While the writing may not be Nobel Prize worthy, and some of the themes are less than mature, the stories really pull you in. And judging by the number of new dystopian YA books being written, I am not the only one being enticed. This genre is growing by leaps and bounds and I leapt on the bandwagon with vigour.
It all started with a series recommended by a colleague (a common theme in my blog - people know I read, they recommend their favourites with varying results) called the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.
These books were amazing. Set in a dystopian world somewhere in the distant future, children are forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of the rich and ruling class. Sounds gruesome (and it is, for sure), but the premise was so well thought-out, I loved the characters and I didn't have to worry about any racy scenes to be read awkwardly on the GO train (in constant fear that someone is reading over your shoulder wondering what kind of smut you are into). I read all three in a weekend and I cannot wait until the movie comes out...it's like Twilight all over again, but thankfully no Robert Pattinson in sight.Seriously, go get these books (unless you are vehemently opposed to science fiction ... which I thought I was until I read these ... so go get them anyways ... or borrow them as it seems everyone is reading this series).
After reading these books, I found myself in the book store with a friend who was searching for some books for her (12 year old) son. I suggested this series and when the clerk overheard, she recommended another book called The Maze Runner by James Dashner
.In the Maze Runner, the lead character wakes up in the middle of a maze, his memory wiped, surrounded by a crowd of teenage boys (no ladies in sight). These boys have built their own society (a la Lord of the Flies) and work each day to try to solve the maze in which they find themselves, undeterred by the horrors that lie beyond the walls of their compound. And the adventure ensues.
Just like the hunger games, I finished this book in one sitting and went out the next day to pick up the sequel The Scorch Trials (part two of the young man's journey)
These books were not quite as good as the Hunger Games trilogy, but they definitely held my attention, and I liked the fact that they were told from the young male perspective (as the Hunger Games are narrated by a young woman).
Unfortunately, Mr. Dashner's third book is not due out until October so when I found myself book-less with a beach trip on the horizon, I headed back to the bookstore (I know I ought to be using the library, but I will blog about those frustrations at a later date). I was waxing poetic about my new found love of these books to my girlfriend Tiffany, when a clerk overheard and suggested another novel, Divergent by Veronica Roth.
Now, I saved this bad boy (and tried to read some credible literature that my MA could be proud of) until last weekend at the cottage. And what do you know, I finished this one off in one day. This one was DEFINITELY as good as the Hunger Games trilogy. In this book we meet Beatrice Prior, who is born into a dystopian Chicago, in which all of humanity is broken up into five factions - Honesty, Knowledge, Selflessness, Kindness and Bravery. Each 16 year old chooses the faction to which he/she wishes to belong...and it is at this point in her life that we meet this young lady.I cannot WAIT for the second book of this series to come out...and I will say I love FOUR (how's that for a teaser).
Okay, so that brings us to Monday - I am still in need of a YA dystopian fix so I head to the internet. My search returns a list of the top 50 dystopian Young Adult novels (JACKPOT). I jotted down some of the titles and headed back to Chapters...more on those novels to come.
Up Next: Wither by Lauren DeStefano and Across the Universe by Beth Revis
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