Difference between revisions of "Top Ten Dystopian Books For Children"
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The future is a scary thing - who knows what it will bring? Writing about dystopian societies has been a feature of adult novels for a long, long time, but there's some fantastic stuff about for the younger ones. Post-apocalytpic fiction will thrill them, but it will also engage them in positive ideas about shaping the future. It's a win-win situation. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites? | The future is a scary thing - who knows what it will bring? Writing about dystopian societies has been a feature of adult novels for a long, long time, but there's some fantastic stuff about for the younger ones. Post-apocalytpic fiction will thrill them, but it will also engage them in positive ideas about shaping the future. It's a win-win situation. Why not [mailto:sue@thebookbag.co.uk tell us] about your favourites? | ||
__NOTOC__ | __NOTOC__ | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Neal Shusterman | |author=Neal Shusterman | ||
|title=Unwind | |title=Unwind | ||
|rating=5 | |rating=5 | ||
|summary=A powerful, shocking, and intelligent novel about a future which practises retroactive abortion on troublesome teenagers, then uses their body parts for transplant. It's wonderful, wonderful stuff - but sensitive readers may be troubled by a shocking description of the process. | |summary=A powerful, shocking, and intelligent novel about a future which practises retroactive abortion on troublesome teenagers, then uses their body parts for transplant. It's wonderful, wonderful stuff - but sensitive readers may be troubled by a shocking description of the process. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1847382312 |
| + | |genre=Teens | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Patrick Ness | |author=Patrick Ness | ||
|title=The Knife of Never Letting Go | |title=The Knife of Never Letting Go | ||
|rating=4.5 | |rating=4.5 | ||
|summary=A compelling, original and pacy future dystopian book with great originality and a dollop of wonderfully observed humour. Bookbag doesn't approve of the cliffhanger ending, which is the only thing keeping it from a five star rating. | |summary=A compelling, original and pacy future dystopian book with great originality and a dollop of wonderfully observed humour. Bookbag doesn't approve of the cliffhanger ending, which is the only thing keeping it from a five star rating. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1406310255 |
| + | |genre=Teens | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Gillian Philip | |author=Gillian Philip | ||
|title=Bad Faith | |title=Bad Faith | ||
|rating=4.5 | |rating=4.5 | ||
|summary=A blend of love story, political thriller and murder mystery in this dystopian future book about religious fundamentalism. It presses all the buttons, has great tension, and is a rattlingly good read. Gillian Philip was kind enough to be [[The Interview: Bookbag talks to Gillian Philip|interviewed by Bookbag]]. She has some really fascinating things to say! | |summary=A blend of love story, political thriller and murder mystery in this dystopian future book about religious fundamentalism. It presses all the buttons, has great tension, and is a rattlingly good read. Gillian Philip was kind enough to be [[The Interview: Bookbag talks to Gillian Philip|interviewed by Bookbag]]. She has some really fascinating things to say! | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1905537085 |
| + | |genre=Teens | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=John Brindley | |author=John Brindley | ||
|title=The Rule of Claw | |title=The Rule of Claw | ||
|rating=4 | |rating=4 | ||
|summary=This is a timely, pacy and exciting future catastrophe novel suitable for tens and up. There's a little bit too much going on at times, but it's beautifully observed and its central characters are wonderfully charismatic. | |summary=This is a timely, pacy and exciting future catastrophe novel suitable for tens and up. There's a little bit too much going on at times, but it's beautifully observed and its central characters are wonderfully charismatic. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1842555871 |
| + | |genre=Confident Readers | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Gemma Malley | |author=Gemma Malley | ||
|title=The Declaration | |title=The Declaration | ||
|rating=5 | |rating=5 | ||
|summary=A tense and dramatic novel speculating on life in a future where drugs have banished old age and death. Mostly for teens, but the quality of writing is such that thoughtful younger children could approach it too. | |summary=A tense and dramatic novel speculating on life in a future where drugs have banished old age and death. Mostly for teens, but the quality of writing is such that thoughtful younger children could approach it too. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0747587744 |
| + | |genre=Teens | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Suzanne Collins | |author=Suzanne Collins | ||
|title=The Hunger Games | |title=The Hunger Games | ||
|rating=4.5 | |rating=4.5 | ||
|summary=Exciting future catastrophe novel focusing on gladatorial style combat games. It's pacy and incredibly absorbing with a dynamic and attractive central character. Great stuff, if a little on the long side for perfect Bookbag comfort. | |summary=Exciting future catastrophe novel focusing on gladatorial style combat games. It's pacy and incredibly absorbing with a dynamic and attractive central character. Great stuff, if a little on the long side for perfect Bookbag comfort. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1407139797 |
| + | |genre=Teens | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Malorie Blackman | |author=Malorie Blackman | ||
|title=Double Cross (Noughts & Crosses) | |title=Double Cross (Noughts & Crosses) | ||
|rating=5 | |rating=5 | ||
