LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — With the rise of BookTok, realistic fiction is an increasingly popular category. For an entirely accurate reflection of modern American society, check out these three titles.

“1984”: George Orwell

1984 follows a man named Winston Smith living under the rule of the Party in London, Oceania. The party controls everything in Oceania, even creating a new language called Newspeak to squander political discourse. Thinking about rebellion is illegal, and with the Party’s leader Big Brother everywhere, thoughtcrimes can be deadly.

Winston works for the Party in the Ministry of Truth, where he alters historical records to suit their needs. He falls in love with a coworker and must navigate their relationship while avoiding scrutiny by the Party.

Altering historical records? Censoring free thought and speech? Silencing political debate? This book is so realistic it’s practically non-fiction! While some critics may claim the book is a dystopian critique of our loss of privacy, others maintain that it was always intended to be a realistic portrayal of modern life. Don’t let the realism of the book deceive you, though, “1984” is engaging and full of suspense.

“Lord of the Flies”: William Golding

At the start of the next world war, a plane full of evacuated British school boys crash-lands on a remote island. With no adults left, the boys must learn how to adapt and survive on their own.

A 12-year-old named Ralph is elected chief, and the novel follows his struggle for power and fight to maintain his sanity in a hopeless situation. As the boys grow wilder and the war comes closer, they struggle to keep their rules and logic in order.

Plane crashes feel more relevant than ever this year! Maybe someone should check if the plane was a Boeing? The premise may seem a little unrealistic – a group of boys on a remote island – but the poor leadership and turn to savagery make the book feel grounded and realistic.

In fact, the boys’ violence and confusion are reminiscent of Los Alamitos High School’s Senior Assassin this year. For a relatable and exciting read, this book is sure to not disappoint.

“The Hunger Games”: Suzanne Collins

In what used to be North America, the Capitol controls its 12 districts by forcing each to pick two tributes, a boy and a girl, to compete in the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the tributes fight to the death on national television, with the lone survivor being crowned victor.

When Katniss Everdeen’s sister Primrose is selected as tribute, Katniss volunteers to take her place. The story follows Katniss through the Games, a complicated love triangle and a rebellion.

While the other two may seem far away from us, the North American setting of “The Hunger Games” makes it all the more relevant to American readers. Although the United States government does not currently endorse televised fights to the death, I can absolutely see this becoming commonplace in the next few years!

LAHS has already begun its own version of the Hunger Games – the Griffin Games. Currently, students are not allowed to cause bodily harm, but who knows, that may change soon!