Favourite dystopian books

Discover an array of dystopian worlds in our recommended booklist.

Exodus

by Julie Bertagna

Young Picador

Exodus is a disturbing and relevant epic that explores many contemporary themes.

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Noughts and Crosses

by Malorie Blackman

Doubleday Children's Books

As well as being a compelling tale of love and friendship, this is an outstanding and thought-provoking exploration of the futility of prejudice.

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Gamerunner

by B R Collins

Bloomsbury Children's Books

Collins’ fourth teen novel is dark, intense and disturbingly prophetic

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The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

Scholastic

Welcome to Panem: its Capitol repressively rules twelve satellite Districts, enslaving the populations as workers and controlling them through hunger.

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Matched

by Ally Condie

Puffin

Welcome to a Society that utterly controls its citizens; what they eat, what they do, who they marry - even when they die.

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Incarceron

by Catherine Fisher

Hodder Children's Books

A rich complex fantasy about two very different worlds

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Dark Parties

by Sara Grant

Indigo

This contemporary dystopian novel is realistically portrayed and a multi-dimensional plot reveals layer upon layer of intrigue, deception and horror

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The Pain Merchants

by Janice Hardy

HarperCollins Children's Books

The first in an epic dystopian fantasy adventure trilogy is an engaging story about family and friendship

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The Enemy

by Charlie Higson

Puffin

When the sickness came, the adults became ill. The lucky ones died but many mutated into brainless, deformed monsters with a seemingly insatiable appetite - for children.

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Momentum

by Saci Lloyd

Hodder Children's Books

A tantalisingly believable dystopian thriller, the plot switching between narrative viewpoints with breath-taking momentum

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The Declaration

by Gemma Malley

Bloomsbury Childrens Books

A chilling story of a future where Longevity drugs have made sections of the population almost immortal

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The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness

Walker Books

The first in a series, this enthralling sci-fi/fantasy novel grips readers throughout, presenting them with tough questions about identity, ethics and the nature of truth.

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Across the Universe

by Beth Revis

Puffin

Amy and her family are cryogenically frozen and stored aboard the Godspeed to travel to a new planet - but Amy is wrongly unfrozen 50 years early, forcing her to experience life aboard the ship.

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Six Days

by Philip Webb

Chicken House

In grim, post-apocalyptic London, the search is on for the ‘artefact’, an undefined and mysterious relic from the distant past which holds the key to the future of the earth and mankind. Cass and Wilbur work as ‘scavs’ for the...

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The Other Life

by Susanne Winnacker

Usborne

A fantastic, gripping read for all those who love living on the edge!

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Barrington Stoke

by Chris Wooding

Barrington Stoke

In an eerie futuristic world, society has figured out a way to bring people back from the dead...

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Blood Red Road

by Moira Young

Marion Lloyd Books

A violent, desperate and compelling story about family, love and determination, which enthrals through its bold, powerful language

Read about 'Blood Red Road'