Dystopian novels like Orwell’s Animal Farm, Huxley’s Brave New World, Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, and Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale have fascinated readers and been taught in schools for decades. They’ve sparked movies and plays, and arguably most importantly, they’ve sparked important conversations about our world. 

The appeal of dystopian novels endures because we seem to love exploring themes that help us understand our humanity and give us hope–hope that if we don’t like how things are, we can change them for the better. As Book Riot blogger Chris M. Arnone puts it, “Even more than mirroring our own world, the biggest appeal of dystopian fiction is the fight against those dystopian systems.” 

So if you’re feeling a little rebellious, here are some great young adult dystopian reads. 

Scythe by Neal Schusterman–A Book Beloved by Many

In a world where humanity has conquered disease and death, a new problem has arisen. What do we do when overpopulation threatens limited resources? Develop a society tasked with culling the population, of course. The Scythes are tasked to “glean” a quota each year to maintain that balance. But with every secret society, we are bound to find corruption and greed. Neal Schusterman’s dystopian novel follows two teen initiates, Citra and Rowan, who compete to become a full-fledged Scythe. Through their training, both explore the nature of life, death, and utopian society. A thrilling trilogy opener that has gained a following for this author. 

 

Riot Act by Sarah Lariviere–The Slept-on Title

This dystopian novel is a really slept-on. It’s one I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since reading it last year. Described as “punk rock meets Orwell’s 1984,” Lariviere’s Riot Act explores themes like censorship and totalitarianism. The story is told from the perspective of Gigi’s best friend, Max, who just happens to be a ghost. After his death and the disappearance of their beloved theatre teacher, Gigi and the high school theatre group stage a protest performance against the thought-police-like state at a local restaurant where she works. With a unique perspective and cultural references from the 1980s & 1990s mixed with heart and great characters, this is a great dystopian read. 

 

Gone by Michael Grant–A Sci-fi Thriller

Part Lord of the Flies, part The Stand by Stephen King, this YA dystopian thriller appeals to all readers ready for great character development, sweeping story arc, and a little bit of sci-fi thrown in. When anyone 15 years old and older suddenly disappears one day, our main characters, Sam, Quinn, Astrid, and Edilio, find that an impenetrable bubble has surrounded their small (fictional) town. Worse? Some teens develop strange mutations, giving them powers. The worst part? There is a group of bullies from the nearby military school who take charge and have no consideration for anyone but themselves. When Stephen King himself calls it “great fiction,” we can assume that this series opener is a good read. 

 

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland–Alt-history Meets Horror

Do you like zombies and historical fiction? Then this read is for you. When the American Civil War is interrupted by a zombie outbreak, the war ends, and the nation pulls back together to fight the new horror of the walking dead. As our heroine Jane McKeene finishes up her forced combat school education, she stumbles upon a conspiracy she never wanted to be involved in. She soon realizes that the monsters are more than the dead. Part political intrigue, part horror, this book is as riveting as they come. 

 

The Selection by Kiera Cass–Romance Meets Revolution

When America Singer is chosen as one of the thirty-five lucky girls to compete for the hand of Prince Maxon, she is devastated. She had her simple life planned out with her secret love, knowing she would never move up in the caste system that entrenches her society. But once at the palace, America realizes there is more to the Prince than she thought, and more to life than she could have ever dreamed. This is a great read for those who like the romance and drama of The Bachelor but also love the plot of The Hunger Games. 

 

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi–Afro-futuristic Dystopian

This book, inspired by the Nigerian Civil War that took place from 1967-1970, is set in 2172 Nigeria in a perfect blend of historical and Afro-futuristic fiction. Onyii and Ify want nothing more than peace, but they discover that they have to fight a war to win it. This story is as heart-wrenching as it is powerful, dealing with social themes like colonization and sci-fi themes like climate and the balance of technology. To enjoy this story, you might want to be familiar with Nigerian history by conducting a quick internet search, but once you are, this story packs a punch!

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry–Classic Dystopian Novel

Most of us read this book in school, but that doesn’t make this story any less of a great read. Jonas, an 11-year-old boy, lives in what seems to be a Utopia, a community with no hunger, no pain, no anger or conflict. All families are the same, and everyone has a role. But when Jonas turns twelve, he is assigned the most unique role in his society–the Receiver–a role no one, aside from The Giver, knows anything about. Soon Jonas learns that his “perfect” society hid from him and everyone else what it truly means to be alive. This is a great nostalgic read for a good reminder that being human means that along with the good, must come the difficult. 

 

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins–Blockbuster Hits

If you haven’t read the books or seen the movies for the blockbuster hit series The Hunger Games, here’s the breakdown. The dictatorial country of Panem establishes the state-sponsored Hunger Games, where child “tributes” from each of the twelve districts are thrown into an area to fight to the death. Collin’s first installment (The Hunger Games) follows a few of the children and a large group of rebels, including our heroine Katniss Everdeen from District 12, and their plot to overthrow the regime. Sunrise on the Reaping takes place 24 years before Katnis “volunteers as tribute.” As District 12 prepares for the Quarter Quell, a “special 25th anniversary celebration” in the games where double the number of tributes are chosen, we are given Katniss’ mentor, Haymitch Abernathy’s story. Full disclosure, I have not yet read the latest installment in this wildly popular series, but I am so excited to read Haymitch’s story. 

 

Maze Runner by James Dashner–Award-Winning Dystopian Thriller

If you seek an award-winner, then the 2011 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults winner, The Maze Runner by James Dashner, is the pick for you. Set in the near future, the story unfolds of how the organization WICKED preys on the young as test subjects in their plot to cure a pandemic known as the Flare. The story is told from 16-year-old Thomas’s perspective, who wakes up in a man-made maze with amnesia and works with others in the maze to find an escape. As with most YS Dystopian picks, the novel explores how the powerful manipulate the masses and what it means for individual identity. 

 

A Wizard of Earthsea: a graphic novel by Ursula K. Le Guin; adapted and illustrated by Fred Fordham–Fantasy Graphic Novel Adaptation

Ursula K Le Guin’s classic fantasy novel explores the balance between unchecked power and ambition as we follow a young mage named Ged and his struggle to find his identity. A story that has been praised and celebrated by readers and critics alike, A Wizard of Earthsea has now been adapted into a graphic novel. Fordham’s illustrations have brought the story to life with faithful portrayals of the plot and characters and visually stunning depictions of the setting and action. This is another one that’s on my to-be-read list that I can’t wait to get my hands on.