Top Ten Tuesday 2

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's topic is The Top Ten Books I'd Recommend to Someone Who Doesn't Read X.

So, since dystopian novels are my current obsession, I thought I'd go with that!

Top Ten Books I'd Recommend to Someone Who Doesn't Read Science Fiction

1. The Giver by Lois Lowry

Heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, and totally surprising at the end. This book was the unit I would look forward to every spring with my seventh graders!

2. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

This book has tickled many a reluctant reader. It has an engaging plot for just about anyone, even folks who swear they don't care for sci-fi.

3. Matched by Ally Condie

I'd recommend this one to girls who are hesitant to delve into the sci-fi waters. It seems to appeal to those who like to stay in the contemporary or romance genres, as well as science fiction fans.

4. Feed by M.T. Anderson

I remember reading this book in college as one of my first-ever YA reads, and it blew my mind. Even though it is a few years old now, the social critique is still relevant, and the humorous voice of the narrator is interesting to all.

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

It isn't all hype - this book is actually that good. Violence for the boys, romance for the girls, and reality TV for us Survivor fans (though I realize I am one of about five of those left in the USA :), this book has a little bit of everything.

6. Unwind by Neal Shusterman

A very interesting social critique that is played out through teenage runaways, this book was so action-packed, I sometimes forgot that I was in an alternate reality. The world building was convincing without being tedious or over-the-top. Basically, I just love anything Neal Shusterman writes.

7. Divergent by Veronica Roth

Though some have criticized this book as too "Hunger Games-esque," I thought that it had plenty of interesting differences. Tris' self-doubt and ultimate self-discovery certainly have universal appeal.

8. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

This book is just hilarious. Anyone who appreciates random humor would enjoy this book, spaceships and aliens aside.

9. The Host by Stephanie Meyer

I have used this one as a cross-over for many of my little "Twi-hards." It is just as romantic as the Twilight series, but falls into that lovely crossover fantasy-science fiction-romance category that makes it more widely appealing.

10. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Technically, you could classify this one as horror, but since it also involves the collapse of our current society and the hope to create a better one, I am impudently putting it on my list. For those who love scary stories, or even some doomed romance, this entire trilogy is well worth the read.