Do you like books about the future, but not a very happy future? I'm thinking about books like
The Hunger Games,
Divergent, or
Delirium. This genre of books are called Dystopian Fiction. Dystopia was a word that was made up to be the opposite of utopia, which means a perfect society. In dystopian fiction the characters are often leading fearful lives because either social or technological trends have lead to a corrupt or degraded society. Things might also be bad from deprivation, (running out of water, oil, food, etc) oppression from the government, or terror.
These books are crazy popular right now, so I made a display of all the dystopian fiction we have here at DPL. The books are on the mobile shelf right next to the YA biographies. You can browse them there. I'm also going to post my annotated list of the titles here for your browsing pleasure! The list will also be on the website if you want to go find it there as well. Enjoy!
Novels
Bumped by Megan McCafferty
In 2036 New Jersey, teens are expected to become wives and mothers or high-priced Surrogettes for couples made infertile by a virus, 16 year old twins Melody and Harmony find in one another courage to believe they have choices.
The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
After his parents, two sisters, and he have spent 6 years in a vast underground compound built by his wealthy father to protect them from a nuclear holocaust, 15 year old Eli, whose twin brother and grandmother were left behind, discovers that his father has perpetrated a monstrous hoax on them all.
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Ann Aguirre In a post-apocalyptic future, 15 year old Deuce, a loyal Huntress, brings back meat while avoiding Freaks outside, but when she is partnered with outsider Fade, she beings to see the ways of the Elders may be wrong- and dangerous.
Fearless by Tim Lott
Tim Lott In the future, girls labeled 'juvies' or 'mindcrips' are taken from their families and sent to the prison-like City Community Faith School, but Little Fearless decides to break out, and try to free the girls from their miserable captivity.
Feed by M.T. Anderson
M.T. Anderson In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.
House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
In a future where clones are despised, Matt is the young clone of El Patron, a 142 year old drug lord living between Mexico and the United States.
Human.4 by Mike Lancaster
Twenty-first century 14 year old Kyle was hypnotized when humantiy was upgrades to 1.0 and he, imcompatible with the new technology, exposes its terrifying impact in a tape-recording found by the superhumans of the future.
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
After being interrogated for days by Homeland Security in teh aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Fransico, 17 year old Marcus, released inot what is now a police state, decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
In a futuristic world, teenaged Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl.
Test by William Sleator
In the security obsessed elitist UnitedStates of the near future, where a standardized test determines each person's entire life, a powerful man runs a corrupt empire until 17 year old Ann and other students take the lead by boycotting the test.
Those That Wake by Jesse Karp
When a consumer driven future society runs amok, unleashing near cosmic forces, Mal and Laura search for their families only to find that something or someone has erased them from the memories of everyone they have ever known.
Unidentified by Rae Mariz
In a futuristic alternative school set in a schopping mall where video game playing students are observed and used by corporate sponsors for market research, Katey "Kid" Dade struggles to figure out where she fits in and whether she even wants to.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
In a future world where those between the ages of 13 and 18 can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs-- and perhaps save their own lives.
Series
(Series name - Author - Titles)
Atherton - Patrick Carman - The House of Power, Rivers of Fire, & Dark Planet
Edgar secretly climbs the wall separating the three worlds of Atherton and discovers that they are beginning to collapse. Atherton is not what it seems, but something far more dangerous.
Birthmarked - Caragh O'Brien - Birthmarked & Prized (coming Nov. 2011)
In a future world baked dry and divided into those inside the wall and those outside it, 16 year old midwife Gaia Stone is forced into a difficult choice when her parents are arrested and taken into the city.
Carbon Diaries - Saci Lloyd - Carbon Diaries 2015 & Carbon Diaries 2017
In 2015, England becomes the first to introduce carbon dioxide rationing to combat climate change, 16 year old Laura documents the first year as her family struggles.
Chaos Walking - Patrick Ness - The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, & Monsters of Men
Pursued by power hungry Prentis and minister Aaron, Todd and Viola set out across New World searching for answers about his colony's past and seeking a way to warn the ship bringing hopeful settlers from Old World.
Chemical Garden - Lauren DeStefano - Wither & Fever (coming Feb. 2012)
After modern science turns every human into a genetic time bomb with men dying at 25 and women at 20, girls are kidnapped and married off in order to repopulate the world.
