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Home » Books » Library Finds » If You Liked The Hunger Games: 5 Other Dystopian Novels to Try
books for those who liked hunger games series
November 11, 2011

If You Liked The Hunger Games: 5 Other Dystopian Novels to Try

From the Kitchen of Katie Kick

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This year I’ve been hooked on Young Adult books. Particularly of the dystopian novels variety. Blame it on The Hunger Games. After devouring the trilogy in less than a week, and far too many very late nights I had one thing on my mind: Where can I get more? I want more books like The Hunger Games!

I scoured Goodreads for related titles so I could find a few new dystopian novels to get my hands on. I found a few (summarized below) that sounded promising and checked them out from the library. Here are some of my picks for fans of The Hunger Games. I read a few others, but these were my favorite recommendations of what I’ve read so far.

Luckily, all of these books are the first in a new series with multiple books queued up for publication in the next year or two, so you’ll have plenty to read. I have the sequel to Matched on hold at the library since it just came out this month. Can’t wait till it’s my turn!

If You Liked The Hunger Games: 5 Other Dystopian Novels to Try

DELIRIUM

Published 2011 by Lauren Oliver

Find Delirium on Amazon

delirium cover image

In Lena’s world love is a disease. There was a time, before the cure, that people thought love was a good thing. Now they know that a life without love is a life without pain. It is safe, predictably, and happy.

Now that scientists have eradicated love, Lena’s government requires all citizens to receive the cure to deliria before turning eighteen. Lena tries not to think about her mother’s last words to her (the forbidden “I love you”) or the rumors of a community of  uncured “invalids” beyond her Portland, Maine, border.

What’s the point? She believes that the government knows what’s best. That is until ninety-five days before receiving the cure, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love. Look for part two, entitled  Pandemonium, early spring 2012.

DIVERGENT

Published 2011 by Veronica Roth

Find Divergent on Amazon

divergent cover image

Society is split into five factions — Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) — each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a “perfect society.”

Upon turning sixteen, individuals must choose the faction which they will devote their lives. Beatrice “Tris” Prior makes the difficult choice to leave her family’s group and pursue another faction, a choice that surprises even herself.

After surviving the brutal initiation of the Dauntless faction, Tris discovers the brewing unrest and conflict beneath what should be the “perfect society.”

Tris bands together with others in the  Dauntless faction. Their mission: to uncover the truths about their identities, their families, and the order of their society itself. Look for part two, entitled Insurgent, late spring 2012.

Enclave

published 2011 by Ann Aguirre

Find Enclave on Amazon

enclave cover image

Deuce lives in an apocalyptic world where people earn the right to bear a name only if they’ve survived the first fifteen years.  By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups-Breeders, Builders, or Hunters.

The purpose of a huntress is clear–to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks.

Finally becoming a huntress as she’s dreamed of her whole life, Deuce is caught off guard by a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. Deuce’s troubles are just beginning when the mysterious Fade is assigned as her hunting partner.

Deuce quickly learns that Fade doesn’t like following orders and deviation from the society’s world results in harsh punishment. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their home, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth.

Book two, entitled Outpost, will release fall 2012.

MATCHED

published 2010 by Ally Condie

Find Matched on Amazon.

matched cover image

Cassia grows up in a world where nothing is left to chance. The Society calculates each choice for her – what she will eat, her future job, and her husband – thus removing “user error” from the equation.

Every choice is optimized for the best possible results and no one questions this method, until there’s a mistake in Cassia’s Match for husband. When she plugs in her microchip two faces are revealed rather than one: her lifelong best friend and another boy.

Does she follow The Society’s plan for her or rebel against their predetermined life to seek her own path? Book two, entitled Crossed, was released November 2, 2011.

WITHER

published 2011 by Lauren DeStefano

Find Wither on Amazon.

wither cover image

Rhine Ellery lives in a world destroyed by  genetic engineering. After scientists attempt at perfecting humanity by ridding the world of disease, cancer, and illness is proved a failure, the lives of future generations have literally becoming a ticking time bomb.

Men live to age 25 and women only to 20. In order to preserve the human population in their poverty-stricken world, girls are shipped off as young as 13 to marry and have children with eager husbands – some so eager they go to the extreme of kidnapping their future brides.

For Rhine life means being thrust into a posh life with Linden Ashby against her will. Though she lives in a gorgeous Florida mansion with her two sister wives and is treated like royalty, she longs to escape back to reality with her twin brother. Look for book two, entitled Fever, in February 2012.

What Young Adult Dystopian novels have you enjoyed?

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Meet Katie Kick

My lifelong interest in cooking has shown me that part of the goodness in life is enjoying delicious food with friends and family. I love trying new foods, discovering new places & things that help my family live the good life.