|summary=Tense, immediate, colloquial, heart-breaking - Blackman's ''Noughts & Crosses'' sequence continues to raise the bar with this latest instalment. Don't miss them. | |summary=Tense, immediate, colloquial, heart-breaking - Blackman's ''Noughts & Crosses'' sequence continues to raise the bar with this latest instalment. Don't miss them. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0385615515 |
| + | |genre=Teens | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Catherine Fisher | |author=Catherine Fisher | ||
|title=Incarceron | |title=Incarceron | ||
|rating=4.5 | |rating=4.5 | ||
|summary=Beautifully imagined and realised, this novel of future regression is rich with strong characters, big issues and a compelling plot. It is a barnstorming piece of serious fantasy that doesn't put a foot wrong. | |summary=Beautifully imagined and realised, this novel of future regression is rich with strong characters, big issues and a compelling plot. It is a barnstorming piece of serious fantasy that doesn't put a foot wrong. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0340893605 |
| + | |genre=Fantasy | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=Lene Kaaberbol | |author=Lene Kaaberbol | ||
|title=Silverhorse | |title=Silverhorse | ||
|rating=5 | |rating=5 | ||
|summary=A stunningly well-told thriller-fantasy with role reversal, a strong female lead character and some interesting questions about the nature of power. Highly recommended for the early teens. | |summary=A stunningly well-told thriller-fantasy with role reversal, a strong female lead character and some interesting questions about the nature of power. Highly recommended for the early teens. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=Kaaberbol_Silverhorse |
| + | |genre=Teens | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{Frontpage |
|author=James Jauncey | |author=James Jauncey | ||
|title=The Witness | |title=The Witness | ||
|rating=4.5 | |rating=4.5 | ||
|summary=Wonderful, challenging novel encouraging political participation and moral questions about life and land, while providing a really tense and well-paced adventure story. The very end is perhaps a little too tidy for the most sophisticated readers but other than that, this is classy, admirable stuff. | |summary=Wonderful, challenging novel encouraging political participation and moral questions about life and land, while providing a really tense and well-paced adventure story. The very end is perhaps a little too tidy for the most sophisticated readers but other than that, this is classy, admirable stuff. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0330447130 |
| + | |genre=Teens | ||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 15:33, 31 January 2024
The future is a scary thing - who knows what it will bring? Writing about dystopian societies has been a feature of adult novels for a long, long time, but there's some fantastic stuff about for the younger ones. Post-apocalytpic fiction will thrill them, but it will also engage them in positive ideas about shaping the future. It's a win-win situation. Why not tell us about your favourites?
|
|
Review ofUnwind by Neal ShustermanA powerful, shocking, and intelligent novel about a future which practises retroactive abortion on troublesome teenagers, then uses their body parts for transplant. It's wonderful, wonderful stuff - but sensitive readers may be troubled by a shocking description of the process. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofThe Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick NessA compelling, original and pacy future dystopian book with great originality and a dollop of wonderfully observed humour. Bookbag doesn't approve of the cliffhanger ending, which is the only thing keeping it from a five star rating. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofBad Faith by Gillian PhilipA blend of love story, political thriller and murder mystery in this dystopian future book about religious fundamentalism. It presses all the buttons, has great tension, and is a rattlingly good read. Gillian Philip was kind enough to be interviewed by Bookbag. She has some really fascinating things to say! Full Review |
|
|
Review ofThe Rule of Claw by John BrindleyThis is a timely, pacy and exciting future catastrophe novel suitable for tens and up. There's a little bit too much going on at times, but it's beautifully observed and its central characters are wonderfully charismatic. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofThe Declaration by Gemma MalleyA tense and dramatic novel speculating on life in a future where drugs have banished old age and death. Mostly for teens, but the quality of writing is such that thoughtful younger children could approach it too. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsExciting future catastrophe novel focusing on gladatorial style combat games. It's pacy and incredibly absorbing with a dynamic and attractive central character. Great stuff, if a little on the long side for perfect Bookbag comfort. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofDouble Cross (Noughts & Crosses) by Malorie BlackmanTense, immediate, colloquial, heart-breaking - Blackman's Noughts & Crosses sequence continues to raise the bar with this latest instalment. Don't miss them. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofIncarceron by Catherine FisherBeautifully imagined and realised, this novel of future regression is rich with strong characters, big issues and a compelling plot. It is a barnstorming piece of serious fantasy that doesn't put a foot wrong. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofSilverhorse by Lene KaaberbolA stunningly well-told thriller-fantasy with role reversal, a strong female lead character and some interesting questions about the nature of power. Highly recommended for the early teens. Full Review |
|
|
Review ofThe Witness by James JaunceyWonderful, challenging novel encouraging political participation and moral questions about life and land, while providing a really tense and well-paced adventure story. The very end is perhaps a little too tidy for the most sophisticated readers but other than that, this is classy, admirable stuff. Full Review |
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