The Declaration - Gemma Malley - The Declaration, The Resistance, & Legacy
In 2140 England, drugs enable people to live forever and children are illegal, teenaged Anna, an obedient "Surplus" training to become a servant, discovers her parents are trying to find her.
Delirium - Lauren Oliver - Delirium & Pandemonium (coming Mar. 2012)
Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until 95 days before her treatment, she falls in love.
Divergent - Veronica Roth - Divergent & Insurgent (coming May 2012)
In a future Chicago, 16 year old Beatrice must choose among five factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she does not fit into any one group, and that her society is not perfect after all.
Dustlands - Moira Young - Blood Red Road
In a distant future, 18 year old Lugh is kidnapped, and while his twin sister Saba and 9 year old Emmi are trailing him they are captured too, and taken to brutal Hopetown, where Saba is forced to be a cage fighter.
Ember - Jeanne Duprau - The City of Ember, The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood, & The Diamond of Darkhold
In the year 241, 12 year old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.
Exodus - Julie Bertanga - Exodus & Zenith
In 2100, the island of Wing is about to become covered by water, 15 year old Mara discovers New World sky cities that are safe from the storms and rising waters, and convinces her people to travel there.
Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan - Forest of Hands and Teeth, The Dead Tossed Waves, & The Dark and Hollow Places
Orphaned Mary seeks life, love, and knowledge of what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.
The Giver Trilogy - Lois Lowry - The Giver, Gathering Blue, & The Messenger
At age 12 Jonas, a young boy from a seemingly utopian futuristic world, is singled out to receive special training from The Giver, who alone holds the memories of true joy and pain.
Gone - Michael Grant - Gone, Hunger, Lies, Plague, & Fear (coming Apr 2012)
In a small town on the coast of Cali, everyone over 14 suddenly disappears, setting up a battle between public and private school students, and those with and without "The Power."
Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, & Mockingjay
In a future North America, the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from the 12 districts against each other, 16 year old Katniss' skills are put to the test when she takes her sister's place.
Hungry City Chronicles - Philip Reeve - Mortal Engines, Predator's Gold, Infernal Devices, Darkling Plain, Fever Crumb, Web of Air, & Scrivener's Moon
In the distant future, cities move about and consume smaller towns. A 15 year old apprentice is pushed out of London by his mentor and must seek answers in the Out Country.
Incarceron - Catherine Fisher - Incarceron & Sapphique
To free herself from an upcoming arrange marriage, Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, a futuristic prison with a mind of its own, decides to help a young prisoner escape.
The Jenna Saga - Mary Pearson - The Adoration of Jenna Fox & The Fox Inheritance (coming Aug 2011)
In the not too distant future, biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, 17 year old Jenna is recovering from a serious accident when she learns a startling secret about her existance.
The Last Survivors - Susan Beth Pfeffer - Life as We Knew It, The Dead and the Gone, & This World We Live In
Through journal entries 16 year old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
Lorien Legacies - Pittacus Lore - I am Number Four & The Power of Six
In rural Ohio, friendships and a beautiful girl prove distracting to a 15 year old who has hidden on Earth for 10 years, waiting to develop the powers he will need to rejoin the other six surviving Garde members and fight the Mogadorians who destroyed their planet, Lorien
Matched - Ally Condie - Matched & Crossed (coming Nov. 2011)
Cassia has always followed the Society without question. So when Xander's face is displayed as her Match, she knows that they are perfect mates. However, Ky's face also flashed on the screen for a second. Now Cassia can't stop thinking about him, even if the Society says it was a glitch.
Maze Runner - James Dashner - Maze Runner, Scorch Trials, & The Death Cure (coming Oct. 2011)
16 year old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes that he must work with the community in which he finds himself to escape.
Skinned - Robin Wasserman - Skinned, Crashed, & Wired
Lia Kahn's wealthy family decide to save her from dying by transplanting her brain into a mechanical body.
Uglies - Scott Westerfeld - Uglies, Pretties, Specials, & Extras
Just before their 16th birthdays, when they will be transformed into beauties whose only job is to have a great time, Tally's best friend runs away and Tally must find her and turn her in, or never become pretty at all.
XVI - Julia Karr - XVI & Truth (coming Jan. 2012)
Nina lives in a totalitarian future society in which all girls are required to get "XVI" tattooed on their wrist on their 16th birthdays, announcing to the world that they are ready for sex. This is Nina's worst fear until right before her birthday her mother is brutally attacked and reveals a shocking truth to Nina.
