Dystopian books for 12 years old
Just a note. I meant to write this as one post for kids age 12 or so and up. But then it got long. Like 20 books long with great descriptions and things. It was over 3 pages single spaced in google docs. So I broke it into four, and will post them all separately. This is the fourth and last in that series of posts. The numbers in front of the books are from the original list, in case you care about how I put it together originally.
Though many of the previous books have dystopian elements, these are the ones that really bring that aspect to the forefront. I don’t love all of these books. Most of them are the beginning of trilogies and in general the first is considerably better than subsequent books. Also note, that most of these are slightly more mature in content than some from earlier posts, and may be better for a slightly older or mature reader though I stand by saying that a 12yo could read and love most of these.
16. Ready Player One* by Ernest Cline, where most people live more in the OASIS (virtual reality game world) instead of the real one. Treasure hunting to win control of the company that owns the game. Full of 80’s nostalgia that many kids don’t really appreciate like they should, but it’s just great for parents too. It’s full of in-game and real life action and peril. Does have a lot more language than anything else on the entire list, so if that’s an issue for you beware. Wade’s internal dialogue is clean enough, but when he talks to other characters he has a potty mouth.
17. Unwind by Neal Shusterman. All kids are people from conception until they’re 13. Then if you’re trouble your parents can “unwind” you, where all the body parts will be given to help other people who need new organs/body parts. Which is great if you have a good family and no problems. But if you’re a problem child…. watch out! Also, the families that have an extra kid to contribute as a “tithing”… wow that was kind of weird. But I can see that happening I guess. The whole series is kinda gruesome, but it makes for great conversation.
18. Matched by Allie Condie. Typical love triangle and government control, etc. I don’t actually remember all the details because I read it in one sitting in 3 hours for 366 pages. Oops? The second one is good too, but the third one I DNF.
19. The Maze Runner* by James Dashner. Waking up with no memory of your previous life? Yikes! In a maze out to kill you with no adults and no way out, even scarier. And the girl comes, even though everyone else who comes here are boys. How to figure out the mystery and survive the maze. And lots of running, obviously. This book is great, and the rest of the series is okay too.
20. Divergent* by Veronica Roth. The city is divided into 4 groups, and you choose which group to join as you become an adult. Tris makes an unexpected choice and sets off some interesting political changes. Also, love triangle (ish) and a brother that might (or maybe not?) be evil. Book one is fantastic. The second book is pretty good, but 3 goes pretty far off the rails and the ending is terrible for me.
21. The Unhappening of Genesis Lee by Shallee McArthur. This is the only one on this list that doesn’t have a sequel, and it stands beautifully on its own. Genesis (Gena) Lee lives in a group that has perfect memory. They can even store memories in things so they don’t forget them-usually bead necklaces. But somehow Gena is forgetting things, and only a regular boy, Kalan, can help her. But she keeps forgetting him too! She has to solve this mystery before she forgets everything-and everyone forgets her too. And it is just gorgeous. (And I’m lucky enough to have been friends with Shallee before she was cool-all the way back to HS. She’s awesome and so is her book.)
*notes books with films, so you can read and then watch.
