Legend, by Marie Lu

Another dystopian novel, oh man! That was my first reaction to Legend, by Marie Lu, but my feelings soon took a turn for the better only a few pages into the book. Day is a boy from the slums who is at the top of the country's most wanted list and June is girl born to privilege who is at the top intellectually and  physically. Though, from very different worlds they both call the Republic home. This area is made up of the Western United States and has been at war with it's neighbors as far back as anyone can remember.

These lives cross when the life of Metias, June's brother, is taken by Day as he is trying to escape. June is given the task of hunting down this infamous outlaw. After finding out who he is, June, disguised as someone from the slums, befriends him in order to take him down. Everything comes to a head when the police are sent to take Day's family, because they are infested with the plague that is running rampant. In an attempt to lure Day from the roof the threat is made to kill his mother. Before Day can react, that threat becomes a reality.

Day is apprehended by the authorities and June is doing the interrogating. As the interrogation is taking place, June's eyes are opened to the corruption within the Republic's authorities and the fact that the plague may not be uncontrollable, in fact, it may be part of a much larger and much more disturbing picture than she ever imagined. This realization changes June's stance on the crimes that Day has committed and the two come together to try and right the countless wrongs that have taken place.

Beware: drink a small amount of liquid prior to reading this book, because you wont want to peal you eyes away for a second. The story is told in the alternating voices of Day and June. The font in Day's chapters is gold and June's are black. I loved this idea and was surprised that it actually made my feelings changed when I transitioned from one chapter to the next. Lu has masterfully woven together a story that crosses ages and genders.