Branching Out: Books for Fans of The Hunger Games

This is the first book in Philip Reeve’s award-winning sci-fi quartet, Mortal Engines, in which entire cities are motorised on wheels and frequently fight each other for survival.

Set in a distant, dystopian future, the predatory traction city of London is a terrible place, with the richest living in luxury on the top tiers and the poorest living in squalor far down below. But there is another, more hopeful city in Reeve’s book. Batmunkh Gompa is beautiful, carved from rock with tiers of terraces and balconies, sparkling lakes, lush gardens, and brightly coloured taxi balloons. With its slogan ‘we shall make the world green again’, this is the utopian dream – and definitely the one readers would prefer to live in.

This gripping, post-apocalyptic thriller will have young sci-fi lovers in Year 7 and above on the edge of their seats.

‘New You For Ever’ is a futuristic thriller where artificial intelligence has taken over the world – a world that is suffering from the devastating effects of climate change – a world where extreme measures are being explored to solve the climate crisis.

The ‘New You Foundation’ is giving people the chance to turn themselves into a Pleeka – a replica of their own body with their personality and memories uploaded but importantly a body that can live forever without using up scarce resources such as food and water. Advocates of the Foundation are calling for everyone to turn Pleeka to take the strain off Earth, and influencers and celebrities are jumping on the bandwagon.

Anders and his dad are journalists reporting on the Foundation. But Anders becomes suspicious about the true intentions of the organisation and he is determined to discover the truth.

This is an easy gripping read, which explores an extreme future scarily based on reality. It will certainly make you think!

Lois Lowry’s award-winning book The Giver has become known as a modern classic for secondary school pupils.

This engaging novel is a fantastic introduction to dystopian fiction, exploring conformity versus individuality and the vital role of memory and choice. The book introduces readers to Jonas’s seemingly perfect community, where everything is controlled. Jonas becomes selected as the Receiver of Memory uncovers a hidden past filled with emotions and experiences deliberately suppressed. This eye-opening role forces Jonas to question the value of societal rules and the human cost of their so-called utopia.

Jonas’s journey of discovery encourages students to think critically about societal control and the importance of freedom and emotion, making it a powerful and thought-provoking narrative for this age group. A must-read!

Robert Swindells’ Brother in the Land is a much-loved story of survival, first published in 1984, with a post-apocalyptic setting.

 This powerful story plunges the reader into a world shattered by nuclear war, tapping into public fears that are still as prevalent today as they were when it was first published during the Cold War. The story follows Danny Lodge and his younger brother as he navigates the grim aftermath of a nuclear bomb, his hometown now a scene of devastation and emptiness.

Without the comforts and safety of civilised society, Danny contends with a landscape where danger abounds – including the impact of radiation and the inevitability of human selfishness. Meanwhile, his efforts to protect his sibling are admirable as he strives not to give up hope. The narrative is an unflinching look at human responses to the fight for survival.

Brother in the Land is a stark and highly memorable adventure, recommended for Year 9.

Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet is a powerful survival story that has stood the test of time and would resonate with readers in Key Stage 3.

The novel follows 13‑year‑old Brian Robeson, who is travelling alone to visit his father when the pilot of his small plane suffers a heart attack. Brian crash‑lands in the Canadian wilderness, beginning a gripping journey of resilience and self‑discovery. With only a hatchet and his determination, Brian learns to build shelter, find food, make fire, and face the challenges of nature, from curious beavers to unexpected encounters with bears. Alongside the adventure, Brian is also dealing with the emotional impact of his parents’ recent divorce and a secret he carries about his mother.

This is a beautiful story of resilience, growth and being at one with nature.

Monique Turner’s debut novel captures the current obsession of today’s teen and young adult audience with the draw of internet fame and fortune, balanced neatly with the negative impact and reality of just how much hard work can be involved in the endless supply of ‘shorts’ that the social media moguls supply.

What appears at first to be a crime thriller quickly transpires to be a light look at a reality game show, but then flips the narrative again as the sinister underbelly of the influencer world is exposed with a glimpse of a dystopian future.

A good story to provoke discussion among teens, this is most likely to appeal just for the joy of reading independently, and the subject combined with a fast pace could make it appealing for those reluctant readers who might otherwise prefer a screen to a book for entertainment.