Sunday, February 10, 2013

Review of Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Oliver, Lauren.  Requiem.  HarperTeen, 2013.

Lena is trying to get on with her life.  As part of the resistance, she is helping fight the regulators and Delirium Free America.  Alex has nothing to say to her; he has lived through his own personal hell and just wants to forget.  Julian is trying to adjust from his life as part of the DFA to that of a resistor. 
Meanwhile, Hana is preparing for her wedding to Fred Hargrove, who has followed in his father’s footsteps as mayor of Portland.  Fred is “hardcore” when it comes to resistors, the uncured, and their sympathizers.  He will do whatever it takes, including mass murder, to bring the resistance to its knees and kill it.  Hana has resigned herself to a loveless, cruel life with Fred until she discovers that Fred is hiding secrets, some about his first wife, Cassie O’Donnell.  Hana is determined to find out what happened to her.
Told in first person from both Lena’s and Hana’s viewpoints, Requiem culminates the Delirium trilogy in a riveting conclusion.  Readers will find out what happens to Lena, Hana, Alex, and Julian, as well as Lena’s relatives who were taking care of her before she vanished into the Wilds.  Lena’s absent mother also makes an appearance as mother and daughter try to mend their broken past.  One last meeting occurs between Lena and Hana, once best friends, now separated by their opposing views on what society and their lives should bring to them.
Both Hana and Lena are strong female characters, each showing sides of their personalities contrary to what their beliefs should convey.  Lena must choose between the two men in her life—Alex, her first love, and Julian, her current one, and decide what path her life will eventually take.  Hana must make the hard choice to help Lena or turn her over to her vengeful fiancé, Fred.
Requiem  is a fabulous ending to a series that is great from book one to book three!  The series builds and builds until its conclusion and never let me down.  It will make its debut on March 5, 2013.  I highly recommend it to upper middle school, high school, and public libraries!
Reviewer’s Note:  The book reviewed was a digital edition received from Edelweiss Above the Treeline in exchange for an honest review.


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