The History of Dystopian Literature for Young Adults
Dystopian books have been around for centuries, but since the 1990s, dystopian books have dominated the YA literature scene. As a genre, dystopia really began to gain some momentum in the years after WWI--it really is a post-modern genre of literature.
Although there are a ton of dystopian YA books and series around today, there are some predecessors which must be mentioned.
Post-Modern Dystopian Novels
The following novels put dystopian fiction in front of a huge readership. These books were written for adults, but they were so popular that teens would have been reading them too! These books are now classic dystopian novels and are often included on school reading lists.
Although there are a ton of dystopian YA books and series around today, there are some predecessors which must be mentioned.
Post-Modern Dystopian Novels
The following novels put dystopian fiction in front of a huge readership. These books were written for adults, but they were so popular that teens would have been reading them too! These books are now classic dystopian novels and are often included on school reading lists.
Dystopian Novels for Young Adults
While the above titles were very important to the development of the dystopian genre, they were not written with YA readers in mind. The following books are some of the earliest and most important contributions to YA dystopian literature.
While the above titles were very important to the development of the dystopian genre, they were not written with YA readers in mind. The following books are some of the earliest and most important contributions to YA dystopian literature.
A Wrinkle in Time and House of Stairs were dystopian-adjacent. For most YA readers, The Giver was the book that started it all. The Giver was one of the first YA books that presented a false utopia and also features a young protagonist.
Modern Dystopian YA Literature
In the twenty years since The Giver, YA dystopian literature has changed a lot. There is a new set of writers, a ton of new books, and some different trends in the dystopian genre.
Modern Dystopian YA Literature
In the twenty years since The Giver, YA dystopian literature has changed a lot. There is a new set of writers, a ton of new books, and some different trends in the dystopian genre.
M.T. Anderson’s Feed (2002)
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Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies Series (2005)
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Patrick Ness’ Chaos Walking Series (2008)
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Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games Series (2008)
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These books represent a change in the dystopian genre. Dystopia once meant a false utopia: dystopia now tends to refer to post-apocalyptic. False utopian books, like The Giver, depicted societies that look perfect, but turned out to be harsh and corrupted. Post-apocalyptic books, like The Hunger Games, show a society where the reader and the characters know that their world is broken and corrupt.
Why the Change in YA Dystopian Literature?
YA dystopian books are darker and more violent than ever before. Some experts believe that dystopian literature is reflecting our changing world. They believe that events such as WWI, WWII, the Cold War, and since modern events like swine flu, 9/11, global warming, and modern wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have influenced authors to write more violent dystopian books. Authors are influenced and inspired by a number of events. We can never know if these world events are directly linked new trends in dystopian literature. We do know that dystopian YA books are portraying darker, more violent societies, and that YA readers are reading more dystopia than ever before.
Why the Change in YA Dystopian Literature?
YA dystopian books are darker and more violent than ever before. Some experts believe that dystopian literature is reflecting our changing world. They believe that events such as WWI, WWII, the Cold War, and since modern events like swine flu, 9/11, global warming, and modern wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have influenced authors to write more violent dystopian books. Authors are influenced and inspired by a number of events. We can never know if these world events are directly linked new trends in dystopian literature. We do know that dystopian YA books are portraying darker, more violent societies, and that YA readers are reading more dystopia than ever before.