130)

People are starting to notice that the person who was killed in Legend during Day's execution was not Day. This can cause a huge problem in the Republic because people will stop listening to them and start looking up to Day. I think this is good because the Republic can fail if people do this. What I think will happen next is that the people of the Republic will stop trusting the Republic and start to realize what is really going on with the world.

"I never considered the idea that he might be able to get into June's head."(Lu, 136)

I think that this is a really interesting quote because Day makes the point that Anden is playing a game, not them. As soon as I read the quote, my mind started spinning around over what could happen, and what this means. What I think it means is that Lu is foreshadowing what will actually happen, Anden revealing that he's been acting and knowing the Patriot's assassination attempt the whole time. I think this is a really good twist and would be interesting to see if this happens. 

CONCLUSION

These pages were filled with little hints of what could happen next and what Day and June will become. It was also fun to learn what happened on the rest of America, but also a little shocking. I'm hoping to learn more, not just about America, but what happened to the whole world. I'm also intrigued to know if what I predicted is correct because I think that would make an excellent twist to the story. In the end, we'll never know until we finish the book. 

June, the Prodigy

 The New Elector Primo

    The second novel of the book trilogy Legend, Prodigy is the sequel to Legend and starts off with June and Day arriving at Vegas because they heard a Patriot base was hidden there and wanted to make a deal in order to save Eden, Day's younger brother which is captured by the Republic. June and Day disguise themselves because they are the most wanted fugitives of the Republic of America. The JumboTrons light up for the anthem but the pictures of the Elector Primo are quickly changed by another set of images, his son Anden Stavropoulos. The people of the Republic are alerted that the Elector Primo has died and his son has replaced him as the new Elector. When they are almost discovered, Kaede, a Patriot, finds them and takes them to a nearby barrack.
There they meet Razor, a double agent that is a high ranked officer known as Agent DeSoto, and a leader of the Patriots. They arrange a deal so that Eden is rescued and returned to Day. The drawback is that in order to save Eden, they must kill the new Elector Primo. June and Day are separated with June having to go to a Vegas airship hub, and Day is taken to the warfront city of Lamar.

    June is arrested on purpose and taken by Thomas, the responsible for June's brother's murder. We learn that Thomas and Metias were secretly in love but their relationship was forbidden because they both served in military together. June is taken to the Elector Primo by her request, and as a part of the Patriot's plan. When they meet, June doubts whether she should kill him or not, Razor knows something that he hasn't told her. Day is infiltrated by Kaede to the Colonies and he sees the world beyond the Republic: a huge land of sea caused by a shift from the sun that burned the whole South Pole.

"Everything I am familiar with is gone," (Lu, 29)

As we already know, June has been a part of the high class her whole life. She hasn't known the suffering of the poor sectors and she's used to answering orders and idolizing the Republic. Being with the Patriots and learning all these secrets from the Republic makes her feel unsafe and out of her comfort zone. Her whole life has been stripped away and replaced by a new one. I haven't been through that but I can tell it is a hard experience.

"Can I trust Anden? Or do I trust Razor?" (Lu, 76)

June starts to doubt about the murder of Anden. She figures out that Anden is not the man described by the Patriots. Or is he? This desire of knowing the truth is really bugging me and I want to know what the truth behind Anden is. Like June points out, there is something Razor knows about Anden that he hasn't told June and I'm dying to know what it is.

Final Thoughts

Day and June's story has been able to keep up and I just love how every one has their own traits and qualities. Marie Lu has a way of describing things that I just love. For example the way she described Las Vegas, tall skyscrapers with soldiers and armies all over the place. Vegas seems dangerous and safe at the same time. Another thing that has been crossing my mind is what will June do with the Elector Primo. I am very intrigued on what's going to happen next and whether or not Razor is trustworthy.

He is a Legend. She is a Prodigy. Who Will Be Champion?

Live in the Moment, Walk in the Light

     Metias is trying to tell June something as he puts a series of puzzles for her to find. First she finds words that are misspelled and she arranges the misspelled letters to form a sentence: F O L L O W M E J U N E B U G D O T C O M. She accesses the website and starts reading his journal. It turns out Metias was investigating their parents' death, it wasn't an accident. He hacked the civilian database and he discovered that their father had been suspicious of his work. He discovered the truth and changed jobs because of that. He was murdered. He also found out that the plagues aren't spontaneous, they're intentional. The meat that is supposed to come from the high-rise terraces comes from underground. The Congress didn't know what to do with the viruses that occurred there and killed animals. Then they remembered the war against the Colonies. They test the viruses with the slum sectors and see how they react and then build bio-weapons. Thomas began to suspect Metias and was later ordered to kill him. 

