7 YA Books That Explore the Struggle Between the Haves and Have-Nots

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In my book THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD ENDS, a teen on a scholarship sneaks into a party filled with her wealthy prep-school peers. As a ‘have-not’ in a world full of ‘haves,’ she just wants a taste of the glamorous life for a night, but she ends up in a twisted game of lies that turns deadly.

The theme of Haves Vs Have-Nots has been explored in YA fiction across all genres, from thrillers like mine, to contemporary romance, mystery, even historical fiction. Here are nine titles that stand out:

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

All Avery wants to do is win a scholarship and get out. So when Tobias Hawthorne – a billionaire she doesn’t even know – dies and leaves her a fortune, she thinks her luck is about to change. But in order to receive her inheritance, Avery must move into Hawthorne House, with all its puzzles, passageways and secrets – not to mention Hawthorne’s grandsons who are determined to take Avery down and secure the inheritance for themselves.

Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore

In this queer and trans remix of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, it’s 1922 and Nicolás Caraveo is a trans teen moving to New York to start his life as a man. His cousin, Daisy, has a wealthy fiancé and has erased her Latina heritage to pass as white. And then there’s Jay Gatsby, who throws dazzling parties all to impress Daisy. When Nick learns that Jay is trans too, they become closer, and Nick is drawn in by the spectacle of Gatsby’s life, but also by his idealism.

The Marvelous by Claire Kann

Six teens. One mansion. And one huge cash-prize. Jewel, an heiress and social media maven, has invited six members of her app to her estate for one memorable weekend. The teens must complete challenges, solve puzzles and overcome obstacles in order to win – no matter the cost.

My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life by Rachel Cohn

When foster kid Elle discovers she’s the daughter of a Japanese hotel mogul, her whole life changes. She flies to Tokyo to live with her long-lost family, and suddenly finds herself living a life of private planes, high fashion and new friends who spend more money than Elle’s ever seen. Adjusting to a world of Haves after being a Have-Not doesn’t come easy, and when a new crush threatens to disrupt it all, Elle must find the inner strength to be herself.

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

A girl has gone missing in Castle Cove, and her grandmother is offering up a huge reward to anyone who finds her. Alice, the missing girl’s ex-BFF, teams up with Iris, who could use the reward money to disappear herself. Together, they use the work of Agatha Christie to help them search for clues, but the closer they get to solving the case, the more dangerous their little town becomes.

Genuine Fraud by E Lockhart

Jules and Imogen are the best of friends…until they aren’t. Imogen is a wealthy heiress, a free spirit moving from one place to the next. Jules is a social chameleon on the run, and her talent for reinventing herself takes her far. But what happens when Jules’ obsession with Imogen collides with her need to transform into someone new?

Love Jacaranda by Alex Flinn

When a video of foster kid Jacaranda singing goes viral, a secret benefactor gives her a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school to study music. While there, she becomes Jackie, leaving the image of a foster kid with a mom in jail behind. The competition is fierce, and Jackie finds herself getting swept up in the world of wealth and privilege – and swept off her feet by a certain boy. But if the truth about Jacaranda comes out, will he accept her for who she is?

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