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The best YA dystopian novels
The subgenre that taps into our darkest fears and spins them into great fiction.
Published on June 16, 2023
The Hunger Games
Suzanne CollinsIt’s hard to capture the deep, lasting impact Katniss Everdeen left on me, our society as a whole, and the young adult genre generally. The “Hunger Games” series is highly political, yet bridges our real-world political divides with grace. Well worth multiple re-readings.
The Ones We're Meant to Find
Joan He“The Ones We’re Meant to Find” shook me to my core, easily one of the strangest and most breathtaking books I’ve ever read. The world has been devastated by climate change, leading to the rise of highly inequitable eco-cities; there, two sisters with opposite temperaments try to find their place, and eventually make their way back to each other. It’s hard to describe this book without spoiling it, and the twists are well worth the torturous suspense.
Partials
Dan WellsWhat sets Wells’ series apart is his focus on world-building, particularly the witty dialogue between his diverse cast of characters and the lengthier passages about little details. This series is the least well-known dystopian world on the list. We should correct that.
The Giver Movie Tie-in Edition: A Newbery Award Winner
Lois LowryLois Lowry’s instant classic was my first foray into dystopian novels and it ignited my love for the subgenre. The slow unraveling of the story’s glossy utopian guise is masterfully done.
Uglies
Scott WesterfeldA scathing, nuanced takedown of the price we pay for our unrealistic beauty standards. Becoming a Pretty comes at a high cost, and the young protagonists of Westerfeld’s novel find the price far too high. The twists and turns are shocking and, at times, troubling.
Red Queen
Victoria AveyardMare Barrow has red blood but Silver powers, a fact that threatens to destroy the basis of an unjust social caste system. With the king determined to keep her powers a secret, Mare must rely on her unwavering strength and wit if she is to survive. The “Red Queen” series is a perpetual chart-topper and one of the greats from the YA dystopian heyday.
Children of Eden: A Novel
Joey GraceffaRowan, the main character of Joey Graceffa’s debut novel, is doubly trapped: She was born within Eden, a highly controlled society, designed to be an enclave for humanity since most of Earth is no longer safe; what’s worse, she’s a second child, which isn’t allowed under Eden’s population controls. So Rowan spends most of her time hiding, until she becomes a rebel fighting The Man and the center of a cute and progressive love triangle.
Shatter Me
Tahereh MafiWith seven action-packed, bestselling books in the “Shatter Me” series, it’s a mainstay of the dystopian YA genre. Juliette can kill with a simple touch of her hand, which makes her an ideal weapon — even if she’d rather kiss than kill people. Mafi’s debut is an ambitious page-turner.
Mortal Engines: Mortal Engines, Book 1
Philip ReeveDystopia meets steampunk in this wildly imaginative series where cities move on tracks and prey upon smaller, weaker cities for sustenance. London, the main predator city of “Mortal Engines,” has a new, terrifying weapon that could wreak even more devastation on the world. Decades after its initial release, “Mortal Engines” feels like an increasingly relevant commentary on late capitalism and climate change.
The Darkest Minds
Alexandra BrackenThough the series originally came out in 2012, “The Darkest Minds” has only become more relevant with time. In it, teenagers that develop superpowers are rounded up and forced into internment camps under an unjust regime. The movie adaptation stars darlings Amandla Stenberg and Mandy Moore.
The Red Labyrinth
Meredith TateZadie Kalvers lives in Trinnea, a city surrounded by a labyrinth meant to protect its residents from the horrors of an outside world devastated by climate change. Most residents of Trinnea have special powers, but Zadie notably doesn’t; still, she’s willing to brave the horrors of the labyrinth to save Landon Everhart. This is a dystopian adventure for fans of “The Maze Runner.”