It's a Mad World: Dystopian Novels

dystopia
[dis-toh-pee-uh] noun 

• a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding.

"dystopia." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 07 Apr. 2015. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dystopia>.



Here is a selection of dystopian novels available in the school library:

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• Title: Graceling
  
• Author: Kristin Cashore
  
• One sentence plot summary: Katsa has a special set of skills that her uncle, the King, makes her use to his advantage, but usually against her own.
  
• Where I found the book: Wakefield Memorial High School - Gov. Volpe Library
  
• Why I chose to highlight the title: This title flies off our library's shelf and Kristin Cashore attended Simmons College (same place Miss Kelly originally studied librarianship). 
  

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• Title: Birth Marked
  
• Author: Caragh M. O'Brien
  
• One sentence plot summary: Gaia works as a midwife with her mother, but something isn't quite right when they have to hand over some of the children to the Enclave. 
  
• Where I found the book: Wakefield Memorial High School - Gov. Volpe Library
  
• Why I chose to highlight the title: Originally I was just superficially attracted to the title because the author has an Irish name. After reading a few pages I was immediately reminded of Lois Lowry's Gathering Blue (one of my favorite dystopian novels). I haven't finished reading this title, but I am intrigued. 

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• Title: Feed
  
• Author: M.T. Anderson
  
• One sentence plot summary: In a brave new world, Titus has to navigate the murky waters of consumerism, fake friends, and love all while sounding like a Kardashian (helllloooo upspeak!)
  
• Where I found the book: Wakefield Memorial High School - Gov. Volpe Library
  
• Why I chose to highlight the title: We see a steady trickle of circulation with this book. We have a ton of copies available and ready for a group read and/or book club. 

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• Title: Pills and Starships
  
• Author: Lydia Millet
  
• One sentence plot summary: In the future, everything is illegal. 
  
• Where I found the book: Wakefield Memorial High School - Gov. Volpe Library
  
• Why I chose to highlight the title: I love the cover of this title. I've been told it resembles one of my favorite novels, White Noise by Don DeLillo. The book also has some interesting takes on the pharmaceutical industry. I recently finished Ben Goldacre's Bad Science, which had a similar take on the ills of big pharma companies. Critics had mixed reviews on this title, I'll have to give it a go myself. 

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