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Survival Show by Juno Dawson

Survival Show

Juno Dawson

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers · Print & ebook · August 4, 2026

A Young Adult pick for readers exploring Survival Show.

YA Dystopian FictionYA LGBTQ+Satirical YAsurvival
More
romance
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Who it’s for
Readers interested in a teen's high-stakes singing competition.
Themes
Dystopian satire, Family responsibility, Survival under coercion
Genres
YA Dystopian Fiction, YA LGBTQ+, Satirical YA

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For younger readers: Cut Loose! (the Chance to Fly #2)

For older readers: The Creative Fire, Space Opera

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About this book

American Idol meets The Hunger Games in this campy, dystopian satire about a teen betting her life that her singing talent can make her a star from the celebrated author of This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson. The world just seems to take and take from Taryn Beck, but there’s one thing it’ll never have: her voice.

Continue reading

Only when she’s singing does Taryn feel like she can escape her reality—free from the aftermath of the War, free from the Scottish refugee camps where she and her family now live, and free from the responsibility of making ends meet for the sake of her sick brother. Taryn’s voice is her one ticket out, and that’s why she enters to be a contestant on the world’s most watched television program: Starmaker, where kids from the New Peace Global Alliance compete for the chance to join an all-singing, all-dancing pop group. Rise to the top, and a life of luxury, stardom, and money awaits. There’s only one small catch. The lowest ranking face a televised public execution. Starmaker thanks their participants for their noble sacrifice to Project Population. Taryn’s about to sing for her life.

Where it sits

YA Dystopian Fiction76%
Satirical YA40%
YA LGBTQ+40%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • YA Dystopian Fiction
  • Satirical YA
  • YA LGBTQ+
Authors
Juno Dawson
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published
August 4, 2026
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Dystopian satire · Family responsibility · Survival under coercion
Reading lane
YA Dystopian Fiction