Champion by Marie Lu

Champion takes place after 8 months in San Francisco, where we are with Day. Day is at San Francisco because of both his/Eden's health problems. Day gets a call from June Iparis, who is currently training to be a Princips Elect, a partner to the Elector, who he has not heard from in 8 months (that's over half a year !) to join a emergency meeting. This emergency meeting is about the Colonies withdrawing from the peace treaty between it and the Republic. The Colonies claimed that a plague virus has spread to them, and that they are willing to destroy the Republic to get a cure. The Elector, Anden, sees the only solution is to take Eden into experimentation, which Day objects to.    Commander Jameson and Thomas are on trial before this, and they are sentenced guilty. 

 On the night after the banquet, Day suffers a severe headache, which confirms his dying state. June listens to Thomas talk about his killing Metias, and I think that this scene made me have a little pity for Thomas. Though the entire Thomas/Metias couple came out of nowhere, I think that this scene was great for Thomas's character development.This is when June hears about Day's dying state, which they talk a bit about. I think that moments like these, the I-won't-tell-you-I'm-dying-because-it-will-hurt-you cliche is rather exasperating , but yet every time I read it, it just hacks my heart in to pieces. 

 Suddenly the attack happens, and it turns out that Africa, a superpower in the dystopian world, has combined forces with the Colonies, which makes it hard for the republic to win. There is also an intense scene between Anden and Day, where Day insists on evacuating the poor, and Anden insists they have to wait. I think that this is where the two's tensity is at it's peak, as it shows the difference between logistics and acting instinctively, showing the problems and depending on either alone. When they were taken to the bunks, they found the Patriots. Day offers to lead them on a mission if they were freed, and June and Aden go to Antartica for help, which they give if the Republic could find a cure. Meanwhile, after Day has bombarded the Colonies ship, the Chancellor, the leader of the Colonies threatens to kill June if Day refuses to cooperate with them. Upon the three's arrival at a meeting, it is decided that the Republic will fake a surrender to keep June alive. Day promises to motivate the people of the Republic to go against the Colonies. After this agreeement, word goes that Eden will not do to create a cure. June develops a theory that she may be another key to create a cure. Her theory turns out to be correct, and it is then there is an attack. Meanwhile, Day keeps to his promise and gives a small speech. On cue, bobs go off, and there is mass chaos. Day is almost shot in the midst of it all, and Day is saved barely by June, but not before getting amnesia. In the epilogue, Day and June start over with a brief, and here I quote, "Hi, I'm Daniel." June responds, "Hi, I'm June."

Conclusion: This ending is easily one of the most unsatisfactory satisfying endings in my reading history. The idea of starting all over again, without the turmoil of the plot is something couples rarely get, especially in dystopian novels. That is probably why I think it's unsatisfactory, because so many things can from from this. I certainly wouldn't mind another 5 year gap epilogue telling us about their life.

I hope you liked this book review! I hope you come back!
-Sooyoung Jo, Age 12-