ABANDONED. YA Dystopian Fiction - A boy in a walled-in community

[Holly]

Hi all,

Been looking for this one forever.

I would have read this book between 1999-2005. It definitely could not have been published after 2006.

My middle school library had this book in their fiction section. If I'm remembering correctly, it was near the beginning of the section, which would make me believe the author's last name is closer to the beginning of the alphabet (maybe A-L, but not certain.) I remember reading it at the same time as another student in my class, so it's possible that it was popular enough that the library bought two physical/paper copies. But then again, I've searched lists and lists of popular dystopian novels between these years and not found it.

I don't remember much other than that the main character was male (maybe aged between 10-18?), and that part of the plot included that the community he lived in was completely enclosed/surrounded by a wall. I almost think a major plot point was leave the community/going beyond the wall, but I'm not totally certain. It seemed futuristic/dystopian, but I don't remember any elements of fantasy/magic/sci-fi type stuff.


(I always get "The Maze Runner" suggested when I ask others about this, but I know that can't be right because Maze Runner was published too late.)


Thank you!!

[Rainbowheart]

Off the Road?

[Capn]

It couldn't possibly be The Giver, could it? (Seems too obvious!). Many different cover images for that one...

[Andy Phillips]

I think this is quite a common theme. Was it a wall or an enclosed dome?

Could the people inside see what's going on outside? Why didn't they want to go outside?

Was it a real threat (zombies or monsters or whatever that they could see) or imagined/theoretical (the people in charge told them it was dangerous to go outside but not really why)?

[Capn]

Agreed. If it's a dome, there's a list for that:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

[Shawna]

maybe The City of Ember? though that's an underground city instead of walls...

[Angela]

Off the Road by Nina Bawden, maybe?

[Holly]

Wow everybody thank you SO much!! I can’t say for sure if it is solved, but I think “on the road” is the most likely by far as I know it’s not the others suggested here. Now to get my hands on a copy… :)

[SamSpayedPI]

Holly wrote: "Wow everybody thank you SO much!! I can’t say for sure if it is solved, but I think “on the road” is the most likely by far as I know it’s not the others suggested here. Now to get my hands on a copy… :)"

Off the Road is available at the Open Library: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16476...

[Kris]

Holly (OP) left the group. Moving to Abandoned folder.