LEGEND series reading information (Marie Lu)

Marie Lu has become legend for her dystopic series that has earned rave reviews.

**all ratings from GoodReads

LIFE BEFORE LEGEND
(Legend, #0.5) ebook only
 
3.93 avg rating — 2,290 ratings

This ebook has two original stories that give insight into the lives of June and Day.

Reading Information:
Page Count: 38
no reading information currently available
--sample pages and reviews available


LEGEND
(Legend, #1)

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** ALA Booklist
**Starred Review** VOYA


4.14 avg rating — 74,701 ratings

15-year-old June was born into an elite family and she being groomed to be a member of an elite military circle. Day on the other hand was born and raised in a slum, and he had become the country's most wanted criminal.

June and Day might never have met except that one day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect.  This sets off a search for 'The Truth'.

Word Count: 75,464
Page Count:  320
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 148251
Lexile: HL710L
--sample pages and reviews available
--read an excerpt


PRODIGY
(Legend, #2)

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** ALA Booklist
**Starred Review** VOYA

4.30 avg rating — 25,892 ratings

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the Elector Primo dies.  Anden, the Elector's son fills the political void and with this act  the Republic edges closer to chaos.  The Patriot rebels are eager to help Day rescue his brother, but Day and June have one more mission-- to assassinate the new Elector.

Word Count:  97,881
Page Count: 384
Accelerated Reading level: 5.3 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 156557
--sample pages available

CHAMPION
(Legend, #3)

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** ALA Booklist
**Starred Review** VOYA


4.51 avg rating — 5,152 ratings

He is a Legend.
She is a Prodigy.
Who will be Champion? 

 June and Day have found their separate places within the Republic but they are brought back together when a virulent, deadly plague breaks out.

Page Count: 384
no reading information currently available
--sample pages and reviews available

Here is sampler from the Legend Series, featuring excerpts from Legend and Prodigy


compiled by Pam


You might also be interested in:   #1

UNWIND Series reading information (Neal Shusterman)

 In America after the Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an agreement: The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, a parent may choose to retroactively get rid of a child through a process called "unwinding." Unwinding ensures that the child's life doesn’t “technically” end by transplanting all the organs in the child's body to various recipients. Now a common and accepted practice in society, troublesome or unwanted teens are able to easily be unwound. 

Set in the near future, Neal Shusterman explores a world if which the transplant organ trade is essentially 'wide open' and abortion is legal, but delayed.

If those two concepts were not horrific enough, Shusterman manages to make them sound entirely possible. 

Fans of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Series should definitely check this out.  But know, that unlike the Uglies, this series has less 'bubbly' and more horror. 

*Adult Worthy~
**all ratings from GoodReads


UNWIND
by Neal Shusterman

4.22 avg rating — 65,370 ratings

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal

UNWIND is an rivoting, fast paced story that develops through the eyes of Connor, Risa, and Lev.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 95,297
Page Count: 352
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 120008
Lexile: 740L
--sample pages and reviews available


UNSTRUNG  (short e-story)
(Unwind, #1.5)
 3.80 avg rating — 1,740 ratings

From 'tithe' to clapper:  this story reveals what happened to Lev between the time he left CyFi, until he showed up at the Graveyard..

Page Count: 92
no reading information currently available
--sample pages and reviews available


UNWHOLLY
(Unwind, #2)

4.29 avg rating — 11,481 ratings

As Kirkus Reviews says --"A breathless, unsettling read."

Connor and Risa drift apart, as Lev strives to give his life meaning by ministering to other jailed youths.  Starkey wants to become the new Graveyard leader, and Cam is groomed for leadership by an mysterious group that is going to take advantage of his having been completely made from the parts of dozens of unwound teens.

Word Count: 116,298
Page Count: 416
Accelerated Reader: 5.8 / points: 18.0
AR quiz: 154002
Lexile: 860L
--sample pages and reviews available


UNSOULED
(Unwind, #3)

4.25 avg rating — 944 ratings

The Graveyard is destroyed and now Connor and Lev are on the run, searching for a mysterious woman who the government and all who support unwinding are frightened of.  

Cam struggles without Risa and plots to take down the organization that created him to prove to her how much he cares.

Page Count: 416
no reading information currently available
--sample pages and reviews available


compiled by Pam

ASHES Trilogy reading information (Ilsa Bick)

The dystopia ASHES caught the imagination of many YA readers as Ilsa Bick brought Alex, Tom, and Ellie to life.  I know the intense, nonstop action had me turning pages until late at night.  

*This series becomes increasingly violent as it proceeds.  The first book, ASHES, would be suitable for most readers.  By the time we get to volume 3 there is a great deal of violence, sexual situations, and profanity.  I would say that MONSTERS is not suitable for most  middle-graders.  The plot is very complicated and the violence is very graphic and intense.

