This Woman Is Tweeting The Ultimate Dystopian YA Novel And It's Hilarious
Protagonist who's not like everyone else? Check. Oppressive regime? Check. Trains? You're goddamn right there's trains. Via @DystopianYA.
A new Twitter account is playfully skewering popular dystopian Young Adult fiction series like The Hunger Games and Divergent.
Set up by Dana Schwartz, a writer and comedian from Chicago, @DystopianYA plays on genre tropes to create a fun parody story.
The account began tweeting on February 11, and immediately won an audience. It's easy to see why:
I didn't know that I was born to be different.
Dystopian YA Novel@DystopianYAFollow
I didn't know that I was born to be different.
3:00 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
People from This Category haven't gotten along with people from That Category. Well, not since the Civil Schism.
People from This Category haven't gotten along with people from That Category. Well, not since the Civil Schism.
3:02 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
It's not Communism if none of us call it Communism.
It's not Communism if none of us call it Communism.
3:02 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
"Are you Valentine Neverwoods?" She asked with a stern tone. I nodded slowly. "I usually go by Val," I said.
"Are you Valentine Neverwoods?" She asked with a stern tone. I nodded slowly. "I usually go by Val," I said.
3:04 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
I just feel like there should be MORE beyond this gated community none of us have ever ventured beyond.
I just feel like there should be MORE beyond this gated community none of us have ever ventured beyond.
3:07 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
My sister Harpa played with her hair. In a lot of ways, she reminds me of a metaphor for my childhood innocence.
My sister Harpa played with her hair. In a lot of ways, she reminds me of a metaphor for my childhood innocence.
3:08 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
Schwartz told BuzzFeed: "It's definitely an affectionate parody."
"I loved dystopian stories as a kid. Books like The Giver and Ender's Game really shaped my childhood but what they had in common was a kid who for whatever reason was special and had to challenge the role he was given from the adults around him.
"As I've grown up, I still enjoy those sorts of stories, but I've become a bit more cynical and attuned to the certain tropes that kept repeating."
"Anthem!" I cried out, "Your rebellious sacrifice isn't worth it!" Anthem looked back at me. "You're worth everything to me, Val."
"Anthem!" I cried out, "Your rebellious sacrifice isn't worth it!"
Anthem looked back at me. "You're worth everything to me, Val."
3:09 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
Adults don't understand. All they've learned is how to go about their days without questioning anything.
Adults don't understand. All they've learned is how to go about their days without questioning anything.
3:09 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
I have gangly limbs and a feminine form just beginning to take shape. I'm not beautiful, but my green eyes are nice.
I have gangly limbs and a feminine form just beginning to take shape. I'm not beautiful, but my green eyes are nice.
3:12 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
Turns out the grownups you once blindly trusted shouldn't have been blindly trusted at all.
Turns out the grownups you once blindly trusted shouldn't have been blindly trusted at all.
3:13 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
Adolescence is a confusing time to discover my own identity. Good thing the Infallible System will determine my identity for me.
Adolescence is a confusing time to discover my own identity. Good thing the Infallible System will determine my identity for me.
3:20 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
"Since I read Divergent a few years ago, I became hyperaware of the sort of tropes that have become overused in YA novels."
"Things like trains, overly simplified first-person narration, and love triangles. I started another parody Twitter account a few months ago @GuyInYourMFA, and I realized how fun it was to skewer overused literary cliches.
"So, two nights ago, I decided to do the same thing for YA writing, not really intending it to be a full or cohesive story, more just a collection of random sentences and elements.
"But as I wrote and saw the response, I realized it would definitely be more interesting to try to add plot and tell something from start to finish."
I always saw Ermias as more of a brother to me.
I always saw Ermias as more of a brother to me.
3:22 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
You'd think a first love would distract me from taking down the Corrupt System, but you'd be wrong.
You'd think a first love would distract me from taking down the Corrupt System, but you'd be wrong.
3:24 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
I once could have been happy in this System. Not anymore.
I once could have been happy in this System. Not anymore.
3:25 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
It just seems like I don't fit into our Society's prescribed categories.
It just seems like I don't fit into our Society's prescribed categories.
3:38 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
"He's an Other," she said, with venom in her mouth. "We've been taught not to associate with their kind."
"He's an Other," she said, with venom in her mouth. "We've been taught not to associate with their kind."
3:41 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
"I'm writing it day-by-day at the moment. More like minute-by-minute. I’m a very impulsive tweeter."
"Although since I've decided to turn it into more of an actual story, I've been trying to plan ahead and figure out where I'll take it.
"I have to hope that eventually Valentine Neverwoods will be able to stand up to the System that runs her Colony and find true love along the way, deciding between the handsome boy-next-door and the equally handsome bad boy with a troubled past.
"But who knows what might happen!"
None of us remember what it was like in the Before Time. I think they called it "America"
None of us remember what it was like in the Before Time. I think they called it "America"
3:46 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
This was my first time riding the Train.
This was my first time riding the Train.
3:50 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
Anthem held my hand, but I couldn't stop thinking of Ermias and how he had kissed me when I least expected it. What were these feelings?
Anthem held my hand, but I couldn't stop thinking of Ermias and how he had kissed me when I least expected it. What were these feelings?
3:50 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
Maybe the all-powerful Totalitarian government doesn't know best after all. And maybe I can fight it.
Maybe the all-powerful Totalitarian government doesn't know best after all. And maybe I can fight it.
3:53 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
I'm plain looking and shy. There's no way two guys would be fighting for my love right? This world is more confusing than it first appeared.
I'm plain looking and shy. There's no way two guys would be fighting for my love right? This world is more confusing than it first appeared.
3:56 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
"It's had positive response so far."
"I’m lucky that people have seemed to recognize that it all comes from a place of love.
"Clichés aren't necessarily bad - they're cliché for a reason! But by pulling elements from the most popular YA universes (which have no doubt built off each other), I'm creating a world that everyone can easily recognize, and hopefully one that reminds people that it might be time to try something completely new."
I'm so clumsy. I accidentally spilled the Nutrition we had for dinner all over my grey tunic.
I'm so clumsy. I accidentally spilled the Nutrition we had for dinner all over my grey tunic.
5:07 AM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
It's the night before my 17th birthday, which means in a few hours, I'll have to face the mysterious Test to determine my future.
It's the night before my 17th birthday, which means in a few hours, I'll have to face the mysterious Test to determine my future.
12:54 PM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
I'm the best SlateBoarder in the entire Colony. Maybe it's not much, but I'm tough.
I'm the best SlateBoarder in the entire Colony. Maybe it's not much, but I'm tough.
4:26 PM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
Some things are more important than order! Things like independence and freedom!
Some things are more important than order! Things like independence and freedom!
4:28 PM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
"My name is Valentine Neverwoods," I said, my knees shaking. "And I'm making a very brave choice that will mean standing out for good."
"My name is Valentine Neverwoods," I said, my knees shaking. "And I'm making a very brave choice that will mean standing out for good."
8:00 PM - 11 Feb 15ReplyRetweetFavorite
Follow @DystopianYA on Twitter for more of the story.
You can also find writer Dana Schwartz on Twitter.
H/T io9.