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    DystopianFictionPolitical FictionThrillerYoung Adult

    Prodigy

    by Lu, Marie
    “Prodigy” by Marie Lu is the second installment in the dystopian “Legend” trilogy, following the gripping journey of June and Day as they navigate a fractured society. After escaping the Republic’s clutches, the duo allies with the rebel Patriots to overthrow the oppressive regime, but their trust is tested by shifting loyalties and hidden agendas. Themes of power, sacrifice, and identity are explored against a backdrop of political intrigue and revolution. Lu’s taut prose and intricate world-building heighten the tension, making “Prodigy” a compelling exploration of morality and resilience in a divided world. The novel advances the series’ narrative while deepening character arcs and societal critiques.
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    Prodigy

    Chapter 23: June 12

    by Lu, Marie

    June wakes abrupt­ly in a hos­pi­tal room, dis­ori­ent­ed and alone, only to find her­self sur­round­ed by Colonies sol­diers. They rec­og­nize her as June Iparis, the Republic’s famed prodi­gy, and demand infor­ma­tion about Day’s where­abouts. The sol­diers restrain her, plan­ning to hand her over to DesCon Corp for inter­ro­ga­tion. June’s con­fu­sion and dizzi­ness linger, but she real­izes the Patri­ots’ ties to the Repub­lic too late, piec­ing togeth­er clues she’d over­looked. Time is run­ning out as the sol­diers pre­pare to trans­port her.

    With her hands cuffed and gagged, June devis­es a des­per­ate escape plan using a twist­ed paper clip ring. She painstak­ing­ly straight­ens and bends the clip to pick the lock, all while sol­diers mon­i­tor her and a gur­ney approach­es. As the lock clicks open, a sol­dier notices her move­ments, forc­ing June to act. She kicks over the gur­ney, dodges grabs, and bolts for the bal­cony, but her weak­ened state hin­ders her. A sol­dier tack­les her, thwart­ing her escape just as rein­force­ments arrive.

    At the crit­i­cal moment, Day and Kaede burst through the shat­tered bal­cony door, launch­ing a coun­ter­at­tack. Kaede dis­ables a sol­dier while Day frees June, pulling her toward the bal­cony ledge. Despite their efforts, June’s strength fails her, and she col­laps­es. Kaede holds off more sol­diers, shout­ing for Day to go, but Day refus­es to leave June behind, kneel­ing beside her as chaos ensues.

    The chap­ter cli­max­es with June’s failed escape and dra­mat­ic res­cue, high­light­ing her resource­ful­ness and Day’s loy­al­ty. The sol­diers’ insis­tence on cap­tur­ing them alive under­scores their val­ue as pris­on­ers, while June’s phys­i­cal strug­gle mir­rors her men­tal clar­i­ty return­ing too late. The abrupt end­ing leaves ten­sion high as Day and Kaede fight to save her, set­ting the stage for the next con­fronta­tion.

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    FAQs

    • 1. How does June attempt to escape her captors, and what does this reveal about her character?

      Answer:
      June uses a paper clip ring to pick the lock on her handcuffs, demonstrating her resourcefulness and quick thinking under pressure. Despite being weakened by illness, she meticulously straightens and bends the paper clip into a tool, showing her technical skill and patience. When the opportunity arises, she kicks over a gurney to create a distraction and makes a break for the balcony, highlighting her determination and physical agility. These actions reveal June as a highly intelligent, adaptable, and resilient individual who remains calm in life-threatening situations.

      2. What realization does June have about the Patriots while being held captive, and why is this significant?

      Answer:
      June realizes that the Patriots are being sponsored by the Republic, noting clues like their elaborate furnishings and Razor’s ability to move them around undetected. This epiphany is significant because it exposes the deeper political manipulation at play—the Republic is secretly supporting a group opposing the Colonies, suggesting covert operations and false-flag tactics. This revelation likely reshapes June’s understanding of the conflict and her role in it, forcing her to question loyalties and the broader power dynamics between the two nations.

      3. Analyze the role of Day and Kaede in the rescue scene. How does their intervention change the dynamics of the situation?

      Answer:
      Day and Kaede’s sudden arrival through the shattered balcony door shifts the power balance entirely. Kaede’s combat skills (kicking a soldier) and Day’s protective actions (tackling June’s captor) showcase their complementary strengths—Kaede as a fighter and Day as a leader willing to risk himself. Their intervention not only physically saves June but also disrupts the soldiers’ plans, as the latter are ordered not to shoot “valuable property.” This moment underscores the theme of solidarity among rebels and contrasts with the Colonies’ view of people as commodities.

      4. What does the soldiers’ treatment of June reveal about the Colonies’ perspective on Republic citizens?

      Answer:
      The soldiers refer to June as “valuable property” and prioritize capturing her alive for interrogation, indicating the Colonies view Republic citizens—especially high-profile ones like June—as assets for intelligence or bargaining. The older soldier’s cold smile and mention of her monetary worth to “DesCon Corp” further dehumanize her, reducing her to a political or economic commodity. This reflects the Colonies’ utilitarian and exploitative approach to war, where individuals are tools for strategic gain rather than people with rights.

      5. How does the chapter build suspense during June’s escape attempt? Provide specific techniques used by the author.

      Answer:
      The author employs several suspense-building techniques:

      • Time pressure: June notes she has only “two or three minutes” before the gurney arrives, creating urgency.
      • Sensory details: The sound of wheels in the corridor and the “click” of the lock heighten tension.
      • Physical limitations: June’s dizziness and weakness make her success uncertain.
      • Interrupted plans: Just as she breaks free, soldiers recapture her, delaying resolution.
      • Unexpected rescue: The balcony door shatters at the last moment, introducing a dramatic reversal. These elements keep readers engaged by alternating hope and setback.