     June learned that Kaede is a Patriot and goes to her for help rescuing Day. She also sees Tess joining the Patriots as a medic. She convinces Kaede to help her and in return she gives Kaede an electro-bomb(for disabling guns) and 200,000 Notes. They start a plan to rescue Day. And John.

    Commander Jameson changes the schedule for Day's execution and June needs to think of something fast. She tells Day to ask Commander Jameson to see John one last time. The order was granted and John could escape using the ventilation shafts. But June was taken by Thomas for investigation. Soon, there was an explosion. The electro-bomb. June quickly runs away and helps Day reach the exit. John pops out of the ventilation and helps June and Day. Day is a little drowsy and slows them down. They ran out of time. John leaves them and acts as if he was Day. They all fall for it. John dies.

     The Patriots receive June and Day but they don't give them shelter, instead they drive them far away from the Batalla Sector and drop them near a building. Day wakes up and sees June leaning back on a wall. He cries when he hears from John. June asks him why Day. He responds like this:

"Each day means twenty-four hours. Each day means everything's possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time. You try to walk in the light." (Lu, 304)

Definitely one of the best quotes, if not the best, I've heard (in this case read) in my life. The ending is pretty emotional and really touched me. I think that what Day says is true and that people shouldn't be focusing on the past, they should be living in the moment. The Boy Who Walks In The Light and The Girl Who Shatters The Shining Glass are opposite, but complement each other. People should live in the moment like them. People should walk in the light.

"In my mind, I turn to Metias and give him a final farewell. Someday I'll see him again, and we'll tell our stories to each other . . ."(Lu, 304)

After Day's beautiful words, June pictures Metias and embraces his death. She forgets about him and puts him in a place where she can draw his strength. She overcomes her emotions and becomes a new person. She lives in the moment.

THE END

The most emotional ending I've read so far. Legend is definitely my favorite book. I would totally recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is so good and intriguing. You can totally relate to the characters and many elements of the story are excellent and enhance the overall view of the plot. This book changed me and now I want to live by Day's ideals. I think Marie Lu is a great author and I WANT TO READ PRODIGY!!!

The Black Streak

 The Truth Behind the Lies

       June visits a gala being held to celebrate her capture of Day. She hears Thomas say that Eden's case is confidential and many generals have gone to see him. The Elector Primo (basically the president) gives June 200,000 Notes(currency) for her capture and congratulates her. She is uneasy because of Day's mom but she tries to forget about it. She reminds her of Metias.

       June keeps researching about Day. She reads his files and she is surprised. The file says he died at age 10 and that he scored 674/1500 on his trial. No one scores that low. She hacks the security and checks his tests. Amazing at physical tests and his written exam and interview were perfect. Day has a score of 1500. June isn't the only prodigy of the Republic.

      Commander Jameson wakes Day and takes him to his sentence. They assign his sentence on four days. After this, Day is taken to a roof where he is chained to the ground. He stays there for two days and then he goes back to the cell. He is barely recognizable.

      June visits Day and informs him of his Trial. He says that they took a piece of his knee, injected something in his eye, and force-fed him a medicine that made his heart stop and then he woke up in a morgue. June realizes that they did all this to make their soldiers see better, think smarter, and endure harsher conditions. Day tells her that he thinks the Republic is intentionally infecting the poor people to test viruses. Everything he says fits.

    While she sits at her house, June reads and views photos of Metias. Then she starts to get curious about his death. What if Day didn't kill him? She keeps looking and hacks the Republic she views the images of Metias and watches the knife closely. It has some sort of black mark that looks like rifle grease. Just like the rifle grease streak Thomas had on his forehead.

"I am no longer the Republic's only prodigy with a perfect score." (Lu, 187)

June finally realizes that she isn't the only one that has perfect scores and that Day is a perfect example of a perfect soldier. I think that the way she finds this is amazing and proves how smart she is. Even though she doesn't have Day's physique, she's still more analytic than him.

"Well, let me tell you a secret. I'm from a poor sector too. But I followed the rules. I worked my way up, I earned my country's respect."(Lu, 218)

I chose this quote because I think that the fact that Thomas was from a poor sector is a big deal. Now we can understand him better and kind of see why he is some sort of lapdog. He always follows the rules and hates the poor. Why he hates them, we have no idea. I want to know his past and what caused him to be like this.

