Tag Archives: Dystopian

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A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge (review by Shivani A. ’17)

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A Face Like GlassA Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In Caverna, a land underground our own, live the most skilled artists. They create wines that reveal truth, cheeses that can tell the future, and many more delicacies. However the one downside to living in Caverna is the people there are incapable of forming facial expressions. Facesmiths teach the people how to display their different emotions, at an expensive cost. It is here that Neverfell appears, with no memory, and a face so unlike the others she is forced to wear a mask, and never leave the safety of her home. One day Neverfell, thirsty for a glimpse of the outside world, strays away from her safe haven and is sent on a wild journey. This book is a good read if you are looking for a novel with a bit of childish innocence, revolving around a darker force. This book will cause you to shake and snicker both as you travel with Neverfell on her journey. Neverfell is immature and gullible. At times I felt the storyline was forced. However towards the second half of the book, the plot picked up pace and I found it much more enjoyable. If you are looking for a book different from the popular dystopian society novels on the shelves right now, yet still want a good book for the weekend, I would recommend A Face Like Glass. – Shivani A. ‘17

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner (review by Shivani A. ’17)

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The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)The Maze Runner by James Dashner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Imagine one day waking up in an entirely new place, filled with frightening creatures, deadly curfews, and no personal memories. This is what Thomas experiences in The Maze Runner by James Dashner. Thomas first wakes up in a lift with his only memory is his name, and is soon deposited in a place called Glade. Much like the other Gladers, Thomas has no clue of his whereabouts. There is only one thing everyone there is sure of, every morning the giant stone doors that lead out to a deadly maze open, and every night they close. Not only that but every thirty days a new boy appears, never a girl. That all changes, however, when a girl holding a mysterious note appears in the lift. Soon Thomas is in a race against time, in an attempt to remember his memories before chaos is unleashed against Glade. This book is different and refreshing from the usual dystopian society novels, and will leave you wanting more. I found The Maze Runner more of a thriller, and it sparked my interest even though there was no love triangle, common in dystopian society novels, Instead this book thrives on thrill and sucks the reader in to the detailed plot revolving around Thomas. Though the book was entertaining I was unable to sympathize with Thomas. The Maze Runner lacks emotion, however the plot was so different I was still drawn to the book. Overall I would say this is a book that people of all ages will appreciate. – Shivani A. ‘17

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The Elite by Kiera Cass (review by Nitya M. ’15)

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The Elite (The Selection, #2)The Elite by Kiera Cass
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Only six of thirty-five girls remain in The Selection, the cutthroat competition to become the wife of Prince Maxon and princess of Illea. Yet America Singer holds the power in her hands to end the battle instantly by telling the prince that she can return the love he bestows upon her. Floundering in a sea of uncertainty, America is unable to decide between the dangerous romance and memories of Aspen, guard and longtime friend, and the breathtaking experiences that shape her relationship with Maxon. Each time she thinks she’s made up her mind, her world is brought crashing down. The Elite, the second book in Kiera Cass’s trilogy, continues the fast paced style of its prequel, but ultimately forsakes action for a love triangle that slows the story of The Selection to a crawl. While The Elite is still a page-turner, this second novel, like Suzanne Collins’ Catching Fire, loses its appeal to sappy romance. – Nitya M. ‘15

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Requiem by Lauren Oliver (review by Karen T. ’16)

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Requiem (Delirium, #3)Requiem by Lauren Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In a world where love is a disease that must be treated and eliminated, Lena Tiddle has joined the rebellion against the cure and its advocates. As regulators begin encroaching into the abandoned wasteland where the rebellion is sheltered, Lena and the other Invalids trek across the Wilds gathering supporters and converts alike in preparation for their retaliation. While the premise to Lauren Oliver’s Requiem is promising, the plot is slow to start and descends into the typical cliched love triangle that plagues many young adult novels. Additionally, the narration is split between two separate viewpoints that both break up the story line and confuse the reader. However, the buildup to the ultimate conflict and the dénouement are redeeming aspects of this novel. As the story line relies heavily on elements from the first books in the trilogy, only readers who have read Delirium and Pandemonium will fully enjoy Requiem. – Karen T. ‘16

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Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (review by Naomi M. ’16)

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Little Brother (Little Brother, #1)Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Terrorists have attacked San Francisco. The Department of Homeland Security takes a high school computer genius, Marcus, and his friends without any explanation to be brutally interrogated. Once released, Marcus finds that the government has turned his beloved city into a police state. Everyone is a potential threat. In order to bring down the paranoid authorities, he must figure out a way to bring the truth about the DHS to light. Armed with only his computer, Marcus sets a rebellion in motion larger than he could have dreamed possible. Reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984, Little Brother is a novel of the future – where fighting is done through technology and anyone can change the world. Lovers of dystopian fiction, this is the one for you. – Naomi M. ‘16

