PRODIGY by Marie Lu

Title: PRODIGY (sequel to LEGEND)
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (a Penguin imprint)
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Number of Pages: 371
Source of Book: ARC from author signing ALA

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—-June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

I really loved LEGEND when I read it last year, and many of my students did as well, so I was eagerly anticipating getting to read PRODIGY. I was so excited when I saw that Marie Lu would be at ALA signing books, and I got in line early to buy another copy of LEGEND and get an advanced copy of PRODIGY. Little did I realize I would be in for a heart-pounding, pit-in-my-stomach, anxiety-filled ride through this book…and I didn’t want it to end. But it had to, and it was heart-breaking. I so want to know what is going to happen to these characters next and where Marie Lu’s imagination is going to take this story.

Ten Things I Hate/Love About PRODIGY
*Okay, fine, it’s not really hate, it’s really love/love even more, but that didn’t have the same flow to the wording or parallel structure or interest for creating this list*
1. It was impossible to stop reading, but it’s exciting because the action never stops
2. The political intrigue and never knowing if I could trust the politicians, but it was intriguing and made for an important plot for this second book in the series
3. It had me full of anxiety, my heart was pounding the whole time I was reading it
4. Trust issues with some of my beloved characters, but they’re still with each other and fighting for each other
5. All is not as it seems, but we get to learn so much more about the Republic and the Colonies and all that is going on in this world with travel from LA to Vegas and then Denver
6. I was an emotional wreck, but it has so much emotion because I care about these characters
7. The characters have to go through so much, can’t they catch a break and be happy?, but the motivation is always about families and protecting their own
8. Seemed to be lots of foreshadowing, but where has their information been coming from…I just wasn’t exactly sure where it would end up, so it was surprising
9. Marie Lu broke my heart in the end – it was shocking and unexpected and expected all at the same time, but I want my characters to be happy, but I have to trust in the author that they will be and this is the journey they’re meant to go on
10. I was left with so many questions: (Will the Republic fall? Will the United States unite and become whole again? Will June and Day both be OK? So many questions & emotions!) and now I have to wait SO long for the third book, but I’m so excited and anxious for the final chapter in this series!

Oh, this book. It is so good. It is emotional. It is frustrating. It is so good. I loved it, and I hope you do too. If you haven’t read LEGEND yet, go get it because you’re going to want to read this series, and you can get PRODIGY at the end of January!