Hey everyone! Welcome to Owl Book World. YA dystopian novels are the type of book list that I’ve been wanting to do for a while because I don’t see many people reading dystopian novels anymore. Maybe I’m just not looking hard enough and looking, though. I love YA dystopian novels, and I do kind of read them often, or at least I used to. I haven’t been reading them as much lately because I have been reading a lot of YA thrillers and YA Horror.
On this list, I have a good mix of books that get a lot of attention and some that don’t get enough attention at all. I like having a good mix of both because there’s a good chance you may not have heard of them. Or this list would be your sign of getting that book!
YA dystopian meaning
In case you’ve never read a single dystopian book in your life, there is a reason it is called that. Dystopian fiction kind of blends in well with sci-fi and fantasy, but it is a genre of its own. Dystopian books are basically about an unpleasant society. The mass majority of people would not want to live in a society such as this one. A majority of these types of novels deal with a corrupt government that has much more control over everyone than our own. I know what you’re going to say…Our government already has a lot of control. That may be the case, but in these books, things are a lot worse. We have a lot more freedom than the characters in these novels.
So, why did I decide to make a book list full of YA dystopian novels? I know I usually stick to horror and thriller books, but I also really enjoy dystopian. This all started back in high school when The Hunger Games first came out. The Hunger Games was one of the first dystopian novels I read, and since then, I have wanted to explore more!
Dystopian book series
I know, I know, most of you probably don’t want a series. On the plus side, all of the series that I have on this list already have the entire series out. So, lucky for you, you won’t have to wait for the next book to come out! Most of these series are pretty popular YA dystopian novels, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Divergent
Divergent is the first in a YA trilogy where at a certain age, kids decide what group they want to be a part of. There are four different groups that all have different ways of living. They eat, talk, and do EVERYTHING differently. If you go with another one of these groups instead of the one you lived it on all your life, then you will be considered an outsider to that group. You more than likely will never hear from your family again. The only thing is that if you’re the type of person that can fit into all of the groups, you are considered a threat. A threat to those around you and a threat to your government.
So, I have a love-hate relationship with Divergent. The story is great, and I loved the book when it first came out. As with tons of other readers, I HATE with a passion how the book ended. I got so invested only for the ending to really piss me off. On top of that how the series ends was spoiled for me before I even got the chance to read it. If you haven’t read this yet, make sure you read it before you watch the movies. Why? Because 1) the book is always better, and 2) they didn’t even finish the series. They split the last book up into two parts but never came out with the second part.
Delirium
Delirium is another book I read back in high school. It was at least around the time that I was in high school. Delirium is about love being a disease. You’re not allowed to love who you want. You can get married and have kids, but typically, who you’re married to is picked for you.
Soon I’m going to try and reread this book because I remember loving it the first time I read it. I would hate the idea of having my spouse picked for me. In some aspects, it would be great for certain people, especially those who are constantly getting divorced. But for those who know who they love and who they want to be with, then I would end up hating the idea. This book is completely worth checking out, though. On top of that, this world is very strict. There are a lot of rules and regulations for the citizens. Let’s just say you’re not allowed to have any fun.
The Unadjusteds
The Unadjusteds is pretty much a futuristic dystopian book. The story follows Silver Melody, who lives in a world where most of the population has modified their DNA. Those who are modified are called the altereds while those who don’t are called the unadjusteds. Silver is one of the few who hasn’t been altered, and she’s pretty proud of it. What makes that even crazier is that her parents are the ones who created the nanite that changes your DNA. When the person in charge declares that everyone has to take the nanite, people start running and hiding. But will Silver be able to escape?
Honestly, I just loved the idea of The Unadjusteds. If something like this were created, I could see this as our world. I understand why people wouldn’t want to take it, but the idea is pretty cool.
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After the Green Withered
After the Green Withered is another futuristic dystopian novel that I enjoyed. This book follows a world that no longer has green grass or flowy rivers. Drought has swept across the globe. The book follows Enora Byrnes, who lives in the aftermath. Water is now considered a currency. When Enora is offered a pretty high-end job, she realizes that major secrets are being kept from the citizens.
The reason I say that this is a futuristic novel is that I can completely see something like this happening. It seems like a probable thing that can happen, and I hope it will never be in my lifetime. I still need to read the sequel to this one. Not really sure why I haven’t!
I know many of you will like this one if you just give it a chance!
Zeroes
I don’t know what took me so long to read Zeroes but I’m so glad that I did. This story follows multiple POVs of kids who have powers. No one knows about their powers. That is, except for each other. When one of them needs help, the group gets back together. But soon, they encounter criminals that drag them into dangerous territories.
I started this series last year, and it’s one that I need to finish. But book one really did grab my attention very quickly. A lot of the powers these kids have are really cool and they aren’t ones you typically read about very often. Scott Westerfeld is a pretty popular author, but I don’t see his books being hyped up at all. That’s part of the reason why I wanted to add it to the list.
