The Twilight Saga and Other Top Reads in Dystopian Category For Teens
Young adults are among the most eager readers of dystopian-themed books. That’s why there have been loads of novels with sorts of end-of-the-world and post-apocalyptic plot written by famous authors that are worth reading.
Favourite dystopian books of teen readers, which include “Hunger Games,” “The Lord of the Rings,” “Divergent,” “The Maze Runner,” “The Selection,” “Delirium,” “Unwind,” “Uglies,” “The Givers,” and “Harry Potter,” are also some of the few of the frontrunners in the Young Adult (YA) dystopian fiction literature.
With that said, here’s a “listopia” of some of these wonderfully crafted storylines coming from the brilliant minds of authors who are masters in a dystopia-based narrative. These are the novels that caught my attention due to its riveting or spellbinding stories, which are appropriate for young adults.
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1. The Twilight Saga
Here’s to a not-so-old young adult (YA) vampire-romance dystopian fiction novel, “The Twilight Saga” by Stephenie Meyer. The love for this four-book series is way beyond anyone can imagine because it became a global sensation, not only in the world of publishing and printing but as well as on the big screen.
Aside from the awards and honours received by the novel, its five-film adaptations also earned more than three billion dollars on the box-office. Due to its popularity, the book series ended with at least thirty-eight language translations throughout the world.
Well, who could blame the readers? When Meyer’s brilliantly plotted a thrilling and intriguing storyline, especially when she masterly linked two different people from opposite worlds with a spice love triangle, sparkling higher interests from the young adult readers.
The series includes “Twilight,” “The New Moon,” “Eclipse,” and the “Breaking Dawn.”
Synopsis:
Chiefly, the book follows the life of the seventeen-year-old young lady named Isabella “Bella” Swan, who fell in love with one-hundred-and-four-year-old vampire Edward Cullen. The story became more exciting and intense with the presence of Bella’s werewolf best friend Jacob Black, who is in love with her.
As she continues to get entangled with Edward, her life became endangered with threats of other vicious vampires. Readers get head over heels with how Edward and Jacob protected Bella from the enemies.
It’s about sacrificing even your life for the one you love, and that’s where the young adults truly fell into, apart from the edge-of-the-seat suspense fight and chase.
Twilight
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 501
Goodreads rating – 3.59/5
My rating – 9.95/10
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The New Moon
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 563
Goodreads rating – 3.53/5
My rating – 9.93/10
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Eclipse
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 629
Goodreads rating – 3.69/5
My rating – 9.98/10
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Breaking Dawn
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 756
Goodreads rating – 3.69/5
My rating – 9.98/10
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Up until today, everyone is still hoping for a new book in the series, including me!
Also See: 5 Outstanding Dystopian Books For Science-Fiction Lovers
2. Cinder
Another Meyer is making a buzz with her first novel, a YA dystopian science fiction, entitled “Cinder.” Marissa Meyer’s debut book is a crowd favourite with more than six hundred thousand ratings on “Goodreads,” bringing it to the list of top dystopian books for young adults.
It’s the first novel released under her “The Lunar Chronicles” book series, which includes “Scarlet,” “Cress,” “Winter,” and “Fairest.”
“Cinder” is a combination of romance and science fiction in a dystopian setting. Loosely inspired by the famous Disney Princess, the story gives you a new twist of a modern Cinderella. Hence, stirring fans’ imaginations, and thus, gaining more popularity.
Synopsis:
It chronicles sixteen-year-old cyborg mechanic Linh Cinder, who society considered as a technological error. Her stepmom also treats her as a burden. However, as a half-human and half-robot, Linh has the remarkable ability to fix things, and that what makes her New Beijing’s best mechanic.
The story becomes more interesting, because just like “Cinderella,” Linh Cinder has her prince charming. Prince Kai, the “Crown Prince of Eastern Commonwealth,” initially asked Linh to fix the broken android before the commencement of the annual ball.
Cinder
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 390
Goodreads rating – 4.15/5
My rating – 9.85/10
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Scarlet
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 454
Goodreads rating – 4.28/5
My rating – 9.88/10
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Cress
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 552
Goodreads rating – 4.44/5
My rating – 9.92/10
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Winter
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 827
Goodreads rating – 4.46/5
My rating – 9.95/10
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Fairest
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 827
Goodreads rating – 4.00/5
My rating – 9.90/10
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3. Red Queen Series
The recipient of the “2015 Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction,” the “Red Queen” is Victoria Aveyard’s first masterpiece, both as a debut novel and first book of her series.
Due to its impressive and extensive coverage between betrayal, intrigue, and power, it has received a tremendous reception from various online book reviews, making it a number one “New York Best-Selling Series.”
The other three books in the series are “Glass Sword,” “King’s Cage,” and “War Storm.”
Synopsis:
This YA dystopian fantasy fiction literature tells about a world that distinguishes its people, according to two designated societies, the red and silver.
The “Red” is a society of commoners, those ordinary people who don’t have ranks or power. They are under the control of the elite class, known as the “Silver,” who possessed superpowers. Within this tyrannical government, comes the story of seventeen-year-old Mare Barrow.
Mare is from the “Red” society”, and when she finds herself serving the “Silver Palace,” she learned about her deadly power that could end the balance power of their despotic council.
Red Queen
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 383
Goodreads rating – 4.06/5
My rating – 9.86/10
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Glass Sword
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 444
Goodreads rating – 3.90/5
My rating – 8.90/10
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King’s Cage
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 528
Goodreads rating – 4.00/5
My rating – 9.00/10
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War Storm
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 662
Goodreads rating – 3.88/5
My rating – 8.88/10
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Also See: Must-Read Novels Based on Feminism in Dystopian Genre
4. Throne of Glass Series
Author Sarah J. Maas is another winning writer when it comes to young adult dystopian fiction literature. Her “Throne of Glass” book series is always part of the best-selling books by “New York Times,” catching more readers’ attention. The off the chain plot showcasing the impressive impact of women empowerment in culture is arguably one of the reasons why it became a crowd favourite.
