Lena joins a growing resistance movement against Deliria-Free America, an organization that advocates that all citizens should have a surgical procedure to remove the risk of getting the disease called Deliria, the disease of Love. Lena has escaped from the gated community of Portland surgery-free but at the expense of her first love, Alex, who was killed by Regulators during their escape. As she wanders through the forests of the Wilds, she encounters a group of invalids living in the unregulated lands. She settles into her new life which is a harsher, more difficult life than the world of Portland. There is no electricity in the Wilds, and hunters and foragers gather food or sometimes get deliveries of food from people who smuggle it out of the gated communities. Lena grieves over the loss of Alex and throws herself into her assigned duties.
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In the Wilds, the rebel group is always on alert in case they are attacked by the government. The rebel group is chased by their enemies and have to keep on the move to other camps to get refuge from attacks. They also suffer from lack of meds, and many of them die from diseases that could be easily cured with modern medicine if they could get their hands on it.
Lena is involved in an infiltration mission in New York, where the headquarters of the DFA - Deliria-Free America - are located. She will spy and get information about Julian Fineman, the son of Thomas Fineman who is the leader of DFA. Lena becomes involved in things like the DFA rally. She even gets a fake procedure scar to help her blend in with the other cureds (the people who have gotten the surgery to remove the risks of Deliria). During a rally, someone tries to assassinate Thomas Fineman. His son, Julian, is kidnapped by Scavengers, a group of rebels who aren't afraid to use violence to get what they want. Lena accidentally gets involved and put in the same cell with Julian. During their time imprisoned together, Lena and Julian get to know each other and Julian starts to trust Lena. One day, Julian is taken by a Scaveger to be questioned. During his absence, Lena learns that her own rebel leaders have packed her tools to make her escape inside her backpack. Julian returns badly beaten up and more hostile to Lena than he was before. After Lena and Julian reconcile, they decide to make their escape. They find that they are underground and get help from some uncureds who live underground.
Later on, Julian is recaptured and sent to get his procedure. Lena finds out that her being captured along with Julian was set-up by the resistance. Lena will eventually save Julian and help him escape into the Wilds with her. She will also find out that Alex is still alive.
Best part of story, including ending:
I like that Lena convinces Julian not to do the procedure, to remain free, just like how Alex initially convinced her.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene was the cliffhanger ending when Lena finds out Alex is still alive. I couldn't wait to read the next book.
Opinion about the main character:
I like that Lena is able to do missions by herself and smart enough and brave enough to figure out a way to escape her kidnappers.
