I read a lot of young adult books, despite being well above the age of the average target audience. I think that young adult (YA) literature, particularly those with science fiction and dystopian themes, appeal to so many people because they focus on rebellion, empowerment, and they are often very intense and engaging. Reading about dystopian futures and revolution also gives us a sense of control and power over what happens in our lives. We can suspend disbelief, delve into a world of fantasy, and play with ideas that usually aren't possible in the real world.
One of my favorite YA science fiction series that follows a Marxist premise is the Red Rising trilogy by Pierce Brown. It follows the story of Darrow, a young man from the lowest caste (the Reds) of a color-coded society, who is coming of age in a dystopian future. Darrow and his fellow Reds work all day in mines below the surface of Mars. They believe that the surface of Mars and other planets are inhabitable, so they believe they are working hard and sacrificing their lives to make Mars livable for the future of humanity.
However, Darrow and others learn that they have been betrayed by the highcolors who have been exploiting the lowcolors' lives for wealth and power. The highcolors, of course, represent the upper class, the bourgeoisie, while the lowcolors like Darrow represent the proletariat.
In the first book of the trilogy, Darrow is pulled into a world of rebellion and revolution as he infiltrates the Gold society. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who wants to read the books, so I won't go into any more details about Darrow's journey, but the key takeaway is that oppression breeds revolution.
What do you think about YA science fiction and dystopian literature? Is it pandering to the audience or do you think that these types of books help us see the world and society from a different perspective?
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