After The Hunger Games

I just love a good dystopian nightmare.  I’m not sure what this says about me, but some of my favorite books take place in future worlds shattered by environmental apocalypse or ruled by terrifying and mysterious dictators. 

What is it about these books that’s so appealing?  I think it might be the fun of seeing bits of our own present in an imagined future, or watching characters struggle in extreme circumstances.  Not to mention the fact that our own reality, with all of its problems, looks pretty cozy after you’ve spent a few hours in a science fiction wasteland.

Whatever the reason, I was a big fan of Suzanne Collins’ recently concluded Hunger Games trilogy, in which teenagers must fight to the death on live television to appease a corrupt future government.  If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and are looking for more great post-apocalpytic teen fiction, here are some books to get you started.  What others would you add?

Categories:
Tags: , , , , , , ,

9 responses to “After The Hunger Games”

  1. J.T. Oldfield

    I recently tore through the trilogy.

    Here’s my review of the first one, and a list of book recommendations.

    http://bibliofreakblog.com/fiction/hunger-games-iby-suzanne-collinsi/

    Reply
  2. XISIX

    Hunger Games trilogy sounds similar to Battle Royale by Takami Kōshun ; translated from the Japanese by Yuji Oniki.

    Reply
  3. Paige

    Thanks for the great suggestions – very useful! And I think you’ve nailed on the head some of the reasons for this genre’s appeal (some of the same reasons that I find mysteries appealing).

    Reply
  4. Cecily

    It isn’t a Young Adult title, but Nnedi Okafor’s “Who Fears Death” is an excellent read.

    Reply
  5. MJ

    Great list! I’d add: How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

    Reply
  6. Amy

    I loved “Life as We Knew It”, and “Birthmarked” kept me awake last night. I was a bit disappointed in “Maze Runner”–there was so much hype on this title, it just didn’t seem to live up to the reputation it had. Thanks for the other suggestions, I have them on my request list now.
    Not a YA book either, but “Blindness” by Jose Saramago was incredible. Highly recommended for those who enjoy this type of book.

    Reply
  7. Jessi

    Here are two others that I think are excellent dystopian stories and which made me think of The Hunger Games: The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness; and Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Also, a book with an amazingly strong female protagonist which was also an awesome story is Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Barnes.

    Reply
  8. Jenna

    Thanks for the suggestions on further reading for this popular series! In addition, I would try:
    The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld.

    Reply
  9. David

    I’ve been reading a lot of obscure, offbeat, older stuff – I like that kind of stuff – but the other day I was just dying to have a good old fashioned story to grab me up and take me away. I’d been jealous of all my friends the day Mockingjay came out, as their Facebook statuses all switched from “can’t wait for it to arrive” to “see you in five hours!” finally got around to reading Hunger Games. Now am hooked, and looking forward to the next two parts, and enjoying the refreshing sensation of being pulled along. …and YES, XISIC – I’ve read Koushon Takami’s Battle Royale and seen the movie, and I just have to assume that this book had some influence on this one. Collins’ stuff is a little less shock-heavy.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Discover more from Shelf Talk

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading