- Legend (by Marie Lu)
A legendary (and indelible) read! “Legend” features two main characters both fifteen years old, June (female protagonist) and Day (male protagonist). They lead polar opposite lives in their dystopian world—one is the totalitarian country’s prodigious, prestigious darling and the other is in poverty, constantly battling to keep his family alive. Throughout the book, trust is broken, and secrets are uncovered. The two protagonists struggle to understand their past and what it means for their future. A unique aspect of “Legend” is that the narrator alternates between June and Day for every chapter, giving readers comprehensive perspectives into the plot. Character development was also outstanding in “Legend”. More information about the book can be found on this link. This book is part of a trilogy.
- Delirium (by Lauren Oliver)
This book truly is an emotional rollercoaster! Set in a dystopic future, love is proclaimed a dangerous disease and it is mandatory to undergo treatment to “cure” it when they turn eighteen. The “Wilds” are the wilderness outside the borders of the tyrannical government’s control, and the “Invalids” are the supposed people living there. Discussing, thinking about, or being associated with the Invalids is considered taboo. The yearnings of a teenage girl, Lena, contradict what she has known to be correct all her life when she meets a mysterious boy named Alex. The characters in “Delirium” are well-rounded, and the plot was exhilarating as well as moving. More information about the book can be found on this link. This book is part of a trilogy.
- Divergent (by Veronica Roth)
“Divergent” meets all the requirements for a fast-paced, thrilling YA dystopian trilogy. Sixteen-year-old Beatrice lives in a society split into five factions. Each faction focuses on a specific virtue: Candor for honesty, Abnegation for selflessness, Dauntless for bravery, Amity for peacefulness, and Erudite for intelligence. Beatrice makes an astonishing decision on the day that she chooses which faction she will belong in for the rest of her life. As a result, she fights hard to land a spot in her faction. Throughout the book, Beatrice (renamed “Tris”) struggles to find who she is, while complicated relationships emerge in her personal life and all around her. Tris’ society, as well as her own identity, starts to diverge as she uncovers more and more. More information about the book can be found on this link.
- The Giver (by Lois Lowry)
If you’re new to the world of dystopian books, know that The Giver Quartet is one of the most distinguished, evocative, and popular series—and for good reason. At age twelve, each member of the society receives their life “assignment”—the job/role that they will dedicate their entire life to. Assignments range from Birthmothers (responsible for giving birth to children that are not theirs to keep, then doing labour work when they are finished), to Nurturers (childcare), to Engineers. However, twelve-year-old Jonas receives a peculiar assignment, one that only a single person in the entire community holds: the Reciever of Memory. As Jonas delves deeper into the past, he begins to see his seemingly perfect world through darker lenses. One of the reasons I enjoyed this series so much is because each of the four books has a different main character, and as you progress through the books, all the characters, plots, and details start to come together. It’s like a game of connect-the-dots—everything is linked in some way or another to form a picture on its own. More information about the book can be found on this link.
- Partials (by Dan Wells)
Action-packed, thought-provoking, and finished with underlying moral, social, and political philosophies, “Partials” will captivate you right from the start. After a catastrophic war with the superintelligent AI human beings known as the Partials (“partially” human, “partially” robot), the human survivors gathered together on one side of the United States, while the Partials created a society on the other. Immunity to a genetically-engineered virus, which kills newborns within the first few days of life, wavers in the human population, but the Partials face problems of their own. Living in Long Island with the vast majority of humanity eradicated, sixteen-year-old Kira, along with the tens of thousands of humans remaining, desperately cling to life while trying to find solutions to the deadly virus. As Kira journeys through her country’s past and present, she finds convoluted relationships, twisted moral values, and information that builds into a prospective future. At the same time, she navigates through her personal life, with an arising conflict of interest and multiple emotions clashing. More information about the book can be found on this link. This book is part of a trilogy.
- Contagion (by Erin Bowman)
Don’t turn your lights off while reading this book! A gripping mixture of sci-fi, horror, and mystery, “Contagion” is definitely unforgettable. Right off the bat on page one, a chilling prologue hooks you in for a fast-moving and wild ride. After receiving a critical message from a base, a crew must perform an investigation mission on the questionable and ominous planet. When they arrive, the crew finds a deserted ship scattered with dead bodies, leading to a growing sense of fear, apprehension, and curiosity. As the book speeds on, you will be met with a mysterious boy and a terrifying, infectious threat, while the crew descends into chaos. “Contagion” reminds us of the perils of space exploration, while also teaching us the extent of greed, government corruption, and the true nature of humans. More information about the book can be found on this link. This book is part of a series of two books.
BONUS – HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
- Gone (by Michael Grant)
Pretty much a modern version of William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”. “Gone” has a well-developed plotline and interesting characters with distinctive personalities. “Gone” is part of a series of nine books. More information about the book can be found here.
- Unwind (by Neal Shusterman)
“Unwind” has appearances of gore and somewhat disturbing characters and actions. The overall plot was quite intense and intriguing, but the topics mentioned in these books may be sensitive or upsetting to some readers. “Unwind” is part of a quartet. More information about the book can be found here.
- Scythe (by Neal Shusterman)
The plot of “Scythe” is focused around scythes (the “bringers of death”) so there is a ton of violence involved. Many moral and ethical dilemmas are posed, making “Scythe” a fascinating and stimulating read. More information about the book can be found here.
I really hope you try at least one of these books and love them as much as I do! Enjoy!!