    Quotes

    • 1. “This girl is none other than June Iparis. The Republic’s most well-known prodigy. DesCon Corp will be happy. This prisoner’s going to be worth a lot of money.”

      This quote reveals June’s high-value status as a Republic prodigy and introduces the immediate danger she faces from the Colonies’ soldiers. It highlights the political tensions between the factions and June’s precarious position.

      2. “The Patriots are being sponsored by the Republic. Why didn’t I see that earlier? It was so obvious, right from the beginning—the elaborate furnishings in the apartment, how easily Razor could get us from place to place without getting caught.”

      This moment of realization shows June piecing together a crucial conspiracy, marking a turning point in her understanding of the Patriots’ true allegiances and the larger political machinations at play.

      3. “If I’m going to make a break for it, now’s my only chance.”

      This short but impactful line captures June’s decisive moment of action, showcasing her quick thinking and determination despite her weakened state. It precedes her daring escape attempt.

      4. “Suddenly the balcony’s glass door shatters into a million pieces. The soldiers spin around, bewildered. Everything is whirling. In the midst of shouts and footsteps, I see two people breaking into the room from the balcony.”

      This vivid description marks the dramatic rescue by Day and Kaede, serving as both a climactic moment and a shift in the chapter’s tension. The imagery emphasizes the chaotic, high-stakes nature of the scene.

    Quotes

    1. “This girl is none other than June Iparis. The Republic’s most well-known prodigy. DesCon Corp will be happy. This prisoner’s going to be worth a lot of money.”

    This quote reveals June’s high-value status as a Republic prodigy and introduces the immediate danger she faces from the Colonies’ soldiers. It highlights the political tensions between the factions and June’s precarious position.

    2. “The Patriots are being sponsored by the Republic. Why didn’t I see that earlier? It was so obvious, right from the beginning—the elaborate furnishings in the apartment, how easily Razor could get us from place to place without getting caught.”

    This moment of realization shows June piecing together a crucial conspiracy, marking a turning point in her understanding of the Patriots’ true allegiances and the larger political machinations at play.

    3. “If I’m going to make a break for it, now’s my only chance.”

    This short but impactful line captures June’s decisive moment of action, showcasing her quick thinking and determination despite her weakened state. It precedes her daring escape attempt.

    4. “Suddenly the balcony’s glass door shatters into a million pieces. The soldiers spin around, bewildered. Everything is whirling. In the midst of shouts and footsteps, I see two people breaking into the room from the balcony.”

    This vivid description marks the dramatic rescue by Day and Kaede, serving as both a climactic moment and a shift in the chapter’s tension. The imagery emphasizes the chaotic, high-stakes nature of the scene.

    FAQs

    1. How does June attempt to escape her captors, and what does this reveal about her character?

    Answer:
    June uses a paper clip ring to pick the lock on her handcuffs, demonstrating her resourcefulness and quick thinking under pressure. Despite being weakened by illness, she meticulously straightens and bends the paper clip into a tool, showing her technical skill and patience. When the opportunity arises, she kicks over a gurney to create a distraction and makes a break for the balcony, highlighting her determination and physical agility. These actions reveal June as a highly intelligent, adaptable, and resilient individual who remains calm in life-threatening situations.

    2. What realization does June have about the Patriots while being held captive, and why is this significant?

    Answer:
    June realizes that the Patriots are being sponsored by the Republic, noting clues like their elaborate furnishings and Razor’s ability to move them around undetected. This epiphany is significant because it exposes the deeper political manipulation at play—the Republic is secretly supporting a group opposing the Colonies, suggesting covert operations and false-flag tactics. This revelation likely reshapes June’s understanding of the conflict and her role in it, forcing her to question loyalties and the broader power dynamics between the two nations.

    3. Analyze the role of Day and Kaede in the rescue scene. How does their intervention change the dynamics of the situation?

    Answer:
    Day and Kaede’s sudden arrival through the shattered balcony door shifts the power balance entirely. Kaede’s combat skills (kicking a soldier) and Day’s protective actions (tackling June’s captor) showcase their complementary strengths—Kaede as a fighter and Day as a leader willing to risk himself. Their intervention not only physically saves June but also disrupts the soldiers’ plans, as the latter are ordered not to shoot “valuable property.” This moment underscores the theme of solidarity among rebels and contrasts with the Colonies’ view of people as commodities.

    4. What does the soldiers’ treatment of June reveal about the Colonies’ perspective on Republic citizens?

    Answer:
    The soldiers refer to June as “valuable property” and prioritize capturing her alive for interrogation, indicating the Colonies view Republic citizens—especially high-profile ones like June—as assets for intelligence or bargaining. The older soldier’s cold smile and mention of her monetary worth to “DesCon Corp” further dehumanize her, reducing her to a political or economic commodity. This reflects the Colonies’ utilitarian and exploitative approach to war, where individuals are tools for strategic gain rather than people with rights.

    5. How does the chapter build suspense during June’s escape attempt? Provide specific techniques used by the author.

    Answer:
    The author employs several suspense-building techniques:

    • Time pressure: June notes she has only “two or three minutes” before the gurney arrives, creating urgency.
    • Sensory details: The sound of wheels in the corridor and the “click” of the lock heighten tension.
    • Physical limitations: June’s dizziness and weakness make her success uncertain.
    • Interrupted plans: Just as she breaks free, soldiers recapture her, delaying resolution.
    • Unexpected rescue: The balcony door shatters at the last moment, introducing a dramatic reversal. These elements keep readers engaged by alternating hope and setback.
    Note