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Health & Fitness

They've Read the Hunger Games - Now What?

An uncertain future, good vs. evil, nonstop action - here are some books to fill the void left after reading The Hunger Games!

Good vs. evil, an emerging hero, nonstop action, mysterious circumstances, dark surroundings - these are all the qualities of a great novel. They also happen to be the qualities in the new dystopian novels that are gaining in popularity since The Hunger Games.

Great plots and strong characters are the basis for these books, but it's the idea of a world that is different and worse than our own that is so compelling. And let's be honest, it's a nice break from the vampire books!

Title:      The Maze Runner

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Author:  James Dashner

Target:  Grades 6-10

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Series:   Yes, a trilogy

What this book is about:

Thomas wakes up in an elevator, his memory blank. When the doors to the elevator open, he is surrounded by a group of boys, a farm-like setting and stone walls. The stone walls are closed every night to keep out evil creatures that inhabit the darkness and opened during the day to expose an elaborate maze. The boys are convinced that this maze holds the key to their way home.

What I love about this book:

The premise is riveting. Why are they here? Can they figure out the maze, and if they do will it save them? There is plenty of action and lots of cliffhangers. I didn’t love the main character, Thomas, but many of the supporting characters were well done and I was invested in the outcome! While this book does have a conclusion of sorts, it also sets the reader up for the next book by creating new doubt.

Who this book is for:

Kids who like the unknown and imagining different worlds. This book has a little science fiction bent as well. There are some more graphic death scenes, so be forewarned if that is an issue!

Final thoughts:

The mystery will suck you in. Be prepared to read all three books in this series.

To see my full selection of dystopian books for a variety of grade levels, please go to my website at www.onegreatbook.com

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