Books About Dystopian Futures

The Best Dystopian Futures Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about dystopian futures? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Dystopian Futures

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2008

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins · The Hunger Games series

Survive a deadly game or face certain death in a dystopian world.

FCBG Children’s Book Award (2010)Cybils Award (2008)

374 pages· 99,856 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 10,222,064 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Paperback

Summary: In a dystopian future, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers for the brutal Hunger Games to save her sister. Thrust into a televised fight to the death, she must navigate deadly challenges and moral dilemmas. As she becomes an unexpected contender, Katniss faces choices that pit survival against humanity and life against love. Can she outwit the Capitol's cruel spectacle and emerge victorious, or will the Games claim her life? The stakes are high, and the world is watching.

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2011

Legend

By Marie Lu · Book #1 in the Legend series

A prodigy and a criminal collide in a deadly game, uncovering dark secrets of their war-torn nation.

305 pages· 75,697 words· Est. 7 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 572,742 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a war-torn Republic, June, a military prodigy, seeks justice for her brother's murder. Day, the nation's most wanted criminal, is the prime suspect. As they clash, they uncover shocking truths about their country and the sinister forces at play. Can they trust each other enough to survive the deadly secrets that bind them? A thrilling tale of suspense, action, and unexpected alliances.

Sale price

$2261

Chapter Book · Ages 13–18 · 2007

Unwind

By Neal Shusterman · Book #1 in the Unwind Dystology series

In a world where teens are dismantled for parts, three runaways fight for survival.

335 pages· 95,147 words· Est. 9 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 254,635 ratings

$23.80Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a future where unwanted teens are 'unwound' for their organs, Connor, Risa, and Lev become fugitives. Connor rebels against his fate, Risa faces unwinding due to budget cuts, and Lev is a religious sacrifice. As they flee, their lives intertwine, challenging the morality of a society that trades life for convenience. Will they escape the system that seeks to dismantle them, or will they find a way to change it? Dive into a gripping tale of survival and ethical dilemmas that questions the true meaning of life.

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$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2013

The 5th Wave

By Rick Yancey · Book #1 in the The 5th Wave series

Survive the alien invasion: trust no one, not even those who look human.

FCBG Children’s Book Award (2014)

457 pages· 116,770 words· Est. 11 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 484,676 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In a world ravaged by alien invasions, Cassie is on the run, haunted by beings who look human but kill without mercy. Alone, she believes survival means trusting no one. But when she meets the enigmatic Evan Walker, her beliefs are challenged. Can she trust him to help save her brother, or is he another threat? As the 5th wave looms, Cassie faces a choice between hope and despair, life and death. Will she stand alone or risk everything for a chance at salvation?

Sale price

$1049

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2015

The Fog Diver

By Joel Ross · Book #1 in the Fog Diver series

In a sky-bound world, slum kids risk all to reach a city that holds the cure for a deadly mist.

Cybils Award (2015)

352 pages· 58,696 words· Est. 8 hour read

7.0/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 2,478 ratings

$10.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a world where mountaintops are humanity's last refuge, thirteen-year-old Chess and his friends sail above a deadly mist, scavenging to survive. But survival isn't enough. They must reach Port Oro to save their beloved Mrs. E from fogsickness. Pursued by the ruthless Lord Kodoc, who seeks Chess's secret, they face perilous skies and hidden fears. Will they find the cure before it's too late?

Sale price

$2659

Chapter Book · Ages 13–17 · 2025

Sunrise on the Reaping

By Suzanne Collins · The Hunger Games series

In a deadly arena, one man must fight against impossible odds to protect what he loves.

387 pages· 112,457 words· Est. 10.5 hour read

4.5/5 Goodreads · 1,272,295 ratings

$27.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In the fiftieth Hunger Games, Haymitch Abernathy faces a brutal challenge: survive a rigged competition designed to crush him. Torn from his love and family, he must navigate alliances with unlikely allies—a near-sister, a compulsive oddsmaker, and a haughty rival. As the Quarter Quell doubles the danger, Haymitch's resolve to fight back could echo beyond the arena. Can he defy the Capitol's cruel game and protect what he holds dear?

Sale price

$1139

Chapter Book · Ages 12–+ · 2015

Firefight

By Brandon Sanderson · Book #2 in the The Reckoners series

David's quest for truth about Epics leads him to a perilous, flooded city.

418 pages· 102,851 words· Est. 11.5 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 115,129 ratings

$11.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: David Charleston, driven by vengeance, killed the invincible Epic, Steelheart. Now, questioning the nature of superhumans, he follows Prof to a submerged New York. There, secrets threaten his very survival. What truths will he uncover, and at what cost?

Sale price

$2184

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2013

Prodigy

By Marie Lu · Book #2 in the Legend series

Fugitives join rebels, but can they trust their new allies?

522 pages· 98,280 words· Est. 9 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 286,211 ratings

$22.99Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: June and Day, fugitives on the run, seek refuge with the Patriots, a rebel group in Las Vegas. As they become entangled in a plot to assassinate the Elector, they must decide if their new allies are trustworthy or if they're mere pawns in a dangerous political game. With the Republic's future at stake, can they navigate this treacherous path and survive?

Sale price

$2071

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2014

Ignite Me

By Tahereh Mafi · Book #3 in the Shatter Me series

Juliette must trust an unlikely ally to defeat The Reestablishment and save a dying world.

416 pages· 87,073 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 719,083 ratings

$21.80Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: Juliette faces a shattered world with Omega Point in ruins and her allies' fates unknown. To dismantle The Reestablishment, she must trust Warner, the enigmatic commander who once saved her life. As they navigate a landscape of betrayal and power, Juliette must master her abilities and confront the true cost of rebellion. Can she trust Warner's intentions, or will his hidden desires lead to their downfall? In this gripping finale, the stakes are higher than ever, and the path to freedom is fraught with peril and unexpected alliances.

Sale price

$1899

Chapter Book · Ages 12–17 · 2016

The Fever Code

By James Dashner · Book #5 in the Maze Runner series

A boy builds a maze amidst a world-ending plague, uncovering secrets and lies.

347 pages· 85,774 words· Est. 8 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 88,380 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a world ravaged by plague and chaos, Thomas is chosen by WICKED to construct a mysterious maze. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, Thomas must confront the truth behind the maze and his own role in its creation. What lies will be exposed, and where do Thomas and Teresa's true allegiances lie? Discover the origins of the Maze Runner saga in this gripping prequel, where every answer leads to more questions.

The Bookroo Book Club