If you are anything like me, you have searched far and wide grasping for anything that brought you close to the feelings that were evoked when reading THE HUNGER GAMES. With the immense success of THE HUNGER GAMES, it seems that everywhere you look there are blurbs on YA books, “Look at me! This is the next HUNGER GAMES!” While Katniss and Suzanne Collins will always hold the number one spot in my heart, these future, twisted societies are all entirely different and equally fascinating to read…
ASHES by Ilsa Bick - This is a new world of terror when an electromagnetic pulse goes off. The world is suddenly and cataclysmically changed due to the electromagnetic pulse as most people over the age of 24 become savage, zombie-like monsters. Alex, who is living with a brain tumor plans to die in northern Wisconsin when the pulse changes everything. Full of unexpected twists and turns, Ilsa Bick’s book is one of a fight for survival as Alex discovers that she really does want to live.
WITHER and FEVER (Chemical Garden Trilogy) by Lauren DeStefano - With the advancement of medicine and science, the female lifespan has become 20 years and the male lifespan is 25. Society has begun to crumble, and polygamous marriages are now encouraged in an attempt to rebuild the population and find a cure. Rhine Ellery finds herself in a forced polygamous marriage and dealing with a creepy and villainous father-in-law. What makes this series work is the world and description Lauren DeStefano has created, aided by the wonderful fighting spirit of Rhine and her complex, layered characters.
ELEVENTH PLAGUE by Jeff Hirsch - A dystopian recommended personally by Suzanne Collins. I’m going to leave it at that- how can you possibly go wrong?
DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver - Amor deliria nervosa. This disease has determined to be the cause of everything gone wrong in America, and scientists have now perfected the cure. That disease is love. Lena Holloway is eagerly counting down the days until she is old enough to receive the cure when a boy walks into her life, and she begins to see the world in an entirely new light. Lauren Oliver’s writing is brilliant and poetic, as Lena realizes what the cure truly costs people. Fans of Gayle Forman will fall in love with this story. The second in the trilogy, PANDEMONIUM, was released February 28th.
DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth - Welcome to dystopian Chicago where society is divided into 5 factions that all 16-year-olds must choose to devote their life to after passing a rigorous initiation test: Amity, Abnegation, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. Tris is a compelling narrator like Katniss who is flawed and rough, but always honest with herself. It was great to see Tris learn about herself and develop as a character as her new world is presented to her. The second in the trilogy, Insurgent, is due out in May.
Other great dystopians that I don’t have more room to describe:
MATCHED and CROSSED by Ally Condie
THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy by James Dashner
CHAOS WALKING trilogy by Patrick Ness
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT series by Susan Beth Pfeffer
BLOOD RED ROAD by Moira Young
Classic Dystopian Literature:
BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley
THE GIVER by Lois Lowry
1984 by George Orwell
Have younger readers who want to read THE HUNGER GAMES, but aren’t quite there?
THE LINE and AWAY by Teri Hall
This series is great for those ages 10-14 about living on the protected side of THE LINE after war with the Others. Intensely curious about life on the other side, Rachel agrees to help a young boy from Away and compromises the safety of everyone else.
THE UNWANTEDS by Lisa McMann
Take the concept of THE HUNGER GAMES dystopian world where children are going to die and instead are transported to a Hogwarts-type home where they are taught magic by fantastical creatures. This is perfect for middle grade children who are not ready to delve into a world of death and brutality that THE HUNGER GAMES has.
As a 20something and librarian, I feel like the odds have truly been in my favor in terms of the availability of quality young adult dystopian literature. I hope you enjoy these selections, and choose to explore some new authors or series.