**all ratings from GoodReads


ASHES
(Ashes Trilogy #1)

Audie Award Nominee for Solo Narration -- Female (2012)
ALA Teens' Top Ten Nominee (2012),

3.94 avg rating — 10,907 ratings

Alex has a brain tumor and she's tired of chemo and the constant day to day struggle to stay positive.  When she hikes into the woods alone it's to consider what her next step should be.  What she doesn't imagine is that it's all going to be taken out of her hands when a huge series of huge electromagnetic pulses blast the United States.

These flashes destroy more than every piece of technology the world.  They do something strange to almost every human being.  Some people it kills outright.  Others it alters their minds so that they can think of nothing better than to chow-down on the next person they meet.

Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.  Together they try to survive.  Violence.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 104,605
Page Count: 496
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 146122
--get sample pages, reviews, and prices


SHADOWS

3.71 avg rating — 3,409 ratings

In SHADOWS there are a number of changes.  We get the story from multiple Points of View, and the tone changes as Alex finds the strange community of Rule, where safety is an illusion.


Word Count: 119,220

Page Count: 528
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 18.0
AR quiz: 154948
--get sample pages, reviews, and prices

MONSTERS
(Ashes #3)

3.78 avg rating — 329 ratings

MONSTERS is the exciting finale of Bick's ASHES Trilogy.

Alex finds that The Changed are still changing.  And all the different plot strings come together, as some characters are reunited, while others die.  Graphic Violence, profanity.

Word Count: 197,073
Page Count: 688
Accelerated Reader: 5.2 / points: 30.0
AR quiz: 161577
--get sample pages, reviews, and prices

compiled by Pam
updated June 2014

THE UNWANTEDS reading level information (Lisa McMann)

Lisa McMann's trilogy can be thought of as a dystopia for Middle-Graders. It is set in a society where only the useful are allowed to liven and at 13 children are divided into classes: The Wanteds, the Necessaries, and the Unwanteds.

In true dystopian style the Unwanteds are to be disposed of.  But in fact they end up safe on an island where they are encouraged to hone their special abilities.

• some violence
• deliciously grim tone

**all ratings from GoodReads


THE UNWANTEDS
(Unwanteds #1)
by Lisa McMann

3.86 avg rating — 4,220 ratings

Aaron and Alex are identical twins.  Which makes it all the more horrible that one of them is sent to attend University while the other is defined as useless and 'unwanted'.  

When Alex ends up on the island, the boys find that they can read each others minds.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 68,014
Page Count:  416
Accelerated Reader: 5.7 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 146290
Lexile: 880L
--get sample pages, reviews, and prices
--BOXED SET of the first 3 books available

 ISLAND OF SILENCE 
(Unwanteds #2)
by Lisa McMann

4.16 avg rating — 938 ratings

In this book the magical barrier between Quill and Artime is gone, and it's a shock to both societies.  The Artimeans struggle to forgive those that dismissed them as useless, while the Quillians struggle with the collapse of their goverment that followed the death of their leader.

The two boys find themselves at odds with Aaron's political fall having been caused by Alex's success.  And while Alex recovers from his wounds, Aaron plots a rebellion to bring him to power once again.

Word Count: 69,917
Page Count:  432
Accelerated Reading level: 5.4 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 153742
Lexile: HL820L
--get sample pages, reviews, and prices

ISLAND OF FIRE
(Unwanteds #3)

4.35 avg rating — 159 ratings

Aaron has been successful and Artime is no longer.  The Unwanteds are without food and much hope is put on Alex.  But can he find an ally to help them?  And can he and Aaron ever be friends again?

Word Count: 79,223
Page Count:  464
Accelerated Reader: 5.2 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 162058
Lexile: HL810L


compiled by Pam
updated June 2014

DARK LIFE series reading information (Kat Falls)

KAT FALLS writes some great dystopia/adventure books for middle-graders.  Her first series, DARK LIFE, was well received, having been nominated for for many awards.

The setting is a future earth where the polar caps have melted and the oceans have risen so much that earth's population is crowded closely on the remaining land. Ty Townsend is part of an experimental community that lives in the ocean's depths. 

DARK LIFE
(Dark Life, #1)
by Kat Falls

*Children's Book Award Nominee (2012)
*Georgia's Children's Book Award Nominee (2012)
*Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award Nominee (2012)

3.90 avg rating — 5,558 ratings

Life isn't easy deep under the seas.  Desperate 'topsiders', hungry for food, oppress the underwater pioneers, and pirates wait to steal their goods. As the first child born born to the underwater enclave, Ty has little liking for land dwellers... that is until he meets Gemma. Gemma is feisty and different and she soon engages Ty to help her find her missing brother, who may have been captured by the pirates, or who may have joined them.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 62,350
Page Count:  304
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 136705
Lexile: 690L
--sample pages and other reviews available
--audio available

RIP TIDE
(Dark Life, #1)

3.94 avg rating — 1,444 ratings

Trouble is everywhere. Ty's parents have been charged with sedition, and now an entire village is missing, while the local underwater fauna are suddenly more dangerous. Was tying up with the Seablite gang a good idea?