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Everlost by Neal Shusterman (review by Kai A. ’17)

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Everlost (Skinjacker, #1)Everlost by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Those who don’t reach the light at the end of the tunnel wind up in the world between the living and dead: Everlost. Though it is possible to join the light, Mary Hightower wants everybody, living or half-dead, to spend eternity in Everlost, forever repeating the same actions, and she will destroy all of the living to accomplish this. It is up to a group of friends to save both worlds. Their amazing talents display Shusterman’s ingenuity and creativity, but they also intrigue the reader, encouraging them to ponder what comes after life. Shusterman incorporates common superstition with the phenomena of his world to introduce interactions between the world of the living and dead, the concepts which make this first in a trilogy so interesting. Additionally, the characters have a deep, unique personalities that, combined, drive the plot to its satisfying conclusion. All readers, from the philosophical to the adventurous, will be drawn into this stunning tale of determination, sacrifice, wit, love, and deception. – Kai A. ‘17

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The Selection by Kiera Cass (review by Nitya M. ’15)

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The Selection (The Selection, #1)The Selection by Kiera Cass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Selection is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, giving a handful of lucky girls the chance to escape their caste to rise up and become a One, the wife of Prince Maxon. For budding musician America Singer, however, the Selection is nothing more than a burden, forcing her to leave behind her secret boyfriend, Aspen, and loving, if poor, family for luxury, cut-throat competition, and danger she neither wished for nor accepts. But at the castle, America meets her potential husband, a man less like a prince, someone who she could love, and she is torn between her love back home and the willing prince who would give her anything if she said yes. Fast-paced and riveting, The Selection provides a detailed portrayal of characters in this dystopian world and provides a fresh take on the love triangle cliché. Yet, the book offers only a hazy view of the world these characters inhabit, and we are left at the end of the novel, only knowing the caste system that shapes society. Readers of romantic novels, as well as dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games will enjoy this first of a trilogy. – Nitya M. ’15

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Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (review by Nikita R. ’16)

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Warm Bodies (Warm Bodies, #1)Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

R, a zombie living in apocalyptic world, finds himself unsure about the simplicity of his newly resurrected life. Unable to vocalize his doubts and beliefs, R continues to groan along with his fellow zombies for decades, until the day he preys upon a young teenage boy named Perry. Infused with Perry’s love for his girlfriend Julie, R rescues her. In an unlikely romance, R and Julie begin to teach each other the true meaning of living. Although a zombie book doesn’t seem sweet or profound, Marion manages to incorporate a touching romance inside of a book that questions every aspect of society. The illustrative language and complex characters will not disappoint readers. Warm Bodies will be appreciated by both teenagers and adults alike. – Nikita R. ‘16

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Gone by Michael Grant (review by Catherine H. ’17)

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Gone (Gone, #1)Gone by Michael Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When a dome-shaped force field surrounds Perdido Beach, California and every person over the age of fifteen disappears, the children begin to freak out. Sam Temple, the protagonist, is praised after pulling a young girl out of a flaming apartment. Strangely, the children begin discovering powers and mutations, thought to be the product of leftover radiation leak many years ago. Caine Soren from Coates Academy, a school for the delinquent children of wealthy families, uses his charisma to take charge. The two teenagers fight for power in what has been nicknamed the FAYZ, or Fallout Alley Youth Zone. In this thrilling book, a dystopian society emerges and the children must learn to survive until the age of fifteen when they vanish, poofing out of the FAYZ.. I found this book somewhat dark, yet very original and empowering. It is the first installment in the popular Gone series. – Catherine H. ‘17

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Divergent by Veronica Roth (review by Anushka D. ’15)

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Divergent (Divergent, #1)Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine a dystopia in which everyone at the age of 16 must choose one of five factions: Dauntless, Amity, Abnegation, Candor, or Erudite. Created at first to balance and seam together society, the system soon threatens to fall apart because of greed and corruption. Veronica Roth frames the story through the eyes of Beatrice Prior, a girl who must choose her faction and deal with the decaying structure of her world. Beatrice captures the hearts of readers easily; she is incredibly brave, selfless, and intelligent. While the book presents a wonderfully unique and fascinating society that is struggling to keep itself upright, it also ensnares readers through the battles Beatrice fights with herself, her family, her friends, and the boy she grows to love. Divergent is beautifully written and extremely hard to put down. I am definitely looking forward to its sequel: Insurgent. Recommended for fans of The Hunger Games. –Anushka D. ‘15

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