My Recommended Dystopian Books - By Call Me Dabz

The first book I want to discuss is "The Declaration," which I received while at school. The story is set in a society where a longevity drug exists, allowing people to live forever. However, to take the drug, individuals must sign "the declaration," agreeing not to have children to avoid overpopulation. Despite this rule, some people still take the drug but refrain from having children. Those who break this rule are imprisoned, and their offspring are labeled "surpluses." These children are considered worthless and trained to work for legal citizens. The main character, Anna, is a surplus who is brainwashed into thinking her parents were selfish until she meets a boy named Peter. This book is suitable for readers around the age of 13, with a dystopian focus and a touch of romance. It is a great read for those who enjoy this genre.

The book is about a society where abortion is illegal, but parents are allowed to "unwind" their 13 to 18-year-old children, meaning that their body parts are harvested and used for transplants. The story follows three main characters, Conor, Risa, and Lev, who are scheduled to be unwound and their journey to escape and survive. Despite the creepy concept, many people in the speaker's class enjoyed the book, mainly due to the well-developed and interesting characters.

The following book is called Divergent, and I have it with me, but unlike the other books in this recommendations video, I have not finished it yet. I'm only about 80 or 100 pages away from completing it. The story takes place in a dystopian world where society is separated into five factions, similar to Hogwarts houses, namely Candor (the honest), Amity (the kind), Abnegation (the selfless), Erudite (the intelligent), and Dauntless (the brave). Every 16-year-old must pick a faction to join, which they will stay in for the rest of their lives. The protagonist, Beatrice, is part of Abnegation, but she must decide whether to stay with her family in her faction or leave them and become who she truly is. Despite finding Beatrice's character annoying at times, I enjoy the world-building and most of the other characters. This book is quite popular as a dystopian novel, and I can see why, so if I end up liking it, I might write a book review.

The book revolves around a competition called the Selection, where the prince chooses his wife from 35 different girls who compete for the coveted role. The winner gets to live in the palace with the royal family and receive benefits, such as an increased caste ranking and money for their family. However, the main character, America Singer, doesn't want to participate due to her secret boyfriend, Aspen, but feels compelled to do so to help her family. While the book focuses more on romance, it also has dystopian elements. The upcoming TV adaptation of the book has piqued my interest, as I want to see how the characters are portrayed and how the book is adapted for the screen.

It's set in a post-apocalyptic future where the world is recovering from a crisis. The story is centered around an underground city called Ember that was built centuries ago with all the necessary resources for survival. However, resources are running low and the city is on the brink of collapse. The main characters, Lena and Doon, find clues left behind by the original builders of the city and embark on a journey to explore them, hoping to find a way out and save the city. I read this book in elementary school and I remember enjoying it, although I don't recall much about the writing or characters.

Scythe is another book by Neil Shusterman, and it explores a world where people can live forever with the help of a controlling computer called the Thunderhead. However, this leads to overpopulation, so Scythes are created to control the population by gleaning or killing people. The story follows Citra and Rowan, who are chosen to become Scythe apprentices despite not wanting to be Scythes. The book delves into Scythe politics, complications, and struggles that they face along the way. The book raises questions about life and death and philosophical ideas through the use of before chapters. The book is one of the favorite dystopian series, and the action-packed storyline coupled with the philosophical questions makes it an engaging read.

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry, a well-known dystopian novel that I read some time ago. There are two distinct worlds portrayed in this book, one that promotes sameness and conformity by eliminating pain, color, and emotional depth, and another that existed before this. Jonas, the main character, is chosen to become the receiver of memories and store all the memories of the past world. However, he struggles to understand these memories, which include pain and love, and comes to realize that the society he lives in may not be perfect. This book is a Newbery Medal winner and is a must-read for everyone at some point in their lives due to its simplicity and thought-provoking themes. I want to reread it as it has been a while since I last read it.

The next book in line is Uglies, which is set in a world where everyone is considered an "ugly" until they reach 16 years old and undergo a surgery that turns them into a "pretty". Uglies and pretties reside in different parts of the town, and the sole job of pretties is to have fun. The protagonist, Tally, eagerly awaits her turn to become a pretty so that she can relinquish her responsibilities, enhance her physical appearance, and enjoy life. However, her perspective shifts when she encounters a girl named Shay. This book is part of a series that includes Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras, with the last one set in a different time period. I recall reading this book during sixth grade and becoming engrossed in the series. Although I enjoyed Uglies, Pretties, and Specials immensely, I found Extras to be less captivating. Overall, the series is superb, with a touch of action and romance.

Most people are likely familiar with The Hunger Games, but in case you're not, it's a post-apocalyptic novel set in the nation of Panem. The story follows Katniss Everdeen, a resident of one of the poorer districts, who volunteers to compete in the Hunger Games after her younger sister is selected. The Hunger Games is an annual event where one boy and one girl from each of the 12 districts are chosen to fight to the death on live television. In the book, we see Katniss go through the preparation process for the games and then follow her through the actual games themselves, where she has to use her natural survival instincts to stay alive. The Hunger Games is the first book in a series that also includes Catching Fire and Mockingjay. While I enjoyed the whole series, I particularly liked the first book the most, and found the second one a bit lacking, though still good. The third book had a more somber tone, but I still found it to be quite engaging.