The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games Readalikes

Survival...or not. That's what these thrilling titles, many set in dystopic societies, have in common; they explore survival in future worlds, past ones revisioned, prison-like settings, the wilderness, diabolical mazes, and cities submerged under water due to global warming. Escape, swim, or run for your life, make a stop at the Loft, and grab one of these books as if your life depended on it!

Adlington, L. J.. The Diary Of Pelly D. 2005. (YA Science Fiction Adlin.L)

Toni V, a construction worker on a futuristic colony, unearths a diary of a teenage girl and keeps it a secret (he is supposed to turn everything he finds over to authorities). As he reads the diary of Pelly D., he discovers that her once privileged life has been turned upside-down by holocaust-like events. Tony begins to question his own beliefs in this provocative novel that raises questions about ethics, personal freedom, the role of government, genetic engineering, bigotry, and race.

 

Bachorz, Pam. Candor. 2009. (YA Fiction Bacho.P)

Oscar Banks -- top student, class president -- has been secretly, and selectively, sabotaging the subliminal messages that program the behavior of the residents of Candor, Florida, where everything is supposedly perfect. In walks Nia, a rebellious new girl who threatens to expose his subterfuge. But he is attracted to her...

 

 

Bacigalupi, Paolo. Ship Breaker. 2010. (YA Science Fiction Bacig.P)

In a futuristic world, teen 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.

 

 

Bertagna, Julie. Exodus. 2008. (YA Science Fiction Berta.J)

In the year 2100, as the island of Wing is about to be covered by water after a century of global warming, fifteen-year-old Mara discovers the existence of New World sky cities that are safe from the storms and rising waters. She guides her community to one of these cities across the ocean, only to discover upon arriving that they are barred from the heavily walled civilization. Mara needs to find a way to get inside the walled off cities in order to save herself and the others.

 

Burgess, Melvin. Bloodsong. 2007. (YA Science Fiction Burge.J)

This stand-alone YA sequel to the adult book Bloodtide (2001) melds violent Viking mythology with a futuristic, war-torn England populated by human-animal hybrids and organic machines. Fifteen-year-old Sigurd embarks on a quest to reclaim his royal lineage and to unite and bring peace to his country.

 

Cashore, Kristin. Graceling. 2008. (YA Science Fiction Casho.K & YA Playaway Sci Fi Casho.K & YA CD Science Fiction Casho.K & eAudiobook)

In a world where people are sometimes honored and frequently feared for their graces, a special talent marked by two different eye colors, Katsa is feared for her killing grace. She breaks away from her uncle, King Randa, who is using her grace for his own benefits. She goes on a journey with Po who also has a mysterious grace, and together they come to terms with the intricacies of their graces and their relationship to each other.

 

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. 2008. (YA Science Fiction Colli.S & YA CD Science Fiction Colli.S & eAudiobook)

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, 16-year-old Katniss's survival skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

 

 

Dashner, James. The Maze Runner. 2009. (YA Science Fiction Dashn.J & YA CD Science Fiction Dashn.J)

Teenage boys are deposited from a freight elevator into the middle of an enormous maze with no memory of their prior life or how they got there. One of the boys, 16-year-old Thomas, comes to a frightening understanding that he and the other boys must lock themselves in at night just to remain alive, and fight for their survival and a way to escape by day.

 

DeVita, James. The Silenced. 2007. (YA Fiction Devit.J)

Consigned to a prison-like Youth Training Facility because of her parents' political activities, Marena organizes a resistance movement to combat the restrictive policies of the ruling Zero Tolerance party.

 

 

Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. 2008. (YA Fiction Docto.C & YA CD Fiction Docto.C & eAudiobook)

Set in the near future, this anti-establishment thriller follows 17-year-old Marcus who is being interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California. He is released into what is now a police state, and decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.

 

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