Word Count: 67,475
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reader:  5.3 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 145219
--sample pages and other reviews available

KAT FALLS author index

You might also be interested in:   #1

compiled by Pam
updated June 2014

ROT AND RUIN (Benny Imura series) reading information

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

ROT AND RUIN is a fabulous series.  Jonathan Maberry has managed to write an exceeding good  story that is both action-packed and thoughtful.  He takes a very different approach to the undead. One that I found very refreshing.

A Guy-friendly read. Starts a little slowly but has a lot to offer.    Recommended.

**all ratings from GoodReads 
**all links to Amazon.com


(Benny Imura, #0.5)
FIRST NIGHT MEMORIES      FREE
3.99 STARS from 337 GoodReaders

This was a FREE short story that I had a valid link to.  It's probably still free but you might have to look around for it.  The story is about 13 pages long and was put out as a PDF that you could read with your browser.  It's a great way to test whether the series is for you --if you can find it. 

(Benny Imura, #1)
ROT & RUIN
 4.13 avg rating — 19,216 ratings

The story begins with an introduction to Benny Imura, his brother, Tom,  and the town of Mountainside: a small enclosed community where survivors eek out a living in a post apocalyptic United States.

Benny, who is soon to turn 15, has a tough decision to make.  On his next birthday he will have to take a job as an apprentice or face having his rations cut in half. Problem is, Benny doesn't see anything he wants to do.

The obvious choice would be to follow in the footsteps of his brother, who is a highly respected zombie killer.  But that just doesn't seem possible -- and this is where the book develops some depth.  Benny and Tom, you see, are frequently at loggerheads.  Turns out that since they lost their parents THAT Night, Benny has resented Tom for running away and leaving their mother to die.

Well, you know how life is. Turns out the only thing that Benny's good for is zombie-killing, and thus he ends up apprenticing to his brother.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 111,009
Accelerated Reading level:  5.0 / points: 17.0
AR quiz: 139855
Lexile: HL780L
--sample pages available


(Benny Imura, #1.5)
IN THE LAND OF THE DEAD     
4.06 avg rating — 300 ratings
These short stories fall between Rot & Ruin and Dust & Decay.


(Benny Imura, #2)
DUST & DECAY
4.32 avg rating — 9,724 ratings

In this book, Benny and Tom are working on a new, better relationship.  And Tom trains his brother and his friends, only to have them go in search of the plane they saw in Rot & Ruin.

Word Count: 115,900
Page Count: 544
Accelerated Reader:  5.1 / points: 18.0
AR quiz: 146281
Lexile: 770L


(Benny Imura, #2.5)
DEAD & GONE
4.21 avg rating — 489 ratings

This is a novella that introduces us to a new character named Riot (formerly Sister Margaret).  Riot was part of a group of zealots.  That is, until she runs away.  After that the church decides they need her back.
--amazon

(Benny Imura, #3)
FLESH & BONE

4.22 avg rating — 5,900 ratings

There are new monsters!  There's the Night Church, who are making their way across the country, killing everyone who doesn’t join them.  And there are new and evolving Zombs.

 
Word Count: 102,314
Page Count:  480
Accelerated Reader:  5.2 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 154944
Lexile: 750L


(Benny Imura, #3.5)
TOOTH & NAIL: A Rot & Ruin Story
4.29 avg rating — 251 ratings

Benny and the gang reach Sanctuary, but it's not what they expected.  What's cool about this story for fans of Maberry are that Joe Ledger (Patient Zero, Extinction Machine) and Iron Mike Sweeney (The Pine Deep Trilogy) pop in for some cameo shots.
--amazon

(Benny Imura, #4)

FIRE & ASH   

4.40 avg rating — 2,901 ratings 

Benny Imura and his friends have made it to Sanctuary but their problems don't end.

Word Count: 114,607
Page Count: 544
Accelerated Reader: 5.4 / points: 18.0
AR quiz: 160843 
Lexile: 770L


compiled by Pam
updated December 2014

You might also be interested in:   #1

 

LEGEND by Marie Lu [reading information]

Marie Lu's LEGEND is a popular YA dystopia.  Lu has said that this series was inspired by Les Miserables.  In particular the conflict between Valjean and Javert.  Chapters alternate between the two main characters, June and Day.

