Dystopian Literature

There are many different types of literature to read. As a young adult, the genres are wide open and many are accessible to all. A newer (in the last 20 years) genre for young adults is dystopian literature. A dystopia is an imaginary futuristic world in which society lives under the oppression and control of a totalitarian government, a repressive society, a force of technology, or corrupt business corporation.
Some common dystopian literature currently includes:

• The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

• Uglies (Series) by Scott Westerfeld

• The Hunger Games (Series) by Suzanne Collins

• Divergent by Veronica Roth

• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

• Anthem by Ayn Rand 

• 1984 by George Orwell

• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Dystopian literature is not a new type of literature. Starting in the 1930s and following, dystopian literature became a powerful way for American writers to criticize communism and socialism.
Some of the most powerful novels from this time include:


In 1993 (the year Miss Schwartz was born!...yikes that's old) Lois Lowry published The Giver. This book opened the floodgates for dystopian literature for young adults.

 Have you read any dystopian literature before?
Check out this prezi about dystopian literature. What do you think of dystopian literature?