If you like these new teen lit hits, check out what came before them

I was reading a review of The Giver on Reading Teen yesterday and it got me thinking.  There are all sorts of popular new books out these days, but what about the ones that came before?  There are people who don’t realize that the “new” genres and plot twists they love were already done ten, twenty, thirty years ago.  So in the interest of giving those books some credit, let’s take a look at the oldies. 

If you like Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, you’ll love . . .

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

-- The nation is becoming overcrowded and the Population Police have taken drastic measures.  Only two children per family, and they’re enforcing it with death.  Luke is one of the hidden, the third child of a family determined not to break the rules again.  Until he meets Jen, another third child who’s been contacting other third children on a secret network.  She’s determined to start a revolution, and escape into the light.  A fast-paced adventure with high stakes and an endearing main character.  (Thanks to C.J. Listro of Sarcasm and Lemons for letting me know about this one!)

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

-- You’ve read the copies; here’s the crown jewel in the dystopian family.  The world is broken into massive states governed by powerful men who rule with iron fists, including the oppressive Big Brother.  Winston Smith works for the government, but nurses a secret wish to return to a time before the Thought Police controlled every form of communication, before Newspeak replaced creativity.  The famous story of what happens when free thought is taken over. 

If you like Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, you’ll love . . .

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice

-- Starting with Interview with a Vampire and continuing through The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, and many others, this series was one of the very first to take the undead and make them sexy.  Lestat has all the class of a French noble with old money, twice the allure of Edward Cullen, and adventures that bring the world to its knees:  a dangerous child vampire, an ancient vampire queen who wants to destroy the human race, a body switcher, a demon with a death-wish.  And these vampires definitely have fangs. 

Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

-- When teenager Darren Shan sneaks into a scary freak show with his best friend Steve, he thinks it’s just for fun . . . until they realize that all the tricks are real, and dangerous.  Steve tries to steal a rare and poisonous spider and gets bit.  The spider’s owner Mr. Crepsley will only give Darren the antidote if Darren agrees to become a vampire and become his apprentice.  However Steve’s dream is to become a vampire; he believes that Darren stole his dream, and sparks an all-out war between the vampires and vampaneze, bloodsuckers who live by no rules but their own thirst.