Neal Shusterman is the king of YA dystopia. If you’re wondering where best to dive into his work, look no further than our guide to all of his books published by Walker.
Arc of a Scythe series
If you’re new to Neal Shusterman, there is no better place to start than Scythe. This dark and gripping trilogy is set in a world where disease, war and crime have been eliminated, and the only way to die is to be gleaned by a professional scythe. When Citra and Rowan are chosen to be apprentice scythes, they have no option but to learn the art of killing. But choosing their victims is only the start. Only one of them will be made a scythe’s apprentice, and the winner will have to glean the loser…
All Better Now
Neal’s latest book is the first in a duology that brings the very nature of happiness into question. Anyone who catches and survives the Crown Royale virus experiences long-term utter contentment. But a world without negative emotions is bad for business. The search for a cure begins, whilst others plan to spread the virus as fast as possible. Meanwhile, the lives of Mariel, Rón and Morgan are upended as they become embroiled in a power play that could change humanity forever.
Dry, co-written with Jarrod Shusterman
When the California drought escalates to catastrophic proportions, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbours and families turn against each other on the hunt for water. And when her parents don’t return and her life – and the life of her brother – is threatened, Alyssa has to make impossible choices if she’s going to survive.
Challenger Deep
Challenger Deep tells the story of Caden Bosch, a boy torn between two realities: one where he’s a brilliant high school student, and another where he’s on a ship heading for the deepest point on Earth. Told through a unique storytelling format, this is a powerful and captivating novel about schizophrenia and mental illness.
Game Changer
As a star player on his high school American football team, Ash is used to taking some hard hits. But that one run in his last game must have knocked him a little loose, because suddenly his life doesn’t look quite the way he remembers it. As Ash bounces into worlds that are almost-but-not-really his own, he starts to question everything, including his own perceptions and place in his own reality. But can he even work out how to get back there?
Roxy, co-written with Jarrod Shusterman
Above our world is a toxic wonderland where the party has raged for centuries. Humans know the partygoers simply as “narcotics”, “opioids”, “drugs”. But here they are malevolent gods, toying with the fates of mortals. Roxy and Addison have made a wager to see who can be lethal the quickest. Isaac and Ivy Ramey are their targets. This is the start of a race to the bottom that will determine life and death. One Ramey will land on their feet. The other will be lost to the Party. The only question is… Which one?