Just finished reading Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies and looking for your next dystopian read? We’ve got you covered! Step through the rubble of post-apocalyptic wastelands, where technology has evolved to create the sci-fi worlds of our dreams… or nightmares.
For more Uglies content, check out our latest posts for the Complete Book Summary and the Book vs. Movie review that goes into further detail comparing the literary and cinematic universes of the series.
If you’re looking for book recommendations that include but also go beyond the realms of dystopia, check out our 20 Books to Read after Powerless article and dive into romance that’s truly out of this world!
Finally, if you’re still looking for the right genre for you, check out our Romance Subgenres blogpost or explore the magic of page-to-screen romance with our Romance Books Turned into Movies blogpost.
Author: Veronica Roth
Tropes: Coming of Age, Chosen One, Oppression and Resistance
Pages: 487
Published: 2011
Divergent’s dystopia is based on a stretched out idea of divide and conquer. In a dystopian future Chicago, society is divided into five factions that reflect an individual’s greatest strength. A 16-year-old girl, Tris, however, is Divergent, meaning she fits into more than one category. A Divergent cannot easily be controlled by the government and thus is a threat to the system. With a target on her back, she must flee… or find the courage to rebel.
Author: Suzanne Collins
Tropes: Battle Royale, Dystopian, Rebellion, Love Triangle
Pages: 374
Published: 2008
In this dystopia, society is divided into 12 districts, which are all under the totalitarian control of the Capitol. To instill fear and maintain control, as well as for their own sick entertainment, the members of the Capitol organize the Hunger Games—an annual ruthless competition to death between one boy and one girl from each district. Coming from the poorest and most tortured District, Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself as a tribute, taking her younger sister’s place and setting off on a dangerous journey that could get her killed, or turn her into the killer.
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Tropes: Touch of Death, Love Triangle, Chosen One
Pages: 338
Published: 2011
In a society that is crumbling due to environmental collapse ruled by a totalitarian regime called The Reestablishment, Juliette Ferrars lives in isolation due to her lethal and uncontrollable ability to kill with just a touch. To avoid being turned into a weapon, she escapes with Adam Kent, a soldier she used to know who seems to be the only one unaffected by her touch. Now a fugitive on the run, Juliette joins forces with a resistance group called Omega Point and realizes her powers might not be a curse, but a gift after all.
Interested to know more about this BookTok hit? Don’t miss our Shatter Me Summary, with plot key-points, and characters explained.
Author: James Dashner
Tropes: Amnesia, Deadly Trials, Post-Apocalyptic World
Pages: 384
Published: 2009
This New York Times bestselling dystopian novel takes place in a bleak future ridden with environmental disaster and disease, where a teenage boy named Thomas wakes up in a lift, remembering nothing but his own name. He quickly realizes he’s not alone; there are other boys there, all trapped with him, their memories wiped. The only way out of the Glade is the ever-changing maze surrounding it. Determined to unravel Ariadne’s thread, Thomas becomes a maze runner to find the exit. But when a girl arrives, carrying a mysterious, ominous message, everything is about to change.
Author: Marie Lu
Tropes: Rebellion, Opposites Attract, Corrupt Government
Pages: 318
Published: 2011
In Marie Lu’s debut novel, America has lost all sense of freedom under the strict surveillance and control of the Republic. Born to an elite, privileged family, June is a teenage prodigy, destined for military greatness. That is, until her world is turned on its head by the tragic loss of her father. Seeking revenge, she is led to the Republic’s most wanted criminal. Day is framed for the murder, and June is on a mission to hunt him down. While undercover, though, June comes across unsettling truths about the Republic. When the world you know turns out to be nothing but an elaborate lie, can your worst enemy turn out to be the only person you can actually trust?
Author: Kiera Cass
Tropes: Cinderella Story, Love Triangle, Royal Competition
Pages: 336
Published: 2012
The dystopian world of Illéa is neatly organized into castes. The lower you rank, the harder life gets. America Singer, though, has been given the golden ticket to escape her fate and crawl the ladder to the top: the Selection. The Selection is a televised cutthroat competition for the heart of Prince Maxon, but America’s heart belongs to another. Things get even more complicated when she discovers there’s more to the arrogant prince. Where dystopian meets romance, hearts get entangled in a dangerous game of chance.
