If you find The Time Machine by H. G. Wells or The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood too big of a jump from Suzanne Collins’ hit trilogy, here are some of the best dystopian books to read after The Hunger Games instead.
Gone by Michael Grant
People older than 14 vanish all of a sudden. Internet, TV, and phones are gone as well. The kids are left alone in the world, which means the bullies quickly rise to power. Some pre-teens develop dangerous powers and the animals transform into monsters.
The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
A 16-year-old boy named Tiuri is tasked with delivering a scarlet letter to the King. The letter is so important, the future of the realms depends on it. The problem is that the King lives across the mountain. To deliver the letter, Tiuri has to make the most perilous journey of his life.
The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Selection is the golden ticket for 50 girls to win the opportunity to live a luxurious life in a palace with Prince Maxon. More than that, it is the only chance to escape their gloomy circumstances. America Singer is standing at a crossroad and has to make the decision of a lifetime: either win the contest and be with the prince, or nurture a secret love with Aspen.
Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin
Think of Coram Boy as an old-school version of The Hunger Games. Instead of a dystopian landscape, the premise is set in the long gone past. Desperate mothers turn to the Coram man to help them deliver their babies to the Foundling Hospital. Instead of keeping the promise, the man murders the babies.
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Following the end of the Second Civil War, the government allows parents to have their kids unwound, harvesting the children’s organs for donors. Neal Shusterman came up with the idea for Unwind after reading a news story about the possibility that all organs and parts of human body can be transplantable in the future.
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
Clarissa Fray discovers she is a descendant of an otherworldly parent. During her interaction with the Shadowhunters, protectors of the non-supernatural world from evil forces, Clarissa becomes aware that she received angel blood while still in her mother’s womb. The blood gives her angel-like powers.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
The city of Portland, Maine is encircled by an electric fence. No one is allowed to go in or out. The government has decided that love is a disease and there is a cure for it. When Lena falls in love with a man living outside the fenced city, the journey to discover her true family begins.
Partials by Dan Wells
Humans are at war with the “Partials.” When a lethal disease, apparently engineered by the Partials, infects humans and decimates the population, a doctor-in-training believes a cure lies in the connection between the warring parties themselves. On the brink of civil war, she has to stand at the forefront of the research.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
In the year 2070, an alien race superior to humans launches an invasion to Earth and threatens to annihilate the population. A six-year-old genius named Ender Wiggin is willing to put into pratice everything he has learned from a battle school to defeat the enemy and save the world.
The Last Survivors by Susan Beth Pfeffer
A meteor has knocked the moon closer to the Earth. The Last Survivor series is a story of Miranda and Alex as they navigate the new realities triggered by the change in the planetary system. They are in a constant struggle to keep their families safe amidst a sequence of catastrophic natural disasters.
The Dwellers by David Estes
A group of people now lives as a subterranean society in the aftermath of a global-scale destruction. A young girl named Adele is on her way to reconnect with her family after spending time in prison due to wrongful conviction. She soldiers on despite being hunted down by a deranged heartless murderer.
Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Lugh is abducted by some mysterious men on horseback, who also kill his father. Saba and Emmi are now alone but determined to find their missing brother. On the treacherous journey, they will come across some warlords, and Saba must fight like a gladiator to save Emmi’s life.
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
David Strorm has a telepathic ability. That said, he lives in a world where even the slightest sign of aberration is regarded as blasphemy punishable by death, exile, or sterilization. When he can no longer hide the talent, he must escape from town. An intensive manhunt ensues.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
People of red blood descendants are deemed commoners, whereas the silver blood ones take their place as society elites. Mare Barrow is a red girl hired to work as a servant at a Silver palace. Thanks to her electro-kinetic powers, she is adopted as a Silver blood. However, this is where all her real problems begin to take shape.
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
Triffids are giant predator plants that devour humans, who become easy prey because a green meteor shower has turned everyone blind. Josella and Bill Mason are among the few who still can see. They must navigate through the dangerous city of London, fighting against not only the plants but also the desperate blind people.
Flame in the Mist Series by Renée Ahdieh
The story revolves around Mariko, whose father is a well-respected samurai, in feudal Japan. While on the way to the city, the Black Chan gang intercepts the journey to kill her. The assassination attempt fails, prompting Mariko to infiltrate the group in the hope of discovering the mastermind of the attack.
Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza
Events in the novel and its sequel, Blood of a Thousand Stars, are set in an interplanetary stage. Rhee, the heir of a thriving dynasty, teams-up with a fugitive named Aly, to find a way through the galaxy which is on the brink of large-scale conflict. It is a story of family betrayal and political intrigue in space. If the storyline sounds familiar, it is only because Star Wars has a somewhat similar premise.
Rebel of the Sands Series by Alwyn Hamilton
In a world full of mythical beasts, Amani’s skillfulness at using guns counts to nothing. Her prospects are grim, especially without financial means and family to support her. Following an encounter with Jin, she finds a new purpose to liberate the entire nation from magical powers.
Blood Rose Rebellion Series by Rosalyn Eves
Anna is unlike everyone else in her family. Not only is she unable to perform magic, but also involuntarily disruptive to the power. It turns out the disruption is her true gift, for which she is exiled to Hungary. In the new place, she becomes the beacon of hope to break the spell of evil.
An Ember in the Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir
Elias is a prized soldier, whereas Laia is a slave; both are subjects of the Empire. They cross paths when Laia’s brother is arrested on the suspicion of being anti-Empire. After the meeting, they begin to realize that their fates are meant to intertwine.
Last Reality Series by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller
Otherworld is an addictive virtual reality game. Simon is one of the most ardent fans of it. Inside the game, he finds a peaceful beautiful place, a far better world than the real one. He will soon figure out that the company behind Otherworld has sinister plans for all of humanity.
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
New York City is in ruins. War and disease ransack through the city like a devastating flood. The life expectancy of the underground-dwelling survivors is only about 20 years. Two hunters, Deuce and Fade, discover that “Freaks” have just destroyed another colony.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa has a special talent for fighting and killing. Thanks to her extraordinary abilities, she is employed by the king as an executor. Her life-changing adventures begin after she meets Po, another gifted individual with mind-reading ability. The two discover that the king has a secret power to make everyone believe his lies.
Something about reading a dystopian book or series kind of makes you want to rebel against authority, doesn’t it? I mean, the injustice caused by the government, corporation or religious group can really make you angry, even if it is supposed to be science fiction. What are your thoughts on it? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you.
Other things you might want to know about.
1. What is a true dystopia?
The word dystopia comes from the Greek language and means simply “bad place.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopia)
2. What is a good example of dystopia?
One of the best examples in relatively recent history is Nazi Germany. (Dystopia Examples and Definition – Literary Devices)
3. How do you survive a dystopia?
According to https://younghollywood.com/scene/how-to-survive-a-dystopian-society-according-to-books-movies-like-the-5th-wave.html, the best way is to conform. But that makes for an unjust feeling in your gut and a boring story.
