1. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Maze Runner book is written in the genre of youth dystopia and is the first book in the series. The story is about Thomas, the protagonist, 16 years old, who finds himself in the largest maze and, together with other boys, is looking for a way out. The struggle for life through the prism of the so-called game unites this book and The Hunger Games.
2. Divergent by Veronica Roth
The main character of the Divergent novel series, Beatrice Prior, lives in a world divided into five factions, namely Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Each year, all sixteen-year-olds must choose a faction to which they will devote their lives, so a girl must decide whether to stay with her family or become who she was born to be. The Hunger Games and the Divergent series share many plot details and keep you in suspense until the very end.
3. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
In Battle Royale, fifty randomly selected students are forced to fight to the death. The rules of the fight are as cruel as possible. If no one is killed during the day, the collars around the participants' necks will explode and kill everyone. It is believed that The Hunger Games was written based on the book by Koushun Takami, but Suzanne Collins denies this. In any case, if you are a fan of The Hunger Games, you will like this book.
4. The Selection by Kiera Cass
The Selection series consists of five books. The first tells the story of 35 girls for whom the selection is a chance to change their lives. Their world is divided into castes from the richest to the lowest, and this division is what The Hunger Games and The Selection have in common.
5. Scythe by Neal Shusterman
It's hard to imagine that the world you live in is free of hunger, disease, suffering, and even war. However, such a world exists in the book Scythe, and in it, the only ones who bring death and take care of the population are scythes. This so-called profession requires training, and Citra and Rowan were chosen to pursue it. If you refuse to kill, they will kill you. Does it remind you of The Hunger Games and its characters’ struggle for life?
6. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The book Lord of the Flies tells a story where a plane crashes on a deserted island, and a group of schoolchildren are left unattended by adults. They do whatever they want in the dew, but eventually, their desire for fun fades, as does their hope for rescue. In this work, William Golding illuminates an apocalypse full of evil, fear, and death. Dive into this gray atmosphere and experience the same thrill you felt while reading The Hunger Games.
7. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid's Tale is a novel about life in a new city that has replaced the United States. It is the Republic of Gilead, and the story is told by one of the maids of the new social class, Offred. This is a funny, horrifying, and compelling story that makes you think about life. The tense atmosphere and cruel rules are common features between the book The Handmaid's Tale and The Hunger Games.
8. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
The novel Uglies reveals the importance of beauty in the world through the example of sixteen-year-old Tally. Soon, an operation will transform her from ugly to beautiful, and she will live her best life. But why does her new friend Shay not want to change and run away? Over time, Talley learns more about the world of beauty and realizes that it is not so attractive. The authorities put pressure on the girl to make an important choice, the consequences of which will be far-reaching. Looks like the Capitol’s actions in The Hunger Games, doesn’t it?
9. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Love is a disease with a cure, and this is the theme of Delirium. The protagonist, Lena Halowa, leads a love-safe lifestyle and has to wait 95 days to be able to undergo the procedure called the Cure for all 18-year-olds. However, Alex, a boy who lives under government surveillance, appears in her life. Again, in addition to the theme of love, the theme of government control is prevalent in the book, just as it is in The Hunger Games.
10. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Red Queen is a story about Mare Barrow, a girl who belongs to the red part of people, the protohumans, but gets a job in the palace with representatives of silver blood. She despises them and eventually finds out that she, an ordinary girl, can destroy the balance of power. The dangerous dance of war, where she is part of two sides, is what lies at the heart of the plot. As in The Hunger Games, the central figure in the Red Queen book series is a girl who wants to win and tries to fight against the authorities.
11. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Could you imagine parents donating their children for organs? The novel Unwind tells these children’s story. Technically, they don't die. They just live in a divided form because 100 percent of their bodies are transplanted to other people. The plot centers on three children, Connor, Risa, and Lev, whose lives intersect at a house where they have to wait for the so-called last day, but they have an idea. As in The Hunger Games, the children unite against the common enemy and try to change the course of events.
12. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Rebecca Yarros's books take readers into a fantasy world, as in the case of Fourth Wing. The story centers on an elite and brutal military college for dragon riders that aims to protect the kingdom. But as always, the supreme governments have their secrets, and their disclosure will bring great danger. This book portrays brave young people who stand up for their rights and fight for justice. Which book in The Hunger Games series illustrates this theme the best?
13. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Fahrenheit 451 is a classic of world literature that tells about a dark, dystopian future. It is one of the famous books written by Ray Bradbury. Through the main character, Guy Montag, the author describes the importance of literature and its value compared to television shows. You will find yourself in a violent world where people live in fear of having their homes destroyed because a book is found. Once again, oppressive political systems and scared people are common threads that link The Hunger Games and Fahrenheit 451.
14. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang
The Poppy War tells the story of Rin, a girl admitted to Sinegard, the most elite military school in Nikan. Coming from a low-income background and being black, she faced bullying. But out of the shocking and positive facts, Rin discovered that she has unearthly strength and is skilled in shamanism. Unfortunately, on top of all these events, the Third Poppy War is coming, and the girl can stop it, but at a great price. What will she do, and will she be as brave as the main character of The Hunger Games?
15. Legend by Marie Lu
Day and June are the main characters of Legend. Young people who come from different classes but crossed paths due to certain circumstances and learned about the terrible secrets of their country. Like The Hunger Games, the book is dominated by military themes and the terrible leadership of the Republic, which is constantly at war with its neighbors.
16. The 5 Wave by Rick Yancey
The 5 Wave is a book about the choices that Cassie, a girl who has been through four waves, is forced to make. The fifth wave is coming. Cassie wants to survive and save her brother, so she prefers to be alone until she meets Evan Walker. She has to choose whether to trust him or not, to give up or move on. Just like in The Hunger Games, the main characters are young people fighting for their lives. Will there be a happy end for them?
Young adult literature surprises with its scale, variety of genres, and originality. The list of suggested books has a lot in common with The Hunger Games, so this list will come in handy for fans and admirers. Stories about struggle and justice are motivating, so reading seemingly fantastic literature; you subconsciously gain tips for improving reality.
