Heartland Library Cooperative wants to wish everyone an exceptionally happy Earth Day, on April 22nd, 2022!
Earth day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, as a way of bringing awareness to the environmental issues that plague our world. Some of those issues being- climate change, biodiversity, and habitat loss. We celebrate the day in honor of the earth’s natural resources. However, Earth day isn’t just a holiday to cherish all the things the world has to offer, but to also open our own eyes as to how we affect the planet.
We as humans are capable of causing so much harm to our planet, but fear not! There are plenty of things we can do to give back to our planet every day! All year round you can participate in recycling, volunteer clean ups, water conservation, planting a tree, and more which are all ways that we can further preserve and protect our environments to show love for our world.
To show the significance of what could happen if we neglect our planet, below you’ll find a list of Dystopian books that show glorified/fictional versions of the threat we could one day face.
The Girl Who Dared to Think by Bella Forrest
In a world where going outside has deadly consequences, and the tower is all you know, Liana Castell fears the trials within. Simply living isn’t good enough to earn your place in the tower. Everyone born in the tower is marked with a counter that trackers your productivity, as well as your usefulness. All must prove they are of value to the society within the walls, or they risk the terrifying end that awaits if their numbers fall short. Liana should fear not only what she thinks, but what she knows, as she struggles to bring her numbers up.
Ready Player 1 by Ernest Cline
In 2044, the OASIS is the only place to find the utopia we could’ve had. Jumping into the perfect virtual utopia that is the OASIS, Wade Watts devotes his time to solving puzzles that are hidden within the virtual world. With the promise of immense power and fortune as the prize for solving these complicated, pop culture based puzzles, Wade takes it upon himself to try and win the game. However when he runs into other players who are willing to go to any means to win the grand prize, Wade starts to wonder if he bit off more than he can chew.
Shatter me by Tahereh Mafi
Poisonous to the touch, Juliette has avoided all human contact for 264 days. After discovering the deadly consequences of her power, accidental or not, the Reestablishment locked her up. With the world crumbling to pieces, and a rumor of war spreading through the survivors, a 17-year-old girl with powers was the last thing on the Reestablishment’s mind. That is until the rumors turn real, and a deadly touch suddenly rings with use.
Other dystopian themed novels:
- The Darkest Minds, by Alexandra Bracken
- The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
- The Handmaids Tale, by Margaret Atwood
- Scythe, by Neal Shusterman
- Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury