The Maze Runner

“The Maze Runner” is an exciting, action-packed dystopian novel about a boy named Thomas who wakes up in a lift with his memory wiped. He exits the lift and finds himself in an area surrounded by a maze with walls that close nightly to keep monsters out. A girl arrives the day after Thomas comes and triggers “the ending,” which causes the sky to be gray and the walls to the maze to not close, letting the monsters inside of Thomas’ new home. Thomas must conquer the maze in order to survive.

Between Shades of Gray

“Between Shades of Gray” is a historical fiction novel by Ruta Sepetys structured around the struggles of a Lithuanian girl who is cruelly torn away from her home. Arrested by the Soviet secret police and on her way to be deported to Siberia, Lina fights for her life, vowing to avenge her family if she ever was set free. This award-winning novel tugs at your heartstrings and explores the power of love and perseverance when your world feels like it’s falling apart.

Lord of the Flies

“Lord of the Flies” is a beautifully-written coming of age story that highlights the realism of the young male mind, and captivates it in an action-packed  and suspenseful tale that still touches readers today. The story follows a group of British boys who are stranded on a deserted island and have to fend for their lives, as they attempt to survive conflict arrives and splits them into factions that struggle for power, while each castaway deals with the effects of isolation on their spirit. 

Heartless

“Heartless” by Marissa Meyer is a twist on a classic story we all know. Set in the fantasyland of Alice in Wonderland, we explore what happened before Alice came along. We all know the ruthless Queen of Hearts, but how did she become “heartless?” In this story we follow Catherine, a humble baker, as she falls in love with the king’s court jester, who was sent there to steal her heart.

Divergent

“Divergent” was my absolute favorite book series when I was in middle school. The series follows Tris, who discovers she is divergent in a world where everyone is expected to fit into set categories, also known as factions. This book provides the ultimate escape and deep dive into a dystopian world. It’s a page turner, and I can recall sleepless school nights staying up late to get through one more chapter. Fans of action, adventure and themes of friendship and individuality will enjoy this immersive read.