CONCLUSION

This reading was crazy. There is a lot of information and so little to write! I try to summarize as best as I can while putting the important details but Marie Lu likes details. I think that she is one of the best writers and she keeps nagging at me telling me to read and find out the truth. Can't wait to read more. I want to know the truth. Doesn't everybody?

     

Daniel Altan Wing

     The Hunt

     June starts to go out to the Lake sector of Los Angeles monitored by Thomas, she is out to find information about Day. She goes to a bar where she accidentally enters a Skiz fight. She stood up for Tess which was betting alongside Day, but Day was hidden inside a warehouse. June knows Skiz fights very well and ends up winning. Kaede, her opponent, stabbed her with a knife and Day regrets betting on Kaede. She gets attacked but Day saves her life for Tess.

      Tess tries to heal June and June ends up sleeping alongside them. Day walks up to her and kisses her in the alley they were sleeping in. They spend a few more nights on the streets, without knowing each other's identities. One night, Day goes out to his house and visits John. He tells him he's close to gathering money for the cures but he needs them quickly. June silently watches them talk and discovers that the boy is Day. She warns Thomas and gathers a plan to take down Day.

      Day hears the faint noise of ambulances and medic trucks as June tells him the plague patrol is taking his family. He quickly runs towards his house, not hesitating one moment, but when he gets there it's too late. He reveals himself to his family and tries to hide them. Day is pinned down and his family doesn't have any other choice to give up. Day hides and Commander Jameson runs out of patience. She orders Thomas to shoot Day's mom.

      That's when Day notices the girl. She was ordered to hunt Day. Day is shocked by the image of his mom collapsing to the ground and he is captured. He gets shot by Commander Jameson in the leg and he is outnumbered. He is taken to a prison and is chained to a wall. He is tortured and doesn't get much food or water. Then, we discover Day's real name: Daniel Altan Wing.

"Because of my idiocy, she has tracked me right to my family. She may have even killed Tess. I trusted this girl, had been duped into kissing her." (Lu, 155)

The feeling of distrust is horrible. Day trusted her and would've protected her like family, but June broke his trust and broke his feelings too. I think this quote will define Day's view of June and I'm intrigued of what will become of them.

"The woman Thomas shoots hasn't even crumpled to the ground yet when I see Day launch himself from the rooftop."(Lu, 158)

Day really cares about his family, just like June. They have both lost someone they care for and Day doesn't know how to handle it. June freezes and tells herself she doesn't care and that he killed Metias. I chose this quote because I don't think Day is capable of killing someone, especially after seeing this reaction.

CONCLUSION

The story has drastically changed and the twists and turns have made me more drawn into the book. I'm interested how Day's point of view has changed and how he will be treated. I also wonder what happened to Tess and if she's still okay. The pages I read were intense and I am more and more intrigued by this book.

The Ten-Second Place

 THE MYSTERY MAN

     Thomas tells June about her brother and how he died. He takes her to Commander Jameson which lets her analyze the body and she precisely describes the events that unfolded. She is notified that she has entered Commander Jameson's squad to replace Metias. Soon enough, the soldiers take Metias' body, and soon enough June has a plan.

      Day wakes up and finds himself in a dark room with Tess. Some of the plague suppressants Day took survived the fall, but not too much. Tess also informs him that someone is looking for him and claims that he has plague cures. Day hesitates at first but is also intrigued about what this man has to offer.

      Commander Jameson helps June set up Metias' funeral. There, she meets Chian, an interviewer from the Trials that was also Metias' mentor a few years ago, and has some really dark thoughts. June thinks she'll never smile again and that she is lost in the darkness.

      Day walks into a bar hoping to get some info on this mystery plague cure guy. He meets the bartender, a pretty girl that looks like she's been in a few Skiz fights. Skiz fights are illegal 1-on-1 fights that people bet money on. She tells Day that the mystery guy wants him at the Ten-second place at midnight and that her name is Kaede (KY-EH-DEH).  Day knows exactly where the Ten-second place is: a year ago, he broke into a bank where the guard told him he would be cut to pieces by the vault's lasers and Day told him he would rob it in 10 seconds and, of course, he did.

     June waits for Day in the Ten-second place. She is at the rooftops with the appearance of a man. Day talks to her from a microphone that is barely hearable. They discuss about the cure but June ends up failing, she doesn't have to wait for Day, she needs to go to Day.

"I should be the one going out there. Not you." (Lu, 90)

I chose this quote because it perfectly describes how deeply and greatly June loves Metias. Family is one of the most important things in life, if not the most important. Having family being stripped away from you is terrible and I can relate to June that way.