Author: Neal Shusterman
Tropes: Mentorship, Star-Crossed Lovers, Thought Control
Pages: 435
Published: 2016
What determines the ethics of power in a dystopian future where the choice to kill rests in the hands of a few? In Scythe’s world, humanity has advanced so far that death, disease, aging, and poverty have been completely eradicated. The only form of death that exists comes from the Scythes, who glean the lives of those they choose. When two teenagers are selected as apprentices to a scythe, they see the good and the ugly side of death. Only one can move on to become a scythe, but the stakes get even higher when death comes knocking on their own door.
Author: Marissa Meyer
Tropes: Fairytale Retelling, Secret Royal Identity, Star-Crossed Lovers
Pages: 400
Published: 2012
Cinder is a science fiction retelling of the classic story of Cinderella. Marissa Meyer’s sixteen-year-old Cinder, however, is a cyborg, caught up in an intergalactic battle to save the Earth in addition to winning her prince’s heart. With a deadly plague threatening his people and his family, Prince Kai is searching for Princess Selene, the long-lost heir to the throne of the powerful lunar colony, whose mercy might just be his only hope. Beats the good old glass slipper, right?
Author: Ally Condie
Tropes: Dystopian Government Control, Love Triangle, Chosen One
Pages: 369
Published: 2010
Matched is the first book in Ally Condie’s hit young adult science fiction thrilling series. In Cassia’s society, romance is a dated concept, as each citizen’s match is determined for them by officials. Cassia is relieved to find out she has been matched with her best friend, Xander, but equally unsettled by the revelation that he wasn’t her initial match. She knows she has to let it go, and trust the predetermined path everyone follows, but something inside her keeps pulling her towards her original match, Ky. Can she leave the only peace she’s ever known behind to pursue her own path, even when it’s drenched in darkness?
Author: Lois Lowry
Tropes: Chosen One, Mentor-Apprentice, Loss of Innocence
Pages: 208
Published: 1993
Of course, no dystopian list would be complete without The Giver. Old but gold, this novel follows 11-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly utopian society where all pain and suffering have been eliminated. Yet, this harmony hides a darker undercurrent as free will has been eliminated too, leaving behind a society drained from the essence of humanity. In this colorless world, young Jonas has a gift, which he is assigned to use as a Receiver. A Receiver is a keeper of memory and his mentor, The Giver, opens his eyes to a world beyond the numbness of the Sameness. Now that he knows what it’s truly like to be human, he has to find strength in memory and disperse the colors he sees to those blinded by ignorance.
This concludes our comprehensive list for any and all sci-fi bookworms out there. Phew, it’s been a wild ride! Whether you’re searching for romance amidst rebellion, coming of age and self-discovery, or rebellion against oppressive control, these stories have everything you can imagine—and more! So pick your next adventure, and prepare for an exhilarating journey into the realms of resistance, resilience, and, most importantly, hope.
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The Uglies series is recommended for readers aged 12 and up. It is categorized as a young adult book series, and it deals with identity, societal expectations, and rebellion, all themes well-suited for teenagers and young adults forming and finding strength in their own identity. However, that is not to say it isn’t a gripping story with excellent world building that can be appreciated by all ages.
In addition to the books included in our list, a series whose plot and themes are closest to the Uglies is Lauren Oliver’s Delirium. Like Tally, Lena is awaiting her birthday, which goes hand in hand with a mandatory medical procedure that will make her numb to love, which in her world is considered a dangerous disease.
Yes, Uglies is the first book in a series of four. The sequels are Pretties, Specials, and Extras. The first three books follow Tally’s journey as she navigates the challenges of her society, making new allies and enemies along the way.
Eirini is a passionate book nerd with a keen penchant for the whimsical and the witty. She holds a degree in English Literature - because what's better than reading books for homework? - and delights in dissecting the subtleties of storytelling. When it comes to fiction analysis, she is determined to turn every stone and go through every theory of the stories that excite her. Known for her playful approach and keen observations, her contribution offers readers a delightful exploration of literary themes that resonate with enthusiasts and casual readers alike.
