Read about the other entries on the list.The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
By now, everyone is familiar with The Hunger Games, and the dystopian postwar world it describes. While the basic concept of an oppressive central government wielding technological dominion over a more populous, less powerful citizenry is hardly new, but Collins tells the story with verve and surprising plot twists, leading up to one of the smartest climaxes in the revolt-against-dytopia tradition, as Katniss rejects the obvious victory—simply replacing one tyranny with another—and sacrifices everything she has left to give true freedom a chance. It’s an emotional gut-punch of an ending that elevates the story to a whole new level, reminding us that revolution has a cost.
The Hunger Games also appears on Tina Connolly's top five list of books where the girl saves the boy, Sarah Alderson's top ten list of feminist icons in children's and teen books, Jonathan Meres's top ten list of books that are so unfair, SF Said's top ten list of unlikely heroes, Rebecca Jane Stokes's top ten list of fictional families you could probably abide during holiday season and top eight list of books perfect for reality TV fiends, Chrissie Gruebel's list of favorite fictional fashion icons, Lucy Christopher's top ten list of literary woods, Robert McCrum's list of the ten best books with teenage narrators, Sophie McKenzie's top ten list of teen thrillers, Gregg Olsen's top ten list of deadly YA books, Annalee Newitz's list of ten great American dystopias, Philip Webb's top ten list of pulse-racing adventure books, Charlie Higson's top ten list of fantasy books for children, and Megan Wasson's list of five fantasy series geared towards teens that adults will love too.
--Marshal Zeringue