The Only Thing to Fear by Caroline Tung Richmond

Release Date:  September 2014

Genre: dystopian/speculative fiction

When and Where:  near future, in an alternative world where the Axis powers won World War II

Protagonist:  16 year old Zara

The Story:  80 years following World War II, the former United States is occupied by Nazi soldiers who enforce the will of the Fuhrer.  Hitler's super-soldiers, genetically altered in a timely fashion that allowed the Axis powers to crush the Allies, are feared and respected.  Zara, only 16 years old, lives with her uncle.  She desperately misses her mother, who died in an act of rebellion.  When Zara witnesses a terrible act against a beloved family friend, she joins the resistance, determined to remove the Nazi government from power and ensure a different future for those she loves.  Added by an unlikely ally, Zara has a secret she's ready to use to support her cause.

Reaction:  At times disturbing and distressing, The Only Thing to Fear is a wildly imaginative speculative fiction novel that mixes history, science fiction, and hints of romance.  At times the novel read like an X-Men comic book, but I enjoy that style of writing, so I found the tale very entertaining.  There were some similarities to The Hunger Games (is Zara similar to Katniss, or what?), but I think fans of the genre will appreciate more of this type of character. 

If You Liked...  The Hunger Games and Among the Hidden, then The Only Thing to Fear is right up your alley.

Rating:  4

Teacher Notes: n/a

Paradigm by Ceri A. Lowe

Release Date:  June 2014

Genre: Dystopian

When and Where:  Past - London, England; Future -  The Community, run by The Industry

Protagonists:  Alice (the past) and Carter (the future)

The Story:  87 years ago, the Storms started, destroying the land.  Alice Davenport, stuck in her apartment after her mother left for work, goes to sleep as the rain starts and wakes from a fever to find the world forever changed.  The Storms haven't stopped, London is flooded, and the water continues to rise.  Surviving by using her wits, Alice is rescued by a group of people from Paradigm Industries.  Taken to an underground stronghold to wait out the Storms, Alice grows from a timid child to a determined young woman.  Life as part of The Industry is infinitely appealing - everyone is treated equally, everyone's needs are met, and no one goes hungry.  The Model ensures that everyone and everything in The Industry runs efficiently, and Alice is an eager part of this new world order.

87 years into the future, Carter Warren has woken from stasis as a Candidate for Controller General.  He must prove his abilities outreach those of the other potential Candidates, and many people within the community believe that Carter will be able to bring dissenters back into The Industry fold.  As Carter prepares to prove himself, he investigates a rebellion to which he is unexpectedly tied; the rebellion has a stronger hold than Carter expects, and The Industry has been keeping secrets.

Reaction:  Wow, wow, wow!  I loved Paradigm!  Switching back and forth between the past and the present, this unique novel shares the end of the world and how people adapted to it through Alice's story and the outcome of the development of a new world order, through Carter's story.  This dystopian novel focuses more on the development of a new society and the implications for people as society continues to evolve (or devolve).  The narrative switching in this novel is artfully done, though I must admit that I found Alice's story more interesting than Carter's.  Left with a major cliffhanger, Paradigm is the first in a trilogy, and I will absolutely be reading the second and third stories in the series - Carter's story is just getting started, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

If You Liked...  Legend or The Knife of Never Letting Go, then Paradigm  will be right up your alley!

Rating: 5

Teacher Notes: This novel touches on sensitive issues including pregnancy and assault. 

Damselfly (Damselfly #1) by Jennie Bates Bozic

Date: November  2013

Genre:  Fantasy/Dystopian

When and Where: 2065, Denmark

Protagonist:  Lina, 16 years

The Story:  For the past sixteen years, Lina has been led to believe that she is the star achievement and one-of-a-kind creation of the Lilliput project.  At six inches tall and with the wings of damselfly, Lina has spent her entire life learning how to survive in a world where everything, from her creators to the wild things in nature, are bigger and stronger.  Lina has fantasized about turning sixteen for years, dreaming of a day when she is old enough to make her own way in the world and to meet with Jack in real time instead of online worlds via virtual reality.  Turning sixteen is nothing Lina imagines, however, as she is considered to be inhuman, despite her human DNA.  She is forced to participate in a reality show where she is introduced to six young men, Toms, who also happen to be her size.  Realizing that everything she has been told is a lie and that she is considered less than human and determined to prevent Jack from harm, Lina is coerced into  participating in the reality show, which is intended to force her into selecting a mate. Nothing is as it seems, everyone seems to have a hidden agenda, and Lina doesn't know who to trust.

Reaction:  There's a lot going on in this smart, unusual fantasy/dystopian novel.  Budding romance and dystopian undertones clash in a novel that has moments of lighthearted fun and moments of pure sadness.  Despite being isolated, Lina is surprisingly similar to other teens her age.  Author Jennie Bates Bozic nails the teen voice and angst while delving into themes addressing human and animal rights and bio-ethics.  The one flaw in the book that really stands out is the epilogue.  It felt out of place and unnecessary to me, what with all the hints that are included in the climax and resolution of the tale.

If You Like...  fairy tales, this book is for you!

Rating:  4 stars

The Darkest Path, by Jeff Hirsch

Release Date:  October 2013

Genre: Dystopian

When and Where:  Set in the not-too distant future in an America ravaged by civil war

Protagonist:  Callum Roe, aged 15

The Story:   Callum Roe is a reluctant member of the Glorious Path, a militant religion sweeping across the United States and forcing citizens to "make the choice."  Cal's unit is an elite fighting force, and Cal has been forced to use his youth too to influence the enemy too many times.  When Cal protects a stray dog from the vicious kennel master, Cal manages to escape his captors and attempt to travel across the country to his home and his parents.  The trip is nothing like what he could have imagined, and his actions set the stage for a shocking turn in the war.

Reaction:  The Darkest Path is a violent, intense novel that addresses heavy issues, including religious freedom and bigotry, sexism, materialism, and the negative effects of capitalism.  Lightened by the inclusion of a dog and some potential romance, the novel shares many of same elements as other popular books within the dystopian genre.  The intensity begins with the first sentence, and the fear doesn't really fade too far from the reader until the final lines of the book; simply put, this book is hard to put down!  While there are many dystopian books targeting teens right now, this book's unique take perspective on religion makes it stand out.

If You Liked...  The Hunger Games, Unwind, or The Knife of Never Letting Go, then you are likely to enjoy The Darkest Path.

Rating:  4 stars

Teacher Notes:  The Darkest Path is an "easier" book to read than The Hunger Games, Unwind, or The Knife of Never Letting Go, but it addresses similar issues.  It would be an excellent addition to a dystopian-themed book club or literature circle.

Inhuman, by Kat Falls

Fetch #1
Scholastic
ISBN:  978-0545370998
October 2013
Young Adult

INHUMAN, the first in the Fetch series, is an engaging dystopian adventure, blending action and science fiction in new ways.  In the not-too-distant future, the United States has been ravaged by disease.  Lane McEvoy has spent her entire life hidden on the safe side of the Wall, which separates the safe West from the hazardous East via the Mississippi River.  The East, known as the Feral Zone, is populated by those infected with the Ferae virus and criminals no longer welcome in the West.  When her father disappears and is implicated in a crime against the government, Lane is forced to enter the Feral Zone to find her father.  Relying on the survival skills she learned in classes and enlisting the unlikely assistance of two young men, Lane is determined to locate her father.  As ill-prepared as Lane is for the violent life on the other side of the wall, she is even less prepared for the truths the government has concealed. 

INHUMAN shares a lot of the same elements as other dystopian novels, such as THE HUNGER GAMES, DIVERGENT, and ASHES, and like these other books, the target audience is middle grades and up.  Fans of the genre, regardless of age, will enjoy this dark and interesting tale because of the heavy themes that dominate the novel, including abuse of power, medical ethics, and quality of life.  The premise of a deadly virus causing permanent loss of life and change to a country is quite believable, though some of the outcomes of the mutation of the virus are a little more far-fetched.  In INHUMAN, the author successfully establishes a believable futuristic world, a heroine who doesn’t yet know her own inner strength, and a potential love triangle that’s sure to keep readers hooked.  Ending in an emotional cliffhanger that will both please and taunt readers, INHUMAN is an engaging, action-packed adventure sure to successfully ride the wave of dystopian literature that is so very popular at present. 

Rating:  4