Best Young Adult Dystopian Novels

In a country perpetually at war, two teenagers from vastly different worlds are thrown together when one becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the other's brother. June is being groomed for military success while Day is a wanted criminal from the slums. As they race to protect their families and uncover the truth, they discover the sinister secrets their country will go to great lengths to keep hidden.

A dystopian tale set in Chicago, where society is divided into five factions, each representing a particular virtue. Sixteen-year-olds must choose their faction, deciding their future. Beatrice surprises everyone by choosing to leave her family and find her true self. She's initiated into an extreme physical and psychological testing regime, during which she must make friends and navigate a complicated romance. But Beatrice keeps a dangerous secret that could mean her death or the salvation of those she loves as she uncovers growing unrest and conflict in her seemingly perfect society.

Experience a thrilling adventure in a world where everyone undergoes a mandatory operation to become a "pretty", but not everyone wants to conform. When Tally's friend rebels against the system, she is faced with a tough decision that will alter her life forever. Explore the dark side of a seemingly perfect society in this dystopian novel.

This thrilling novel follows Thomas as he wakes up with no memories surrounded by strangers in a place called the Glade. The only way out is through an ever-changing and deadly maze. Then, the first girl arrives and delivers a terrifying message. Will they remember, survive, and run? Get ready for an intense ride filled with twists and turns.

In a dystopian future, the nation of Panem forces each district to send a boy and girl to fight to the death in the annual Hunger Games. When 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen takes her sister's place, she must fight to survive while navigating complex choices of survival, humanity, and love.

Exploring a seemingly perfect society, this novel follows twelve-year-old Jonas as he uncovers the disturbing truths that lie beneath the surface. Only with his new position as the Receiver is he able to grasp the complex and dark realities of his utopian world.

This gripping novel follows a group of girls who are banished from their community for their sixteenth year, in order to release their supposed magical powers into the wild. But not all of them will make it back alive. As 16-year-old Tierney James embarks on her own grace year, she soon realizes the real threat isn't the elements or poachers, but her fellow girls. With sharp prose and raw honesty, The Grace Year explores the challenges and complexities of relationships between women as they navigate the difficult decisions between girlhood and womanhood.

In a society where every aspect of your life is decided by officials, Cassia is content with following their choices. That is until her best friend appears on the Matching screen and she sees a forbidden face. Now faced with choices between perfection and passion, Cassia must decide between the life she's known and a path no one else has dared to take. Matched is a modern tale told with the timeless resonance of a classic.

Enter a world where opportunity and privilege collide, where 35 girls have a chance at a life of glamour, wealth, and royalty in the Selection. But for America Singer, being chosen to compete for Prince Maxon's heart means sacrificing her love with a lower caste. In this dystopian society, rebellion lurks outside the palace walls, threatening their very existence. Will America choose love or follow her dreams, in a story that will challenge everything she knows?

In a world divided by blood - red or silver - the common Reds are ruled by a Silver elite with god-like superpowers. 17-year-old Mare Barrow, a Red girl from the impoverished Stilts, finds herself working in the Silver Palace, where she uncovers her own deadly power. The Silvers, fearful of Mare's potential, declare her a long-lost princess engaged to a Silver prince, while Mare secretly works to help the Red Guard overthrow the Silver regime. But in a world of betrayal and lies, Mare must navigate dangerous alliances before she destroys not only the balance of power, but also her own heart.