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Book List: 6 Great YA Dystopian Novels

Even though the media-generated excitement over teen dystopias like the ones in The Hunger Games and (to a lesser degree) Divergent, has died down a bit, anyone living through the past year can see that dystopian fiction is still terrifyingly relevant. Some days it really doesn’t feel like we’re all that far from living through The Handmaid’s Tale, and George R.R. Martin’s early story “And Death His Legacy” is so prescient that it made me shiver.

A lot of dystopian novels have a depressing world view: the main character’s attempt to change things is thwarted, and, even if that character survives intact, the world they live in doesn’t really alter (Winston, in 1984, is one of the most broken characters ever).

What is different about most YA dystopias is that there’s an individual there who starts to question the status quo, and acts to change it– not without some horrifying struggles, but usually, they’re successful at either overturning the system or escaping to establish one they hope will be better. In the recently released book on children’s and YA horror, Reading in the Dark, there is an essay suggesting that YA dystopian novels aren’t necessarily about individual self-discovery: they are more about teens figuring out their responsibilities to society. I think it’s both. Seeing that there is a possibility to change things, and that it could be one person, a teen not all that different from them, who instigates that change, makes YA dystopian fiction a literature of hope. It makes me optimistic for the future.

That being said, here are some excellent YA dystopias that start with a (usually) pretty ordinary kid chosen to perpetuate the system, who ends up creating a better world.

 

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

You can’t go wrong with this Newbery Award winner that tells the story of Jonas, living in a future utopian society, who is chosen, in a ceremony with his peers where they are all assigned jobs for their adult lives, to be the Receiver of Memories, the one person allowed to know the memories of the past in human history. It’s not as action-oriented as Divergent, but packs a much more powerful and memorable emotional punch. The Giver is part of a four-book series, but the first is the best and definitely stands alone. There is a movie based on the book that was released a few years ago. Be aware that euthanasia and eugenics are important to the plot, and part of why the book is so heartbreaking.

 

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

This is the first book in the Razorland trilogy (which now also includes two novellas), and it’s quite a bit more graphic than the first two books, probably on par with Divergent. In yet another post-apocalyptic underground world (one decidedly more primitive than Ember) Deuce goes through her naming ceremony and becomes a Hunter in her enclave, a sort of tribal society. As a Hunter, Deuce is supposed to find and catch food and rid the tunnels around her enclave of Freaks, ravening, cannibalistic creatures. Although she’s a believer in the way things work in her enclave, her exposure to a wider world and a partner who’s not so convinced lead her to question the actions of her leaders.

 

 

 

 The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The city of Ember is an underground city built as a last refuge in a world about to be annihilated by nuclear weapons. Two hundred years later, everything, from food to electricity, is running out. After the ceremony where Lina and Doon, along with their peers, are assigned their future careers, the two of them trade places, and discover a puzzling mystery they must solve to save the residents of Ember from darkness. This has more action than The Giver, and more of a mystery at its center, and is a compelling read even for those of us well over the target age range. The City of Ember is also part of a series, and all of them are great reads. It has been made into a movie already, with Bill Murray as the corrupt mayor. and I really enjoyed it.

 

 

 

  Across The Universe by Beth Revis

The first book in a trilogy, this science fiction thriller is told from the point of view of  two teenagers– Amy, the only person not specifically chosen for a role in settlement of a new planet, and Elder, whose future leadership of the spaceship Godspeed was chosen early in his life. There’s mystery, cloning, genetic and hormonal manipulation, general lying and betrayal, and a surprising amount of action given that this all takes place in a closed environment. In some ways, it reminded me very much of The Giver. There’s suicide, near-rape, and euthanasia in this book, among other things, although I think Revis handles it all pretty well. The target audience for Divergent should enjoy this.

 

 

 

Legend by Marie Lu

June is the elite of the elite, being groomed for a position high up in the military in a dystopian society that’s more or less under military rule. Day is a rebel trying to undermine it.  What could possibly go wrong when their lives intersect?
 

 

 

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Here’s one that’s interesting because almost everyone is chosen, eventually. It’s not wanting to be chosen that makes Tally stick out. Or, to make it more complicated, it’s wanting to be chosen but having to pretend she doesn’t want to be chosen and standing out as special when she wants to blend in. And then changing her mind. And changing it again. While it could stand alone, I think, it’s a good thing it’s part of a series because I have no clue where it’s going to end up. Westerfeld pretty much turns the tropes on their heads.

 

 

 

Editor’s note: This post originally appeared with a different introduction at Musings of the Monster Librarian on March 3, 2015.

Women in Horror Month: An Invitation to Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”

On the heels of Tor.com’s blog post stating that the horror genre doesn’t claim Toni Morrison’s novel, Beloved, I feel like it’s necessary to set the record straight. As much as I would personally like to claim it for the horror genre, some people might consider that appropriation, given its topic and the context in which it was written– and certainly, horror isn’t the only genre represented(it has also been described as magic realist, historical fiction, and African-American fiction, and Morrison has said she prefers to be identified as simply an American writer). But as a widely read person and a reviewer of horror fiction, I personally, and as a representative of Monster Librarian, will argue that it most certainly should be included (I have always considered it to be part of the genre) as it spotlights one of the most innovative and powerful depictions of horror and the Gothic by women, in recent literature.

In the way that it taps into the feelings we attach to American history, Beloved is a unique book that I am not sure any other can quite measure up to.  I won’t argue that it doesn’t also have a relationship to other literary genres and styles. But there is room in the horror genre for things we haven’t yet even imagined, and there is certainly an honored place for Beloved. 

 

 

Writers’ Workshop with Brian Evenson

This is kind of nifty, especially coming on the heels of my finding and posting several articles and reviews of Brian Evenson on our Facebook page. Apparently this summer he will be leading a horror writing workshop… in Transylvania. A perfect location, right?

Here are some links regarding Evenson, his writing, and his newest work, in case you haven’t dropped by our Facebook page recently.

The Dark Fiction of an Ex-Mormon Writer from The New Yorker

Brian Evenson’s Writing Is As Beautiful As It Is Brutal  from VICE

How Do You Live In A World That Is Not The World You Thought It Was? An Interview With Brian Evenson from Tinhouse.com

A Master At Work: A Collapse of Horses by Brian Evenson (review) from Electric Literature

 

I’m not endorsing anything, and I haven’t read his work, but he sounds like a fascinating guy, with writing worth checking out, even if you don’t have the money or desire to spend a week hanging out with him in Dracula country.

 

Anyway, the press release is below.
Transylvania workshop lets writers explore the ‘Mecca of Horror’

Transylvania has been synonymous with horror since Bram Stoker penned his opus
back in 1897.

Writers & Publishers International <http://www.writersandpublishers.org/about/>
(WPI) offers writers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on a novel or
short story in Transylvania, the birthplace of the infamous Vlad the Impaler.

Running from August 7th to 14th, the Horror Writer’s Workshop is the ultimate
summer vacation for any writer of dark fiction, from extreme horror to
paranormal romance and everything in between. Attendees will dramatically
improve their writing skills while exploring the darkness lurking behind the
beautiful castles and fairytale villages of Romania.

Between visits to some of the region’s most notorious sites, including the
reputedly haunted Bran Castle—one of the inspirations for Stoker’s Dracula,
writers will benefit from the experience and knowledge of instructor Brian
Evenson. Evenson, a multi award-winning horror writer and professor, has
published over a dozen novels and translated many others.

The professor of literary arts at Brown for over a decade, he is now inspiring
students at the California Institute of the Arts.

“Brian has a way of making all the things that stifle writing disappear,
including fear and self-doubt, leaving only stories to be written,” says K.
Scott Forman, a former student of Evenson’s. “His teaching style is conducive to
creativity, to experimentation, and most importantly, is focused on the
individual writer finding his or her own voice.”

The weeklong retreat takes place at Mama Cozonacilor, a charming family-owned
inn located in the stunning mountainous region of Bran, Transylvania. It’s
impossible to remain uninspired while walking the cobblestone streets of
Sighişoara, where Vlad the Impaler was born, or while exploring the eerie Râșnov
Fortress, where two Turkish well diggers met their doom.

“The biggest misconception people have about horror is that it’s gratuitous.
They hear horror and think SAW—the most visceral movie they’ve ever heard of,”
says Evenson. “Most great horror is a serious investigation about the
strangeness of the world. There’s a lot of really interesting, sophisticated
writing going on in the world of horror right now.”

Those interested are encouraged to reserve their spot with a deposit, as there
is limited space available and the workshop will sell out quickly. During the
month of February, WPI is offering a special two-for-one discount—those who book
with a spouse, friend, or family member will get 50 percent off their
registration fees. This deal ends on February 29th.

For more information, please contact:

Tausha Johnson, Program Director

info@workshopwriters.com <mailto:info@workshopwriters.com>

+34 682798328