It seems Hunger Games fans are in a lull right now and since the sequel The Hunger Games: Catching Fire won’t be out until November 2013, the HG fansites put out their recommendations for what to read while waiting the 500-something days before it does come out.
Here’s what Shylah from Down With The Capitol had to say about Matched:
Imagine living a life where all of your decisions are made for you, from what you eat to where you work to who you love. There are no mistakes, no accidents; as long as you follow the Society’s rules, you’ll live a long, productive life. At least that’s what Cassia believes until her Match Ceremony when she finds out that the boy she is destined to marry, Xander, is not the boy whose face flashes past on her dossier – the mysterious Ky. As Cassia explores her feelings, she delves deeper into the warped structure of the Society, learning with each passing day that her life of privilege comes at a cost. Armed with a desire for truth, and to simply make her own decisions for once, will Cassia choose to abandon the path laid out for love? Hunger Games fans will find lots of similarities in the Matched series- from a strong heroine in Cassia to a corrupt government in the Society – and with the third book set to come out this fall, there is still time to get hooked before the grand finale!
Here are some other recommendations:
Kait – Victor’s Village – Divergent Trilogy
The city of Chicago has been barred off from the rest of the world, the government absolved. What lies in its place are five factions dedicated to holding up the virtues they hold dearest: Abnegation (The Selfless), Amity (The Kind), Candor (The Honest), Dauntless (The Brave), and Erudite (The Intelligent). At age 16, every individual must choose their own faction. The decision should be easy for Tris Prior until she finds out some shocking news about herself. When Tris joins the most dangerous of all the factions, she finds herself facing the destruction of everything she loves. Divergent is a refreshingly original book filled with almost non-stop action. The characters are a perfect combination of charming, flawed, and badass without getting totally unrealistic. As Tris transforms from a meek nobody to a leader, you can’t help but be enthralled by her, even at the times when her decisions are outrageous.
Crystal – Mockingjay.net/Fictionalfood.net – Ender’s Game
Decades ago, Earth was attacked by the Formics, an alien race that made no contact except to start killing humans. Now, the military on Earth has joined forces to create the International Fleet and they search the planet for the world’s smartest child that will be raised to become the military genius that will lead the human fleet to win the war. Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is six years old when he’s drafted into the IF to head into Earth’s orbit to the Battle School where he must face a grueling physical and psychological training among the world’s most brilliant children. They train in the Battle Room and Ender must face intense bullying at the hands of the older kids jealous of his amazing abilities. The movie starring Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Viola Davis is coming out a mere three weeks before The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and I can’t even imagine what an exciting and busy month that is going to be. I got to visit the set in New Orleans for my fansite, EnderWiggin.net, in May and, as a fan of the book for 21 years, it was a dream come true. Hunger Games fans will love it.
Savanna – Hunger Games Fireside Chat – Delirium Trilogy
Can mankind live without love? Is a life without love even worth living? These questions lie at the heart of Lauren Oliver’s Delirium, the first book in a dystopian trilogy that was recently optioned by Fox 2000 Pictures. Set in Portland, Maine, Delirium depicts a “happy and safe” society in which love – a.k.a. amor deliria nervosa – is considered a dangerous disease and has been almost entirely eradicated. At the age of 18, all citizens undergo a government-mandated surgical cure, and Lena – our protagonist – is scheduled to have her procedure in exactly 95 days. While Lena is understandably nervous about the operation, she doesn’t question it; in fact, she looks forward to it … until, that is, she meets Alex, a mysterious young man who changes everything. Delirium is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully written pieces of YA literature that I’ve ever had the privilege of reading. The story does unfold a bit slowly, but Oliver’s prose is so lovely and descriptive that every moment spent with this book is completely worth it. Trust me! And for those of you who prefer faster-paced narratives, the sequel, Pandemonium, is much more energetic and action-packed.
Amanda – The Hob – The Mortal Instruments
One of my favorite YA series is The Mortal Instruments, and currently the first book (of six) – City of Bones – is being adapted for the big screen. It’s set in modern day NYC with a group of half human/half angels called Shadowhunters who are responsible for protecting the world from demons. There are also vampires, fairies, werewolves and other creatures called “downworlders.” The first book is about a teenage girl, Clary, learning about the Shadowhunter world while also learning about her own past … and of course there’s a ridiculously attractive bad-boy named Jace. There is much more to the plot, but it’s nearly impossible to explain within a limited word count because so much happens. (Seriously, reading the production company’s attempted plot synopsis for the film even left my head spinning!) And believe me when I say, this book contains one of the biggest, most shocking plot twists ever. As for the movie adaptation, it’s been floundering for a while – change in production company and director, delayed casting (because fan favorite for Jace, Alex Pettyfer, declined the role) – but if they do this film right, it could be unbelievable. The movie is set to be released on August 23, 2013.
Adam – Hunger Games Fireside Chat – His Dark Materials
I took some liberty by choosing His Dark Materials, since The Golden Compass has already been made into a film, but any great lover of this extraordinary trilogy knows that first attempt at a movie – though featuring an excellent cast – failed miserably in its goal of appealing to a broader audience and satisfying ravenous fans. With a lower budget and a much more faithful script, a second go-around could be extremely successful and very much beloved. Pullman’s masterpieces are adventurous but also profoundly dark – a timbre The Golden Compass movie disregarded. Give us the real thing! Fancy special effects aren’t needed, nor are big-name actors. Lyra deserves better, and her full story deserves to be on screen.
There are several other books recommended, so check out the full article on movies.com to get more insight to The Trylle Trilogy, The Underland Chronicles, Legend, The Fault In Our Stars, The Vampire Academy, The Beautiful Creatures series, Quarantine: The Loners, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Paranormalcy.
Matched Fandom 