Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stylish dystopian thriller in a not-so-future Los Angeles.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Based on 89 kid reviews
Kids say this book is an exciting and engaging read that combines strong character development with a fast-paced dystopian plot, making it appealing to young readers. Although some reviews mention the presence of violence and romance, overall, many reviewers recommend it as a fantastic introduction to young adult literature.
- engaging read
- strong characters
- mild violence
- positive messages
- fast-paced plot
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Day and June are teenagers on opposite sides of a dystopian regime in what was once Los Angeles. Day is the ultimate outlaw, stealing money and medical supplies for his family and others. June is being groomed for leadership within the ruling party. After June's beloved older brother is killed, all clues point toward Day, and she vows revenge at any cost. Neither Day nor Joy is prepared for what will happen when their paths eventually cross.
Is It Any Good?
Another dystopian science-fiction adventure featuring talented kids on the run, LEGEND has a crisp set-up and a stylish execution. The bad guys are a little too on-the-nose, and the good guys triumph a little too easily, at least in the short term. What the novel lacks in intellectual complexity it makes up in emotional resonance and narrative drive. Lu has quickly joined the top rank of this growing genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how governments can mislead their citizens. How does the Republic control the flow of information to both insiders and outsiders?
A plague has afflicted Day's family and their neighborhoods. Do medical crises ever affect governmental policy in real life? What diseases might cause a government to issue quarantines?
Enemies of the state are publicly executed in the Republic. What are your opinions about the death penalty as practiced today? Does it deter crime? Are innocent people ever executed?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Putnam Juvenile
- Publication date : November 29, 2011
- Number of pages : 336
- Last updated : October 16, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate