Neal Shusterman's young adult novels explore thought-provoking dystopian themes. His popular series Arc of a Scythe begins notably with Scythe.
If you enjoy reading books by Neal Shusterman then you might also like the following authors:
If you like Neal Shusterman's imaginative YA worlds and sharp social commentary, give Scott Westerfeld a try. Westerfeld's books examine thought-provoking issues through gripping stories and relatable characters.
His novel Uglies imagines a future society that enforces mandatory beauty-related surgery. Like Shusterman, he shows the dark side behind seemingly perfect utopias.
Suzanne Collins shines with action-packed storytelling and powerful themes that ask hard questions about violence, power, and survival. Readers who appreciate Shusterman's thoughtful examination of mortality in futuristic worlds will be intrigued by Collins' The Hunger Games.
This thrilling series dives deep into inequality, sacrifice, and rebellion in a chilling dystopian setting.
Fans of Shusterman's fast-paced narratives and moral complexity will find much to enjoy in Veronica Roth's writing. Roth explores similar themes, including identity, tough moral decisions, and society's role in shaping individuals.
Her novel Divergent introduces a divided society that sorts people by personality groups, mixing thoughtful insights with suspenseful action.
If Neal Shusterman's suspense and imaginative world-building captivate you, James Dashner delivers a similarly suspenseful reading experience.
Dashner's novel The Maze Runner sends readers into a mysterious, dangerous environment full of puzzles, threats, and tough moral dilemmas. Like Shusterman, Dashner writes stories that pull readers quickly through compelling scenes with high stakes and engaging characters.
Marie Lu's writing shares Shusterman's knack for challenging characters with ethically complex situations in vivid, dystopian worlds. In her book Legend, Lu tells the story of two protagonists from opposite sides of a starkly divided society.
She asks sharp questions about loyalty, identity, and justice, keeping readers eager to see how her characters navigate themes similar to Shusterman's.
Cory Doctorow writes smart, fast-paced stories that combine near-future technology with sharp social commentary. He tackles issues of digital freedom, surveillance, and individual rights.
If you enjoyed Shusterman's thought-provoking stories, try Doctorow's Little Brother, a novel about teen hackers taking a stand against government surveillance and fighting for their privacy.
Paolo Bacigalupi creates gritty and intense visions of a future shaped by environmental collapse and scarce resources. Like Shusterman, he explores the difficult moral choices that arise in troubled worlds.
Check out Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker, where a teenage scavenger struggles to survive in a harsh coastal landscape dominated by class divisions, poverty, and climate change.
M.T. Anderson is known for his dark satire and sharp insight into society and technology. His books often feature uneasy futures shaped by corporate power, media influence, and consumerism.
Fans of Shusterman's dystopian stories will appreciate Anderson's Feed, a powerful look at a world where people receive ads and news directly into their brains and the consequences it has on creativity, thought, and humanity.
Patrick Ness writes imaginative and emotional stories that blend engaging storytelling with challenging moral questions. Similar to Shusterman, Ness deals with tough themes, such as loss, violence, and the search for identity.
One standout is his novel The Knife of Never Letting Go, a suspenseful tale set in a world where every person's thoughts are loudly audible, making secrets impossible.
Margaret Peterson Haddix is great at crafting accessible, suspenseful stories that explore themes related to identity, family secrets, and oppressive societies. Like Shusterman, she creates imaginative, thought-provoking fiction that appeals to teens and adults alike.
If you enjoy Shusterman, try Haddix's Among the Hidden, a gripping children's dystopia about a boy born into a society where third children are forbidden and he must stay hidden from the outside world.
Amie Kaufman creates imaginative stories filled with fast action and unique characters that readers root for right away. Her tales often mix elements of dystopia with vivid worlds and gripping challenges.
In Illuminae, co-written with Jay Kristoff, Kaufman experiments with storytelling through letters, transcripts, and files, introducing readers to an epic struggle amidst space battles and conspiracies.
Jay Kristoff writes intense, darkly thrilling stories full of sharp dialogue and distinctive characters. His writing is vivid and sharp, and often explores harsh worlds where protagonists fight to survive and protect those they love.
In Nevernight, Kristoff guides readers through the shadowy corridors of a deadly assassin school, blending elements of fantasy, revenge, and coming-of-age themes.
Pierce Brown crafts dramatic science fiction stories resolved around gripping conflicts, dynamic characters, and intricate political struggles. His novels raise tough questions about society and identity against the backdrop of war-torn universes.
In Red Rising, Brown introduces readers to a rigidly structured, unjust society where one young man's rebellion sparks violent revolution and complex intrigue.
Ransom Riggs combines eerie fantasy elements, historical settings, and heartfelt coming-of-age stories in his fiction. His novels feature characters discovering unexpected truths about themselves while facing demanding situations.
In Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Riggs takes readers through a mysterious orphanage, blending vintage photographs with supernatural events in an inventive, atmospheric story.
Jason Reynolds writes honest stories about teenagers and their realities. His engaging narratives explore heavy themes such as community challenges, injustice, friendship, and personal growth.
In Long Way Down, Reynolds uses powerful verse to tell the story of a young man confronting grief, revenge, and difficult moral decisions during a life-changing elevator ride.