Dystopian books for children and teens
Dystopian books for children and teens with titles by George Orwell, Margaret Atwood, Suzanne Collins, Stephen King, William Golding, Kazuo Ishiguro, Ray Bradbury, Jordan Ifueko, Yoko Ogawa, and Patrick Ness.
Billy Ray author page
Billy Ray biography
Billy Ray is an American screenwriter, director and author. He wrote the screenplay for The Hunger Games (2012) and was nominated for an Academy Award for his adapted screenplay for Captain Phillips (2013). His credits as writer-director include Shattered Glass and Breach, and his television work includes creating and writing the miniseries The Comey Rule.
Ray’s debut young adult novel, Burn the Water, will be published by Scholastic in 2026. The book launches a planned duology and reimagines Romeo and Juliet as a dystopian romance set in a flooded future London.
Alongside screen and book work he has hosted the industry podcast Strike Talk, discussing the Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes with creatives and union leaders.
Ray won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Captain Phillips in 2014.
Biography writer: Joanna Nance-Phillips
Children’s literature expert and primary school teacher with 30+ years of experience running a primary school library, teaching literacy and tutoring in the UK and abroad. Articles and reviews by Joanna Nance-Phillips 
How to spot which books will appeal to 14-16+ year olds based on social media trends | Series 1, Episode 40
Season 1, Episode 40 of the School Reading List podcast. New book post, 30 great books for April 2026 and How to spot which books will appeal to 14-16+ year olds.
March 2026 book club picks
March 2026’s book club includes titles by Ruth Brown, Julie Sykes, Emily Jones, Claire Powell, Love Ssega, Erika Meza, Jenny Jacoby, Emma Swan, Ramzee, Kimberly Whittam, Robert Muchamore, Billy Ray, and Alexis Henderson.
Burn the Water by Billy Ray
Burn the Water is a YA dystopian Romeo and Juliet as rival soldiers fall in love in drowned London, risking execution while strange vessels arrive and centuries of hatred threaten everything.
Our picks of the best children’s books coming out in spring 2026
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in spring 2026. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Bestselling books by Billy Ray
Browse Billy Ray books on UK.Bookshop.orgBrowse Billy Ray books on Waterstones.com
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