October 24, 2010

Dystopia: Yesterday + Tomorrow

Have I made clear enough my love for YA dystopian lit? I've just been wondering that lately. So I've gathered a list of good YA dystopian YA of the past, and upcoming dystopian novels for which I cannot wait! You can also see my Goodreads 'dystopian' shelf here to add the books to your lists. I'll obviously skip The Hunger Games because I figure most of you have read that, or at least you should have a friend harassing you to read it.


The Declaration
-The Declaration by Gemma Malley: This one changed my mind completely about immortality. They've found a cure for death, problem is that now there's no space for people being born so it's forbidden. The premise is wonderful, one of those books that will leave you pondering concepts. MG.

-City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau: This is also MG but definitely worth it. It's about a city built underground in an attempt to survive the warfare chaos that was going on in the world. I loved this one but please don't watch the movie because for some reason the writers decided to ruin the story by adding creepy paranormal monsters that make no sense in the story whatsoever.

Uglies (Uglies Trilogy, Book 1)-Uglies by Scott Westerfeld: I'm kind of biased about this book because it was probably my first dystopian read and made me fall in love with the genre (yes, before Hunger Games) but it's a book every dystopia lover should start with. It's about a society that has made us all "pretty".


-Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer: this one is one of the classics. It's a story told in diary entrances when an unexpected moon shift turns the world upside down. I enjoyed this even though diary entrances is not really my thing...

How I Live Now-How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff: Set in England, differs from all the rest because it's actually about a future World War and it's devastating consequences and how situations out of our hands can overpower us and hurt people we love.

-The Maze Runner by James Dashner: Non-stop unputdownable action, sci-fi at its best AND a chaotic dystopian world all mashed into one terrific YA novel. As a bonus we get to explore boys' interpersonal relationships, communication and fight for leadership while they deal with fear. This is one of the best dystopian books out there!

UPCOMING:

Matched-Matched by Ally Condie: I already read and enjoyed this one a lot. Every aspect of a good dystopian novel is present, and God! THAT COVER! This is one of those books I HAVE to own just because it has the most awesome cover of almost any dystopian book. November 30, 2010.

-Delirium by Lauren Oliver: Romeo and Juliet in a creepy anti-love future, where love has finally been diagnosed as THE worst disease that ever existed. The background and world of this one blew me away, even though it was a little slow pace for my dystopian taste, the romance effectively melted me in the end and I ended up loving this one! February 1, 2011.

Wither (The Chemical Garden Trilogy)-Wither by Lauren DeStefano: I just read this and I think that unlike all others it focuses a little more in the emotional part of the situation than in the chaotic world in which it's set. It's not as action packed as I'd like but the romance was fantastically unusual. Rhine's unwanted feelings fascinated me. I cant wait for the next one! March 22, 2011.


The Water Wars-The Water Wars by Cameron Stratcher: "Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky" January 1, 2011.


-Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick: "In the novel, an electromagnetic pulse kills the majority of people on earth and fries electronic devices. Survivors are also changed, acquiring supernatural abilities—or a taste for human flesh" 2011.

-The Unwanted by Lisa McMann: "A dystopian middle-grade fantasy novel about kids who are exiled from their homeland when they display signs of creativity to a hidden world where they are trained to use their abilities and hone their magical skills" 2011.

Awaken-Awaken by Katie Kacvinski: "In the year 2060, everything is done digitally. Kids no longer go to schools. They stay home and take classes online. Adults work from home, too. Even dating is no longer done in person." May 23, 2011.

-All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin: "Set in a dystopian future where chocolate and caffeine are contraband, teenage cellphone use is illegal, and water and paper are carefully rationed" --What more do we need to know? Gabrielle is also the author of Elsewhere a book I really enjoyed. She has quite an imagination, so I cant wait! This is the one I'm most excited about! 2011.


-Leyend by Marie Lu: "takes place in 2130, in Los Angeles, Republic of America, which is at war against the other, flooded half of the continent, the so-called Colonies. It tells the story of Day, a famous 15-year old boy criminal struggling to survive undetected in what remains of the United States, and June, the 15-year old girl prodigy hired to hunt him down. When their paths cross, the truth they uncover together will become legend" December, 2011.

-For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund: "A post-apocalyptic retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion" 2011.

-The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe: "In which a 16-year-old challenges her fears, finds a second chance at love, and fights to keep her family and friends safe as a deadly new virus devastates her island community" 2012.


8 comments:

  1. Thanks for this list! Can't wait to read some of these!

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  2. Thank you for this list! I added a bunch of the books to my wish list :)

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  3. Great list! Dystopian novels are my favorite!

    Jen @ I Read Banned Books.

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  4. This is my favorite genre of YA by far. I've read most of the first part (just not City of Ember), but am seriously looking forward to a whole stack of new reads! Thanks.

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  5. Yep, lots of upcoming dystopian books that I'm excited for.

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  6. Dystopian is my favorite genre so I LOVE this post!! I've had How I Live Now on my TBR forever, I really need to read it! I am the biggest Delirium fan ever.... ;) And I loved Matched too. I can't wait to read Wither!! Now I need to go add some of these to my wish list :)

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  7. Thanks for a great list! I am patiently waiting for many of these too! I loved the "Uglies" series as well! "City of Ember" is a great spotlight too especially for those younger teens.

    Courtney

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