Thanks to movies like “The Hunger Games” and the “Divergent” film series, dystopian YA novels have become a staple in young adult libraries. Books like these touch on a variety of topics, such as societal decay, war, plagues, alien invasions, and political and governmental corruption – all while addressing the coming-of-age. While the genre isn’t new, it’s certainly had a resurgence of late, thanks to Covid-19 and the country’s economic uncertainty.
5 Essential Dystopian YA Novels
Here we chose five (yes, only five) stories that are intriguing and quite memorable. These books examine a variety of issues and are creatively written. We based our choices on the protagonist’s relatability, the originality of the plot, and the takeaways—or lessons—of each novel.
“Scythe” by Neal Shusterman
Shusterman is a true master of his craft. He has written some of the best dystopian YA novels, but “Scythe” takes an innovative approach. Disease and death have been conquered in this world, but resources are dwindling. How to keep the population growth in check?
The story follows Citra and Rowan, both of whom are apprentices under Scythe Faraday. Scythes have the ability to choose who lives—and who dies. When they first encounter the Scythes in Scythedom, it seems like it’s dreadfully straightforward, but things aren’t always as they seem. Layered with questions about mortality and trust, this is a true page turner that grapples with life’s most inevitable consequences.
“As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow” by Zoulfa Katouh
One of the more thoughtfully written books, this moving story follows a Syrian teenager who is a pharmaceutical student. Salama was living a normal life – working at the pharmacy, attending school, living with her parents and her brother – then the Revolution happens and she is pulled in a very different direction.
Salama now spends her time (essentially as a doctor) at a hospital where the wounded are coming in by the dozens. Her PTSD has manifested itself in the form of “Khawf,” an embodiment of her deepest fears and her greatest challenges. Throughout it all, she fights for her and her family’s survival. She soon meets a young man, Kenan, and finds they have more in common than she could’ve ever imagined.
“The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline
Canadian First Nations author, Cherie Dimaline, did not disappoint with this intriguing story. Not only is North America ravaged by an environmental crisis, but its citizens have lost their ability to dream. Yet the Native people can still dream— and it’s stored in their bone marrow.
“The Marrow Thieves” follows protagonist Frenchie and his brother as they desperately try to escape the “Recruiters,” who will place them in “schools” to harvest their bone marrow. When his brother is captured, Frenchie must navigate through the woods by himself. He eventually comes upon an indigenous group of people who help him see what’s really going on. Dystopian YA novels like these touch upon multiple issues that parallel the plight of Native people in both the United States and Canada.
“Iron Widow” by Xiran Jay Zhao
Xiran Jay Zhao wrote a stunning novel, which hits on several key points of a dystopian world. As China fights off an alien invasion, young men are tasked with piloting Chrysalises, gigantic fighting robots. However, the robots are actually powered by sacrificing young women. This dystopian YA novel absolutely reads like a sci-fi tale.
Teenage Zetian loses her sister in such a sacrifice, and now Zetian is determined to find – and assassinate – the pilot who killed her. She proves herself to be a formidable force and can power up the Chrysalises on her own. This leads to her being paired up with one of the most controversial fighter pilots, Li Shimin. Themes of trust and misogyny are explored in this dystopian YA novel.
“The Dividing Sky” by Jill Tew
Here’s a dystopian YA novel that has it all: mystery elements, corruption, debates about criminality, and love. In reading this, one would find it hard to believe this is Jill Tew’s first novel. The story follows Liv, a memory merchant in the Metro.
Liv, who lives in the “poor” part of Metro, has a neurochip and uses this to illegally sell memories to wealthy clients living in “The Towers.” Adrian, an enforcement officer, vows to track down the threat and finds Liv, whose memories are now wiped. Exploring real connections over fake hustles and collaboration over conflict, “The Dividing Sky” perfectly balances this while highlighting the budding relationship between Liv and Adrian.
A Few Final Words…
The world now has many uncertainties. Astute authors have plenty to tap into to craft a compelling story. However, to weave a plausible tale, it takes adeptness and creativity. The books listed here all deal with both the transgressions and heroism of youth. They additionally have themes of love, loyalty, and even some humor. If you need an adventurous diversion or are simply trying to escape your reality, any of these dystopian YA novels makes for a truly transformative read.
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