"Don't get too close to her, you trot." (Lu, 100)

Tess is walking past several people and bumps into someone who was pretty angry. Day's first instinct is to protect her and I think that's an important characteristic of him. Day wants to save everyone and he will do anything to do so. This quote and event made me wonder if Day actually killed Metias.

                    C O N C L U S I O N

What I've seen so far is that Day is very protective and is always trying to help others and save those he can. This makes me doubt whether Day killed Metias or not. June is also a loving yet analytic person. I want to see more of June and how she and Day develope throughout the story. I've also started to change the color of my quotes with Gold representing Day and White representing June. 

The Legend Begins...

The Criminal and the Prodigy

          Day is the most wanted criminal. He is not the most dangerous criminal, but the most wanted. He makes the Republic look bad by destroying military property, robbing banks, and does other crimes that don't involve casualties or fatal injuries to people. The good thing though is that the Republic doesn't know what he looks like. Everyday on the Jumbo Trons there is a different picture with the words WANTED on it. He and Tess, his companion, watch over Day's old family. They live in the Lake sector, where the plague is affecting everyone and as a routine, the soldiers go to each house to inspect everyone's home for the plague. If there's a plague, they mark the house with a big, red X on the door and takes about 10 minutes. The inspectors get to Day's house. John, his older brother, is the only one who knows Day is alive, he was supposed to be dead. He doesn't tell his other relatives, like Eden, Day's younger brother, and his mom because he wants them to be focused on keeping themselves safe. Plus, Eden turns 10 soon and he needs to study for his trial. The Trial determines your future, it is graded over 1500 and consists of many parts. If you get a score between 1200 and 1400, you pass, 1200 and under and you join the poor or go to a "labor camp" where you die. You fail. 1450 and up, you get access to 6 years of high school and 4 years at the top universities of the Republic. The inspection takes hours and Day gets worried, but when they're finally done, the inspectors draw a red X, with a vertical line across it.      

     June is the Republic's favorite prodigy. She aced her Trial by being one of the few people who had a perfect score of 1500. She is at the principal's office for escaping and climbing a building. She believes that if you want to catch Day, you have to be like him. Her brother, Metias, picks her up with Thomas, his best friend. Thomas has always been polite and nice, well behaved. He gladly takes her home and drives Metias to Los Angeles Central Hospital, where he needs to guard some vials of a mutated virus. June feels sad as she watches him leave. She really loves her brother.

       Day walks in to Los Angeles Central Hospital, he overhears someone tell the nurses about if they need help. He hears the man say his name is Metias. Day acts like he is injured, he wears leather boots, dark clothes and a black wig that covers his long, blonde hair. The soldiers let him in and Day stumbles into one. The soldier looks angrily at Day and tells him to move away and wash his dirty face. Day goes to the bathroom, puts on a mask and runs through the ventilation shaft. He quickly runs down the shaft, reaches the third floor and gets in the room with cures for the virus. He grabs a doctor and threatens the soldiers. There are no cures in the fridge. He runs and runs while soldiers shoot at him. He breaks the glass window and falls into the ground. Before he enters the sewers, Metias greets him, but Day quickly stabs a knife into his shoulder. He runs through the sewers to the city, fatally injured and with no hope. He couldn't get the cures for his family.
 

     "The Republic's favorite little prodigy is in trouble again."(Lu, 11)

This quote is told by June, one of the narrators, and describes her as the little prodigy from the Republic. This tells us that June is very valuable to the Republic and is one of the best in Los Angeles. After this quote, it is told that she has way older classmates and she is one of the youngest people in Drake (college). The way she is described further enhances how awesome she is.

"My mother used to hope that I would rise up from my humble roots. I'm famous all right, but I don't think it's what she had in mind." (Lu, 22)

The quotes I chose describe the main characters and narrators, Day and June. Day says this one and it describes how he is not what everyone wants him to be. His mother wanted him to be great, to rise from the slums and become someone of importance. In a way, yes, he did fulfill his mother's dreams of becoming famous, but not in the way she wanted. Day is famous for making the Republic look bad, not for being a soldier or someone of higher rank. This quote represents how Day is not someone to admire and he doesn't have a strong connection. Well, not a connection at all.

    CONCLUSION

Day and June are shown to be really awesome people and I can't wait to discover more of their abilities. I really want to know their backstories and how they got to where they are. I hope Marie Lu adds more to the characters than what we know. The story so far is quite good and I want to know what happens to Day's family.