Parents' Guide to

Legend: The Graphic Novel

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Graphic adaptation of popular sci-fi novel seems oddly flat.

Book Marie Lu , Leigh Dragoon Science Fiction 2015
Legend: The Graphic Novel Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Lindsay P.
Lindsay P. Parent of 4-year-old
May 2, 2023
age 13+

Short graphic novel that handles a heavy theme

Legend: The Graphic Novel moved at a swift pace. There was plenty of action. Characters were developed quickly, but not as deeply as I would have liked. However, the graphic novel is only 160 pages, so I think the adapter and illustrator did a great job. All dialog is short (nothing more than a sentence or two at a time). The novel delves into the general idea that not everyone and everything is what it seems. Characters are (predictably) not as shallow as they first appear to each other. The government follows classic dystopian tropes: hiding the truth about what they do to control citizens. Recommended for readers 13 and older due to heavy themes and depictions of mass graves, gunshots to the head, and general blood/violence. Minimal adult language & no nudity are in this book. There are 2 scenes involving a kiss.
Denise M.
Denise M. Parent of 8, 9 and 12-year-old
April 8, 2022
age 9+
The book is empowering because of its emotional and physical battles between the characters.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Perpetually at war with its neighbors, the Colonies, the Republic of America needs young military leaders just like 15-year-old June. A genuine prodigy, June is obedient and committed to her country. But when her beloved brother is killed, she begins to question what she's been taught. When she meets Day, the Republic's most-wanted criminal, she begins to see the brutality of the regime to which she's devoted her life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Legend was not a novel that lends itself easily to adaptation as a graphic novel. There's plenty of action in LEGEND: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, but the incidents and the characters somehow seem disconnected from each other. Divorced from Lu's prose, the adapted dialogue seems stiff. The manga-influenced artwork by Kaari does depict action scenes with clarity and style, but the story's quieter moments don't always ring true. Fans of the novels may enjoy this adaptation, but readers eager to explore Lu's futuristic setting would be better off starting with the original books.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why dystopian visions of the future are so prevalent in books and movies. What's so compelling about that kind of a society?

  • If you've read Legend in novel form, how do you think the graphic novel compares? Do you like it as much?

Book Details

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