Annotation:
After
escaping execution, Day and June are on the run from the Republic. They soon
find themselves seeking refuge among the Patriots, an anti-Republic group
lead by a man named Razor. In order to keep them safe and help them free Day’s
brother Eden, the Patriots make June and Day an offer: help them assassinate the Elector.
Personal
thoughts: I enjoyed Legend quite
a bit, but after now after reading Prodigy
I can safely say that I have morphed into a huge fan of Marie Lu’s series.
I really like the world she has created, especially since we got to learn more
about it in this novel. I found myself liking Day and June a lot more than I
did in Legend, particularly June who
is given the opportunity to come out of her “Republic soldier genius” shell in Prodigy. I would easily recommend this trilogy
to fans of dystopian novels, especially readers who are pining for something Hunger Games-y. I am really looking
forward to the third novel!
Plot
summary: After narrowly escaping execution, Day and June are on the run
from the Republic. Not sure where to turn for safety, they soon find themselves
at the mercy of the Patriots: an anti-Republic group lead by a man named Razor.
The Patriots want to unite the Republic and the Colonies and bring about the
return of the United States of America, and offer to help Day and June in
exchange for their assistance in bringing about a revolution. After the Elector
Primo dies and his son, Anden, takes over as leader of the Republic, the
Patriots see their chance to create an uprising. In order to do so, they will assassinate
the new Elector; more specifically, Day will pull the trigger. Day and June
reluctantly agree to the Patriots’ plan, having nowhere else to turn and
desperately wanting the help of the Patriots in rescuing Day’s brother Eden
from the clutches of the Republic. But can Day and June truly trust Razor and
the rest of the Patriots, or is there something, or someone, else behind the
plot to assassinate the new Elector?
Review: Following
up 2012’s best-selling and hugely popular Legend
was, undoubtedly, a daunting task for author Marie Lu. Fortunately, the
sequel, Prodigy, not only lives up to
but surpasses its predecessor, bringing the Legend
trilogy safely to the forefront of the young adult genre. Where Legend spent a great deal of time
setting the stage for the story (i.e. firmly establishing the totalitarian
brutality of the Republic, building the romance between Day and June, etc), Prodigy gets to use this plot
construction as a springboard into a very exciting series of twists and turns.
Full of action from start to finish, most readers will have trouble putting the
book down. Day and June are further developed, as are some additional
characters, making the reader a lot more invested in the story than they might
have been in Legend. In addition, a
lot of information is revealed, propelling the world Marie Lu has created into
very intriguing new areas. Overall, a stellar sequel that is sure to please
already existing fans and draw in new readers as well. The third and final
novel in the trilogy, Champion, is set
to be released in 2014.
Genre: Science-Fiction
Reading
level: Grade 7+
Similar
titles: The Hunger
Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Divergent
series by Veronica Roth, The Pledge series
by Kimberly Derting, Shatter Me series
by Tahereh Mafi, Under the Never Sky series
by Veronica Rossi, Across the Universe trilogy
by Beth Revis, Cinder series by
Marissa Meyer.
Themes: Dystopian, oppression, government control, loyalty,
conspiracy, assassination, trust, love.
Awards/Reviews:
Starred review from Publishers Weekly and Shelf
Awareness. Positive reviews from New
York Journal of Books, Entertainment Weekly and Los Angeles Times.
Series
Information: Second installment in Legend
trilogy. First novel, Legend,
released in 2011. Third novel, Champion,
set to be released in 2014.
Discussion
questions:
- Which novel did you like more: Legend or Prodigy? Why?
- Explain the title of the novel. What is a
prodigy? Who is the title referring to?
- Who would you describe as the protagonists and
antagonists in the novel? Do they change as the story progresses?
- What does the paper clip ring symbolize?
- If you were Day or June, would you have agreed to be a part of the Patriots' plan? Why or why not?
- Why does the relationship between Tess and Day
become strained? Do you think that’s normal?
- Who is your favorite character in the novel?
Why?
- What would you like to see happen in the third
novel, Champion?
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