During Book Week – 19 to 25 August – EducationDaily will publish a daily book list, with recommended reading across picture books, and books for primary-aged readers, as well as YA fiction and non-fiction.
Discover dystopian tales of fantastical adventures, heartwarming friendships, and thought-provoking dilemmas that resonate with readers of all ages.
Journey alongside these heroes as they explore the intricacies of identity, the exhilaration of first love, the power of resilience, and the courage to navigate the challenges of adolescence in the desolate landscape of our alternate future. Whether you’re a seasoned dystopian YA enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this booklist promises to whisk you away on a literary adventure you won’t soon forget.
Tomorrow, When the War Began
By John Marsden
Upon returning from a camping trip in the Australian bush, Ellie and her companions are confronted with a nightmarish reality — their families and friends have vanished. Slowly, they realise the nation has fallen under enemy control, and their entire town has been taken captive. Confronted with the harsh reality, the teens must choose between surrendering or taking a stand against the invaders.
John Marsden’s iconic Tomorrow series is the most renowned literary collection for young adults from Australia. The first instalment of this series, Tomorrow When The War Began, was reissued 26 times in Australia and adapted into a feature film in 2010.
Vulture’s Gate
When Callum is rescued from death in the burning desert, she is forced to leave her underground home beneath the dunes. In search of her fathers, Callum joins her rescuer on a journey across the dangerous continent, escaping street gangs, terrorists, and more.
The 100
By Kass Morgan
Becoming a New York Times bestseller and inspiring a hit CW tv show of the same name, The 100 shows the aftermath of a devastating global nuclear war. Humanity has been driven from the planet’s surface and lives on spaceships far above Earth’s radioactive atmosphere.
Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents—considered expendable by society—are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonise the planet. It could be their second chance at life, or it could be a suicide mission.
The Hunger Games
A pop culture phenomenon, Collin’s dystopian world of the Hunger Games has become a household name thanks to the overwhelmingly popular film franchise of the same name.
Set in the dark dystopian future of the United States, a terrifying reality TV show sees twelve boys and twelve girls fight to the death in a live event called The Hunger Games.
When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her younger sister’s place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.
Want
By Cindy Pon
Renowned author Cindy Pon presents a gripping sci-fi thriller set in a future Taipei overwhelmed by pollution.
In this divided society, Jason Zhou survives amidst wealth-driven inequality. The privileged wear special suits to protect themselves from pollution and viruses, while the less fortunate suffer illness and early death.
Motivated by his mother’s death due to city corruption and fueled by frustration with the same corruption, Zhou is unwavering in his determination to bring about change, regardless of the consequences.
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf
Ashala Wolf has been captured by a man intent on destroying her Tribe — the runaway Illegals hiding in the Firstwood. Injured and vulnerable, and with her Sleepwalker ability blocked, Ashala is forced to succumb to the machine that will pull secrets from her mind.
Australian Aboriginal writer and illustrator Ambelin Kwaymullina draws thoughtfully on dream, myth, and human nature to create this bleak alternative reality.
“The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf sets itself apart. It is a bitingly clever dystopia, highly imaginative. Where other books fall flat, this one stands out as a startling contemporary example of the dystopian genre…” – Australian Book Review.
Welcome To Orphancorp
Winner of the 2016 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction, author Marlee Jane Ward has crafted a heartfelt, brutal and funny tale about when corporate interests overwhelm human rights – and how children can bloom in even the darkest of places.
Antipodes
By T.S. Simons
Set in present-day post-apocalyptic Australia, Antipodes follows Melbourne University student Cam Mackintosh as he sets up a sustainable island community off the nation’s coastline.
Offered the chance of a lifetime by a shady government organisation, Cam will have to work with unlikely allies to uncover the secrets behind the island’s deadly outbreak.
The Road to Winter
By Mark Smith
Australia has succumbed to a deadly virus, and the following violence has wiped out half of the country’s population. Surviving two winters, orphan Finn lives alone on the rugged coast with only his loyal dog Rowdy for company.
But Finn’s isolation is shattered when a girl runs onto the beach. Rose is a Siley—an asylum seeker—and has escaped from bandits stalking the shoreline. But they want her back – at any cost.
“Part dystopian-future novel and part survival story, this is a fast moving and enthralling page turner for young adults, set on the Victorian coast. I could not put it down.” – Bev Jacobsen, Library Co-ordinator, Campion Education Perth.
Internment
By Samira Ahmed
An instant New York Times bestseller, Internment is set in a horrifying near-future United States where Muslim citizens live out their days in prison camps.
Alongside her parents, seventeen-year-old prisoner Layla Amin will need the help of new allies on both sides of the fence to spark a revolution against the camp’s cruel Director and his guards.
Heart-racing and emotional, Ahmed challenges readers to fight complicit silence and racial prejudice that exists today in our society.
“Internment sets itself apart…terrifying, thrilling and urgent.”- Entertainment Weekly.
