24 Books Like The Hunger Games
Are you a fan of dystopian adventures filled with suspense, action, and complex characters like those found in “The Hunger Games”?
If so, you’re in luck!
In this blog post, we’ll explore a selection of books that share similar themes and elements, offering readers thrilling journeys through imaginative worlds where survival and rebellion are at the forefront.
Whether you’re craving another gripping series or searching for standalone novels to satisfy your hunger for captivating stories, these recommendations are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Let’s dive in!
Books Like The Hunger Games
1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
This dystopian novel set in a futuristic Chicago is centered around a society divided into five factions based on human virtues. The protagonist, Tris Prior, must choose her faction and confront a conspiracy that threatens her society. Like “The Hunger Games,” it features a strong, young female lead facing extraordinary challenges.
2. Maze Runner by James Dashner
In this thrilling series, teenagers with wiped memories are trapped in a massive maze with unknown dangers. The story focuses on Thomas, who arrives in the maze with no prior memories and must work with the other “runners” to escape. The series is filled with suspense, mystery, and action.
3. Legend by Marie Lu
Set in a dystopian future where the United States is divided into two warring nations, “Legend” tells the story of June, a prodigy from a wealthy sector, and Day, the country’s most wanted criminal. Their paths cross in an unexpected way, leading to revelations that change their lives.
4. The Giver by Lois Lowry
This novel introduces a seemingly utopian society where there is no pain, fear, war, or hatred. The protagonist, Jonas, is selected to inherit the position of Receiver of Memory, the person who stores all the past memories of the time before sameness. He uncovers the dark truths about his community’s existence.
5. Matched by Ally Condie
In this story, society dictates everything: what to read, watch, believe, and even whom to marry. Cassia has always trusted the Society’s choices, but when she finds herself falling for someone other than her “matched” partner, she begins to question the rules.
6. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
In a future where love is deemed illegal and can be eradicated with a special procedure, 17-year-old Lena looks forward to her treatment. However, her world turns upside down when she falls in love a few months before her scheduled procedure.
7. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
In a world where everyone is surgically altered to be “pretty” at sixteen, Tally Youngblood looks forward to her operation until she discovers a whole new side of the pretty world – and the truth about what the surgeries actually entail.
8. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
After the Earth is decimated by multiple waves of an alien invasion, Cassie Sullivan searches for her younger brother, hoping they can survive. The novel explores themes of survival, humanity, and the will to fight back against overwhelming odds.
9. The Selection by Kiera Cass
This novel combines dystopian elements with a royal competition, where 35 girls compete for the heart of a prince and the crown. For America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare, turning her into a competitor for a crown she never wanted and pitting her against her own desires.
10. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
In a world divided by blood – red or silver – Mare Barrow’s red blood destines her for a life of servitude, until a twist of fate reveals she has powers similar to those of the silver-blooded elite. Thrust into the Silver world, she must navigate a dangerous game of power and betrayal.
11. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Juliette’s touch is fatal, and with her lethal power, she’s been locked away as a threat. When the Reestablishment sets her free as a weapon for their use, Juliette must decide if she’ll become the warrior they want or follow her own path.
12. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
In a town where everyone can hear each other’s thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds called Noise, Todd Hewitt discovers a spot of silence, which is impossible in his world. His discovery sets him on a collision course with the secrets of the town.
13. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
A futuristic retelling of Cinderella, where Cinder is a cyborg mechanic in New Beijing. She becomes entangled in intergalactic politics and a forbidden romance, uncovering secrets about her past that could affect the future of Earth and her own freedom.
14. The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano
In a dystopian future where a genetic experiment has gone wrong, men live only to age 25 and women to age 20. Rhine Ellery is kidnapped and sold as a bride to a wealthy heir, where she must navigate the complexities of love, truth, and freedom.
15. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
After a disease kills most of America’s children, the ones left with superpowers are deemed too dangerous for society. Ruby, one of the powerful ones, escapes her camp and joins a group of runaways seeking a safe haven.
16. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Set aboard a spaceship bound for a new planet, this story follows Amy, a cryogenically frozen passenger who wakes up 50 years too early. She must unravel the mystery behind her premature awakening and the ship’s dark secrets alongside Elder, the future leader of the ship.
17. Gone by Michael Grant
In the blink of an eye, everyone over the age of 15 disappears from the town of Perdido Beach, leaving behind a chaotic world where bizarre abilities begin to manifest in the children and teenagers left behind.
18. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Aria, expelled from her enclosed city into the outer wastelands, teams up with Perry, a wild outsider, to survive. They discover a world ravaged by storms and inhabited by those who have adapted to the harsh environment.
19. The Young Elites by Marie Lu
After surviving a blood fever, Adelina Amouteru discovers she has developed mysterious powers. She becomes a member of the Young Elites, a group of similarly powered individuals. However, their intentions may not be as noble as she first believes.
20. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
In a post-apocalyptic world, the United Commonwealth wants to find the best and brightest of the next generation to lead the rebuilding efforts. Cia Vale is chosen for The Testing, a brutal series of exams and tasks meant to prepare the candidates, but she quickly learns the true cost of success.
21. Enclave by Ann Aguirre
In a future where humanity lives underground to survive, Deuce, a young huntress, faces dangers from monstrous creatures known as Freaks, and discovers unsettling truths about her society and the world above ground.
22. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Saba’s journey to rescue her kidnapped brother in a wasteland world is marked by fierce battles, unbreakable bonds, and a tyrannical ruler. Her quest is filled with challenges that reveal her inner strength and the power of love.
23. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight for their right to live. As they journey to safety, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways, challenging their beliefs and desires.
24. Partials by Dan Wells
In a post-apocalyptic world decimated by a virus and war with engineered beings called Partials, humanity’s survival hinges on finding a cure. Kira, a young medic, believes the key to the cure lies in the genetics of the Partials and embarks on a dangerous mission to save her species.