More About Katie
Updated: January 23, 2020

Reader Interactions

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  1. Sanne says

    January 21, 2012 at 12:37 PM

    Next to the Hunger Games series, I also love the Gone series. And I’ve read some Dutch dystopian novels too (too bad they’re not translated in English, cause they’re really good), but if you understand Dutch you should definitely read ‘Koepels’ by Mariëtte Aerts and ‘Sequioa’ by Kirsten Vanlierde (or start spamming some book publishers asking to get them translated)

    Reply
  2. Yvette says

    January 7, 2012 at 7:21 PM

    If you loved The Hunger Games and you love dystopian, you should read Unwind. It’s the most chilling read I’ve read in a while. Gave me goosebumps.

    Reply
  3. Kristen says

    January 1, 2012 at 6:06 PM

    I would definitely recommend “Legend” by Marie Lu.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      January 1, 2012 at 8:18 PM

      Good to know, I just checked that out from the library! Haven’t started it yet though.

      Reply
  4. Lauren says

    December 6, 2011 at 9:44 AM

    Great suggestions! One of my best friends and I have just finished Delirium and it was fantastic. We can’t wait for the second book to be released.

    Reply
  5. Christina says

    December 1, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    I have most of these waiting for me on my Kindle! I have read Incarceron and it was pretty good. Have not had a chance to read The Hunger Games (gasp!) its next on my download list!

    Reply
  6. Jamie Cooks It Up! says

    November 23, 2011 at 7:42 PM

    Thanks for the great list, Katie. Loved the Hunger Games and Matched. Just put the others on hold at the library. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  7. Anna says

    November 17, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    I’ve been hearing a lot about Divergent… I will have to check it out! I really love young adult fiction as well, and I am actually into the Twilight books series as too…:) Thanks for the list!

    Reply
  8. Sarah says

    November 16, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    Oooh, we have the same book taste. I also love YA books. I really enjoyed The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Enclave (except the names….like Stalker?!)

    I just finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Really cool book. Not totally dystopian – more fantasy – but have you read Graceling by Kristin Cashore? I really liked that book as well.

    Reply
    • Katie says

      November 18, 2011 at 5:52 AM

      I really liked Graceling, too! I hear she’s supposed to write another book called Bitterblue but no idea when it is going to come out.

      Reply
  9. Tickled Red says

    November 15, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Thanks for the good read tips! patch will be thrilled 😀

    Reply
  10. Mercedes says

    November 14, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    I have only read book one of the Hunger Games, but I can’t wait to read the other two (gosh I hope the movie does the books justice) I have only heard of Divergent before, and currently have it in my books to read pile. I think I may have to add Matched to the pile too!

    Reply
  11. Saleta says

    November 13, 2011 at 7:57 PM

    So great! Thanks for posting these. I just finished the first book of The Hunger Games a few minutes ago and I’m starting the 2nd one tonight. Looking forward to picking up a few of these as well. 🙂

    Reply
  12. angela says

    November 13, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    I heard of the Hunger Games, but thought it might be too disturbing. I get affected easily by things, but now I”m wondering if I should give it a try.

    Reply
    • Debs says

      June 1, 2012 at 6:04 PM

      Its a really great book, which is why I hate ever knowing it. It was such a great series that I was so so sad after reading Mockingjay, because it had become a part of me. You can read it if you want, but it is just to great to put down. And you’ll be pretty depressed after wards.

      Reply
  13. Kendra says

    November 12, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    You must have recommended some good books because all of them or either on hold at the library with a crazy long list or they were never returned. Soooo… I might just have a snag a little Christmas money and pull the trigger and buy some. And I’m pretty much obsessed with The Hunger Games. Like, I can’t tell my husband, but I want to marry Peeta. Yesterday. So thanks for the recommendations so I can move away from my fictional husband. My real one will appreciate it.

    Reply
    • Everyday Art says

      November 15, 2011 at 10:07 PM

      Oh yes, I forgot about how I fell in love with Peeta too. Since then I took a break from YA books and read Pride and Prejudice and am now maddly in love with Mr. Darcy. 🙂 I too need something to move away from my fictional heart-throb.

      Reply
  14. Kerstin says

    November 12, 2011 at 9:27 AM

    I just finished the hunger games series and will definitely check some of these out – thanks for the recommendations!

    Reply
  15. Kait says

    November 12, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Divergent is probably the best book I’ve read (and re-read) this year! Mind you, I read The Hunger Games trilogy last year :p I cannot wait for Insurgent to be released!

    Delirium is an extremely powerful story that left me with the ache in the end. So good! Matched was also very enjoyable, though the pace was a little slow.

    Reply
  16. Vanderbilt Wife says

    November 12, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    I just finished reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. It’s not really young adult, although I know it’s been on some high-school curricula. But it really fits in with this list and I would highly recommend it!

    Reply
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Meet Katie Kick

Hi, I’m Katie! Thank you so much for visiting my corner of the internet. I am passionate about cooking delicious and beautiful, yet accessible, food for my family and friends. I love tasting new foods, discovering new places and things that help my family live that good life.

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