For older middle grade readers, discovering the dystopian genre can feel like stumbling upon a hidden gem.

Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember is an excellent example, featuring a world with a corrupt government that severely restricts resources. This book, the first in a four-part series, also inspired a 2008 film adaptation.

In The List by Forde, the focus shifts to the power of language and its impact on society.

The Middler by Applebaum explores the complexities of interacting with unfamiliar people as well as which people in a society are valuable.

Among the Hidden by Haddix showcases the consequences of resistance and defying an oppressive regime. This novel, the first in a seven-book series, is known for its engaging, quick-paced storytelling.