this post was submitted on 28 Mar 2025
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Middle/high school dystopian novel recommendations (lemm.ee)
submitted 4 days ago by bdmayhem@lemm.ee to c/books@lemmy.ml
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I'm working on a dystopian literature class, and I'm looking for one more book to add to the curriculum. The kids are about 13, and somewhat sensitive to more adult topics. That's one of the reasons I've chosen not to assign 1984.

I had thought to assign The Maze Runner, but after reading it, I was underwhelmed, especially as a standalone book.

The other books we're reading are:

The Giver The Hunger Games Lord of the Flies Matched Ender's Game Fahrenheit 451 The Minority Report

Any thoughts? Thanks!

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[โ€“] regrub@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Brave New World, maybe? It's tough to discuss dystopia topics without also discussing adult topics.

Wool (Silo series) is a great book. It has a TV show adaptation too.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein is a short/funny book that might be palatable for the students

[โ€“] mjsaber@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 4 days ago

I think Brave New World is really a cut above most of the other dystopian novels. The themes of conditioning and being overwhelmed with work, games, drugs and sex so much you don't care about anything else are incredibly relevant in the current era.