“Throne of Glass” is the first novel released with Maas’s series. The plot is a thrilling adventure of a woman assassin that caught the attention of the readers and television producers. Thus, it landed a TV adaptation.
It includes “Crown of Midnight,” “Heir of Fire,” “Queen of Shadows,” “Empire of Storms,” “Tower of Dawn,” and the “Kingdom of Ash.” The latter is the recipient of the “2018 Goodreads Choice Award Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction.”
Synopsis:
The story narrates the journey of eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien in the kingdom of corrupt dictatorship. Trained since she was a child, she fought against all the odds after getting imprisoned in Endovier’s salt mines for one year after getting betrayed by her master.
As the story continues, she creates a surprising bond, and eventually, discovers a conspiracy in the middle of her thrilling adventures.
Throne of Glass
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 406
Goodreads rating – 4.21/5
My rating – 9.75/10
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Crown of Midnight
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 420
Goodreads rating – 4.44/5
My rating – 9.85/10
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Heir of Fire
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 565
Goodreads rating – 4.49/5
My rating – 9.89/10
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Queen of Shadows
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 648
Goodreads rating – 4.57/5
My rating – 9.9210
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Empire of Storms
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 689
Goodreads rating – 4.56/5
My rating – 9.9010
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Tower of Dawn
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 680
Goodreads rating – 4.39/5
My rating – 9.75/10
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Kingdom of Ash
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 984
Goodreads rating – 4.60/5
My rating – 9.98/10
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5. The Host Series
From the creator of “The Twilight Saga,” Stephen Meyer comes another masterpiece, “The Host.” This YA dystopian novel series is another high-rating book. Like her immensely successful “Twilight,” the series circles around a gripping storyline with a romantic spice. However, it focuses on the anti-utopian science fiction.
The series is a trilogy that includes “The Seeker” and “The Soul.” However, there are no updates about the two as of yet. Due to the remarkable reputation of Meyer’s works, “The Host” has also received an enormous success from being a consistent best-selling book from various media companies and platforms.
Synopsis:
“The Host” focuses on the parasitic alien race that invaded the world in the post-apocalyptic Earth. They called themselves “Souls,” and one of them is Wanderer or Wanda, who is inside Melanie Stryder’s body.
Melanie’s soul survived, and thus, she resists Wanda’s existence through resisting control over her body. However, their conflict sits down as they both shared love for Melanie’s brother Jamie and her lover Jared.
The Host
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 619
Goodreads rating – 3.84/5
My rating – 8.85/10
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Meyer hasn’t released or revealed the second and third book of “The Host” series yet. However, people are talking about them already. In fact, both of the novels are on the top list of young adult dystopian books of “Goodreads” due to the tremendous response and anticipation from the readers.
Well, I couldn’t wait too!
6. Matched Trilogy
Ally Condie’s first book released under her trilogy is also one of the readers’ favourite novels. With more than six-hundred ratings, “Matched” is highly read by many young adults, who love dystopian fiction literature. The second book, “Crossed,” has also received a good reception, as well as the third book, “Reached.”
Synopsis:
This trilogy follows a plot that takes place in a tight and highly controlled community where young people at the age of seventeen years old get “matched” with their life partners, including the main character Cassia Reyes.
During the process, Cassia gets matched with her Xander Carrow, her best friend. However, while viewing the details for her Match, school outcast Ky Markham picture flashes on the screen.
Due to the mishap, Cassia tries to understand the truth behind it. While trying to figure things out, Cassia gets conflicting thoughts on whether her “Match” is truly the one for her. Eventually, clouding her mind with the idea of whether their Society is everything as it seems.
Matched
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 369
Goodreads rating – 3.66/5
My rating – 8.75/10
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Crossed
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 367
Goodreads rating – 3.52/5
My rating – 8.65/10
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Reached
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 512
Goodreads rating – 3.56/5
My rating – 8.68/10
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Also See: Top-Ranked Zombie Books in Dystopian Genre
7. Ender’s Game Series
Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game” is among the trending novels of young adult literature wave that’s exploring the world of dystopia. This award-winning classic has been continuously gaining attention from the readers due to its gripping plot.
It started as a novelette, and later on, got expanded into a novel in 1985 under the same title. The series includes the “Speaker for the Dead,” “Xenocide,” and “Children of the Mind,” with each receiving a great reception from the readers.
Well, there’s something about alien invasions, and fighting against them gets us engaged with the entire story.
Synopsis:
In a post-apocalyptic world under siege by aliens, young boys, including Andrew “Ender” Wiggin goes to training that involves increasingly hard games to prepare for the incoming third invasion.
Ender’s Game
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 324
Goodreads rating – 4.30/5
My rating – 9.85/10
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Speaker of the Dead (Original Title Speaker for the Dead)
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 382
Goodreads rating – 4.07 /5
My rating – 9.07/10
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Xenocide
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 592
Goodreads rating – 3.80 /5
My rating – 8.85/10
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Children of the Mind
Genre – Young Adult (YA) Dystopian Fiction Literature
Pages – 370
Goodreads rating – 3.76 /5
My rating – 8.76/10
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Final Say
Other dystopian books for young adults that I can suggest are “Legend, The Series by Marie Lu” and “Penryn & End of Days Series by Susan Ee,” among many others.
Main Image Source : Pixabay
