If you were an avid teenage reader during the 2000s and 2010s, you know there was an explosion of young adult dystopian novels. Every teenager ate up, including me. I’ve read some of the most popular ones and have several still on my to-read list all these years later.
There’s a reason these books exploded in popularity. They all had something to say, making us ask difficult questions and grow as people.
From The Giver to The Hunger Games to everything in between, here are some of the best young adult dystopian novels I’ve read:
1. The Giver by Lois Lowry
In “The Giver, Jonas lives in a seemingly utopian world, where the government has eradicated emotion to create “Sameness.” Several things, such as colors – and even emotions – don’t exist, all in an attempt to create a conflict-free society.
When the society selects 12-year-old Jonas to take the position of the Receiver of Memory, a person who holds the memories of the world before, he finds himself conflicted as he experiences the color and emotions of the old world for the first time.
This book is often considered a classic for a reason: it paints a future that feels probable and makes us question what it means to be human. Lowry creates an intricate world with so many questions, namely, if making everything the same is better to avoid conflict, or if it’s stifling. The other three books in the series serve as companion novels set in the same world and bring the same thought-provoking questions to the table.
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In The Hunger Games, the brutal Capitol runs Panem, a nation in dystopian North America. To punish the citizens of the 12 Districts who rebelled years ago, the Capitol runs The Hunger Games every year. They force 24 teenagers—12 boys and 12 girls—to fight to the death in an artificial arena that doubles as entertainment for the rich Capitol citizens.
When Katniss’ sister, Prim, is chosen for the District 12 games, Katniss volunteers to take her place and must survive the brutal games.
This book is often listed as one of the best dystopian novels and series, and it truly lives up to that. I’ve grown to appreciate it more as I’ve gotten older, just how intricate and thoughtful the world-building is. Collins forces us to ask hard, thought-provoking questions, ranging from classism to entertainment to the ethics of warfare.
3. Divergent by Veronica Roth
In Divergent, Beatrice Prior is a teenager living in the futuristic Chicago that divides people into five factions based on their personality – Abnegation (selflessness), Erudite (intelligence), Candor (honesty), Dauntless (bravery), and Amity (peacefulness).
When Beatrice goes through her simulation, which decides which faction she’ll end up in based on her actions, she gets inconclusive results – revealed as Divergent. As Divergents are considered dangerous, she’s urged to hide this and must decide where she belongs in society.
I loved Divergent as a teenager, despite the disappointing last book. Like many young adults, I struggled with my identity and feeling like I had to fit in somewhere, but ultimately couldn’t force myself into a box. Even now, we want to categorize people in boxes, and the idea of separating people to seemingly avoid conflict, but also avoid diversity, makes for an interesting, compelling story.
4. Legend by Marie Lu
Set in futuristic Los Angeles (now known as the Republic), Legend follows June, a child prodigy groomed for the Republic’s military who lives on the richer side of life, and Day, a poor teenager and wanted criminal.
When June’s brother, Metias, is murdered, everyone suspects Day is the culprit. However, as June hunts down the alleged killer, she and Day both uncover dark secrets about their world that change their lives.
The Legend book does a great job at exploring classism, particularly the indifference the Republic has to poor people like Day. And the alternating points of view between June and Day make this topic even more striking, deepening the characters and the story itself. This series is very character-based, and it tells both June and Day’s stories extremely well.
5. Matched by Ally Condie
In Matched, Cassia grows up in a seemingly utopian society that citizens trust to make almost every decision for them—when people die, what job they’ll work, and who their life partner will be. When the Society matches Cassia, she expects to get matched with her best friend Xander, but she’s instead matched with the mysterious Ky.
The Society assures her that a technical error occurred, but that doesn’t stop Cassia from getting to know Ky better—and discovering that the Society isn’t as perfect as it seems.
Many people compare this book and trilogy to The Giver, which is a massive compliment that it lives up to. Connie has a lot to say about a controlling government that seemingly has its citizens’ best interests at heart, while also taking away their autonomy. The themes still stick with me even to this day.
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Which young adult dystopian novel or series is your favorite? Are there any others you recommend? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Fairley Lloyd
Fairley Lloyd is a content editor, freelance writer, and all-around words lover. She graduated from UNC Wilmington with a BFA in creative writing and publishing certificate. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, crafting, and listening to 2000s emo music.