Twilight, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games… fantasy novels are taking over the world of fiction. Here are a few lesser-known books that are just as out of this world.

 

Generation Dead

By

Daniel Waters

 

Generation Dead is not your typical zombie novel. Heartwarming and provocative, it actually makes you fall in love with the undead.

Set in contemporary United States, hordes of American teens have risen from the dead. Luckily they do not have an affinity for human flesh and merely resemble the average teenager. They are termed the “differently biotic” and integrate into normal American life. The novel is driven by a love triangle between goth girl Phoebe, her neighbor Adam and the zombie Tommy. But inevitably many humans view the “differently biotic” as gross and unnatural creatures that must be eradicated, and this causes tension.

 

Generation Dead is engrossing and forces one to view the zombies’ plight as an issue of discrimination rather than one of a missing heartbeat. The novel’s sequels are just as tantalizing and come with countless twists and turns.

 

The Darkest Minds

By

Alexandra Bracken

 

In Alexandra Bracken’s world, a mysterious disease termed IAAN has killed the majority of American children. Those who survived have developed frightening abilities, including telekinesis, electrokinesis and mind control. In order to tame this crisis, the American government has confined all children to “rehabilitation camps”. Similar to concentration camps, these so-called rehabilitation centers have resulted in the abuse and death of thousands of innocents. For the past six years, sixteen year-old Ruby has been locked away at one such camp and has only narrowly survived. She is rescued by a group of terrorists who wish to use her abilities to take down the American government. Ruby, however, escapes this terrorist organization and teams up with three other misfit superpower teens.

The Darkest Minds is filled with nonstop action and though it’s a young adult novel, the book discusses some of the most harrowing aspects of the human condition.

 

Divergent

By

Veronica Roth

 

Divergent has often been touted as the new Hunger Games, but in my opinion that’s a gross understatement. Divergent is 10 times more intriguing and thought-provoking. Set in the remnants of destroyed Chicago, society has rebuilt itself to be a more peaceful and efficient entity. People are divided into factions: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Each faction remains separate but works together to maintain the prosperity and improvement of human society. At the age of 16, each person must choose what faction they will belong to for the rest of their life. Beatrice Prior finds this task exceedingly difficult because she is different - she is “divergent”.

The perfect combination of dystopia, horror, and love, Divergent is a must-read. Watch for it this year as it makes its silver screen debut.

 

I Am Number Four By

Pittacus Lore

 

Though penned by the author of A Million Little Pieces, I Am Number Four deals with entirely different subject matter. The novel and its sequels follow a group of nine teenage aliens from the planet Lorien. Ten years ago their planet was destroyed in a battle against the evil Mogadorians and those who survived fled to Earth to develop their innate powers called legacies and live in secrecy, protected by a charm that only allows them to be killed in a specific order.

 

This particular novel follows the story of John Smith, otherwise known as “Number Four.” Although the novel is completely based in fantasy, it is shockingly well written and engrossing. With all the series’ twists and turns, you can’t help but want to learn more about John and his companions.

Skip Michael Bay’s terrible movie adaption of I Am Number Four and read the book instead.

By: Tina Cody

What’s in Bahar’s Book Bag? 

The following is a non-comprehensive list of all the novels I keep nearby to satisfy whatever I may be feeling at any given moment. If anyone’s interested (I’d certainly be curious to see who), I have a similar list for 90’s music (insert “Stacy’s Mom” for every category) and mafia movies. And food.

If I’m feeling homesick: The Harry Potter novels (from the Goblet of Fire and onwards) by J.K. Rowling.

These books make me overwhelmingly nostalgic. I’m often reminded of all the breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and baths I took with Harry as my companion (oh don’t I wish) as well as all the screaming matches I had with my mother, threatening to pull a Tiannmen’s square if she didn’t hand over my hidden books. I all but jumped off a cliff when my letter from Hogwarts never came. My e-mail at one point was Quidditch_champ_me_seeker@thisemailshouldbeillegal.com. Yup, it’s a bunch of words that won’t make a sentence no matter how you slice it.

Favourite Quote: “NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU BITCH!”

If I’m feeling uninspired: The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss.

It’s lovely and moving and hopeful and hopeless and leaves me with a so-beautiful-it-hurts gnawing ache somewhere deep inside. It’s so intricately woven that I discover something new and special with each read.

Favourite Quote: “When will you learn that there isn’t a word for everything?”

If I want to see what all the fuss is about and/or I’m feeling turned on (kidding): Fifty Shades of Grey, by: E.L. James.

I’ve never actually felt especially compelled to read this novel, but every once in a while I’m curious enough to want to flip it open to a random page to allow the words to taint my pure and innocent mind. One time I even tried to find the e-book but it proved difficult so I opted for porn instead. Kidding again.

Favourite quote: A good friend of mine: “I was so secretive about reading it on the subway on the way to class…until I realized every other person around me was reading it.”

If I’m actually feeling turned on: Everybody Poops, by Minna Unchi

Favourite Quote: “An elephant makes a big poop – a mouse makes a tiny poop.”

If I’m feeling nostalgic about my trip to Europe: A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemmingway

I read this novel during stolen moments this past summer just before I went to bed after a day in Lyon or London or Geneva and I finally finished it on my three-hour train ride to Paris. I would recommend this novel to anyone who finds writers pretentious but doesn’t always mind, someone who wants to go to My Dog Joe and order a pumpkin spice latte and read something that might make you feel like even more of a dreamer, or someone who likes to underline words when they sound take-a-deep-breath-wonderful together.

Favourite Quote: “You belong to me and all Paris belongs to me and I belong to this notebook and this pencil.”

If I actually want to do my school reading: The Odyssey, by: Homer

Favourite Quote: Beats me. Ask me again in a few weeks.

If I’m feeling Midnight-in-Paris and want to live in another time period: Anna Karenina, by: Leo Tolstoy.

I don’t know what it is exactly that makes me want to live in Anna’s time. Maybe it’s her repressive, conservative, slightly misogynistic society. Or the incredibly tumultuous Russian political climate in which she lives. No – it’s definitely the fact that her story’s frighteningly, heart-wrenchingly sad. Either way, for at least the first half of the novel, I find myself longing to be Anna in that voluptuous black dress and matching black gloves, seducing Vronsky and all of Russia with a single dance.

Favourite Quote: “All the girls in the world were divided into two classes: one class included all the girls in the world except her, and they had all the usual human feelings and were very ordinary girls; while the other class – herself alone – had no weaknesses and was superior to all humanity.”

If I want to scratch that itch and finish an unfinished childhood series: Princess Diaries: Forever Princess. ‘Nuff said.