Sunrise on the reaping
I’m pretty excited about Sunrise of the Reaping! More so than I was about The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes. However, I did try to read but I just didn’t care enough about that story to finish.
Here is what Sunrise on the Reaping is about.
It’s the fiftieth annual Hunger Games and there’s fear gripping the district. This is the year that twice as many tributes are going to be taken to the hunger games in honor of the Quarter Quell.
In District 12, Haymitch is trying to take his mind off of his chances of being in the games. The only thing he cares about right now is getting through the day and being with the girl he loves.
When his name is called and he’s able to feel all of his dreams break. He’s taken from his life with the other district 12 tributes. When the games start, Haymitch realizes that he’s been set up to fail. There’s something in him that wants to fight. And he wants that fight to go beyond the arena.
Standalone dystopian novels
It seems like so many YA dystopian novels are in a series. That’s okay but I also want to include standalone books in this booklist too. I honestly don’t find many, but I want that to change. Hopefully, over the next year or so I can find more standalone dystopian novels to add!
The Ruby Locket
The Ruby Locket is a book that has dual POVs. One is through Saxon, and the other is through Kerina. Saxon finds Kerina in the outskirts of town. He thought she was dead but quickly realized that she wasn’t. So, Saxon decides to take her back to his house and nurse her back to health. At first, Kerina doesn’t remember anything. As her memories slowly start to come back, she realizes how important she is and how she can potentially save a lot of people.
The Ruby Locket is a pretty fast-paced novel that needs all the hype. This was the first book I read by Melissa Wray, and I loved it. I can’t wait to read more of her books!
The Ruby Locket is considered one of the most underrated ya dystopian books in the last couple of years.
Rated
Rated is another futuristic dystopian novel and it is somewhat relatable. Just like some of the others, this story also has multiple POVS (points of view). This story follows high school students who already have to deal with the craziness of school. On top of that, they live in a society that relies completely on ratings. Practically everything you do in this world gets rated. Missed a school assignment? Then, a point is deducted. Did something help? Then, a point is added. The higher the points you have the better college you get into and also the better the job you get. Also, your points reflect on your family. If you’re one of the parents and your score is low, then that can be potentially harmful to your kid(s).
I read this book earlier this year and enjoyed it. There are a few things I wish were explained a little better in the storyline, but I still enjoyed it. It’s books like this that make me realize that crazy things like this can happen. It’s not out of the question.
The Grace Year
The Grace Year is a somewhat new YA dystopian book that follows a sixteen-year-old. These girls and women live in a world where everyone thinks they have powers. They get these powers at the age of sixteen and have to go off to a cabin in the woods for a whole year. During this year, they have to fend for themselves but this is their way to burn off their powers. In turn, they come back home to their future husbands as submissive wives. But what if things aren’t what they seem?
Out of this entire list, this is the one that reminds me the most of The Hunger Games. The difference is that I couldn’t stand the main character in The Grace Year, even though I loved the book. As of right now, I believe this is meant to be a standalone book, but I’m so hoping that it gets a sequel because with that ending, it deserves one!
The Host
I haven’t read The Host since it first came out, but I remember loving it! This story has a movie based off of it as well but I didn’t like that one as much as I did the story.
Maybe it’ll be worth it for you to watch it though!
Here is what The Host is about.
Melanie doesn’t want to fade away. Earth has been taken over by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while the bodies are still intact. Wanderer has been given Melanie’s body but didn’t expect to find the former tenant refusing to let her mind go.
Melanie fills Wanderer’s thoughts with pictures of Jared. He’s a human who is living in hiding and Wanderer starts to fall for a man that she has never met. Even though they are reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie take off to look for a man they both love.
Anomaly
I actually have never heard of Anomaly and now I want to get my hands on it. I just might have to check this one out through the library if they have it!
If you have read this one then what did you think?
Here is what Anomaly is about.
Thallis only has fifteen minutes to live. The gas that’s going to kill her is seeping through her bloodstream. She’s not scare though.
Thalli isn’t like the others that live in The State. She has feelings and she asks questions. In the State that isn’t allowed. The scientist that survived the nuclear war believe that emotions are the reason that things went wrong. From then on out they have genetically removed emotions from the citizens that they have created since. All of her life she has kept this a secret but when she gets an ancient piece of music that she has to record, she’s no longer able to keep her emotions a secret.
She is now a threat to the harmony of her Pod, she is taken to the scientist for immediate death. Before that can happen, her friend who use to live in the Pod but is now working to being a scientist, steps in and talks the scientists to keep her alive as a test subject.
The longer that she’s there it becomes clear that things aren’t as simple as she once believed. As she hears stories of a designer she is filled with more questions. Who is she able to trust? And what is the emotion called love?
If you enjoy YA dystopian novels, what are some of your favorite ones?