The term Dystopian comes from the French word Dystopia, which means "an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives." (from the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary) It is the opposite of Utopia, a word taken from the book Utopia written by Sir Thomas More in 1516. Utopia describes a place of ideal perfection.
A very popular Dystopian novel is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
If you liked The Hunger Games, try:
Divergent by Veronica Roth. The story takes place in a future Chicago where sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life. Her decision is made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomoly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.
Or Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi. It won the 2011 Printz Award. "In a futuristic world, teenaged Nailer scavenges copper wiring from grounded oil tankers for a living, but when he finds a beached clipper ship with a girl in the wreckage, he has to decide if he should strip the ship for its wealth or rescue the girl."
Another book that is quickly becoming popular is Matched by Ally Condie."All her life, Cassia has never had a choice. The Society dictates everything: when and how to play, where to work, where to live, what to eat and wear, when to die, and most importantly to Cassia as she turns 17, who to marry."
The sequel, Crossed, continues to story of Cassia as she sacrifices everything and heads to the Outer Provinces in search of Ky, where she is confronted with shocking revelations about Society and the promise of rebellion".
My personal, all-time favorite is The White Mountains by John Christopher. Written in 1967, this fast-paced, exciting story is the first in The Tripods trilogy. "Young Will Parker and his companions make a perilous journey toward an outpost of freedom where they hope to escape from the ruling Tripods, who capture mature human beings and make them docile, obedient servants."
Do you have a favorite Dystopian novel? Send me an email to kids@scarborough.lib.me.us
with your title(s).
