Dystopian states of mind : identity, mental health, and the private-public sphere in The Hunger Games and Chaos Walking

Although science fiction is maligned in some quarters as escapism, two recent, popular young adult dystopian series offer themes that parallel realities of contemporary teenage life, primarily around identity in a world where internet and social media have dissolved the boundaries between private and public spheres. The following discussion focuses on these issues, with brief reference to the themes of mental health that become linked with identity in the two series: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Chaos Walking, by Patrick Ness.