You can read samples from both published books here, with either your Kindle or by downloading the Kindle eReader software.

LEGEND (book #1)
by Marie Lu

4.10 Stars from 38,913 GoodReaders

Born into an elite family in an apocalyptic future, 15-year-old June is being groomed for the highest military circle. Born into the slums, 15-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. June and Day have no reason to meet --until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect.  Their search for the truth has made this book legendary amongst YA readers.

Reading Information:

Word Count: 75,464
Page Count:  320
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 148251
Lexile: HL710L
--sample pages available


PRODIGY
(Legend #2)
by Marie Lu

4.34 Stars from 6,558 GoodReaders 

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the Elector Primo dies.  Anden, the Elector's son fills the political void and with this act  the Republic edges closer to chaos.  The Patriot rebels are eager to help Day rescue his brother, but Day and June have one more mission-- to assassinate the new Elector.

Word Count:  97,881
Page Count: 384
Accelerated Reading level: 5.3 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 156557
--sample pages available



LIFE BEFORE LEGEND (Legend 0.5)
Stories of the Criminal and the Prodigy

3.91 Stars from  843 GoodReaders

In this Kindle collection readers get to see 12  year-old June was starting her first day of school at Drake University as the youngest cadet ever admitted; and Day struggling just to eat and survive in his world.

Page Count: 38
--sample pages available


compiled by Pam at GoodBooksforKidsLists!

You might also be interested in:   #1

 

MAZE RUNNER / James Dashner reading information

James Dashner is a popular Middle-grade and Young Adult author.  This series --Maze Runner-- falls into the YA category.  There is violence, fake bad language, but no 'adult' situations.

Dashner's series is guy-friendly. There's a constant flow of mysteries to solve and the action is non-stop. Highly recommend.

Note:
--I link to hardbacks where there is only a dollar difference.  They just keep their value better and age better than paperbacks.  Be sure to check 3rd Party sellers.  Sometimes much cheaper for New.  Of course, even cheaper from the library!

#1
MAZE RUNNER

YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011)

3.98 STARS from 80,454 GoodReaders

When Thomas wakes up in the 'The Glade' his memory is blank. But he’s not alone. Just  like him, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to   the   ever shifting maze where they are imprisoned.  All they know is  that   every morning the stone doors open and that they have until   night to   try and solve the mystery and get back before the gates closed.  If they don't, they face them -- the Grievers.

Reading Information:
Word Count: 101,182
Accelerated Reading level: 5.3 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 133240
Lexile: HL770L

#2
  SCORCH TRIALS

4.03 STARS from  50,636 GoodReaders

The Gladers are out of the maze and you'd think their lives would be easier.  Unfortunately what they find is a world that's burning up.  Ravaged by sun flares and plagued by the sick who are suffering from a malady called Flares.    And instead of freedom, they find another trial. The Scorch:  it's the most  burned-out section of the world, and they have to cross it in two weeks.

Word Count: 96,869
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 140107
 Lexile: HL720L

#3
THE DEATH CURE

3.82 STARS from 32,590 GoodReaders

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission...

Word Count: 87,385
Accelerated Reading level: 5.3 / points: 13.0
AR quiz: 146928

#0

THE KILL ORDER

3.49 STARS from 11,164 GoodReaders

This book is a prequel to the Maze Runner Trilogy.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened...

Word Count: 91,996
Accelerated Reading level: 5.7 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 153131


Also wanted to point out this paperback deal.  Not sure how long it will last, but all 3 paperbacks for a bargain price. 



compiled by Pam

GIVER QUARTET (Lois Lowry) reading levels

Lois Lowry is a brilliant author.  She can write funny sweet books like Gooney Bird Greene, and haunting books like the Giver Quartet and Number the Stars. 

THE GIVER 

**1994 Newbery Medal**
A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
Booklist Editors' Choice
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** HornBook

In Jonas' world there is no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment.  Children go to school and play.  Adults work at tasks that fit their capabilities, and it seems as if everything is idyllic.   Certainly Jonas and his family are happy.  That is, until the day when Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy.

Reading Information:

Word Count: 43,617
Page Count: 240
Accelerated Reading level: 5.7 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 8568
Lexile: 760L

The Giver: A BookCaps Study Guide 

GATHERING BLUE (The Giver, #2) 

Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.

Word Count: 47,893
Page Count: 256
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 44063
Lexile: 680L

MESSENGER (The Giver, #3)

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** ALA Booklist

For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself

Word Count: 36,627
Page Count: 192
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 5.0
AR quiz: 77348
Lexile: 720L


 SON (The Giver, #4)
 
**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** ALA Booklist

They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive?

She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice. 

Word Count: 76,096
Page Count: 
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 153883
Lexile: 720L