Legend by Marie Lu

Razorbill, 2011. ISBN 9780141339412.
(Ages 14 +) Recommended. This dystopian novel is set in Los Angeles in a time of conflict, plagues and extreme inequity. The story is told from two perspectives, one of Day, a Robin Hood like teenager who is trying to ensure the safety of his family, and June who is part of the ruling elite. Of the two it is Day that I particularly warmed to and I found his chapters more engaging and believable. For someone who is meant to be a genius June takes a long time to realise what is really happening in the Republic and this became quite frustrating.
It is written in present tense which adds to the fast pace of the story and makes it hard to put down. There is romance between the two main characters and this developing relationship is well handled by the author. The setting of the Republic is intriguing and frightening to imagine, particularly the sections dealing with the frequent plagues. Legend is obviously the first in a series as there are unresolved threads at the end of this book. A good book to put in the hands of middle school boys who have enjoyed the Pittacus Lore books.
Chris Lloyd