Lois Lowry, "Messenger"

It's a long time since I read The Giver, but I seem to remember enough of the plot to connect this sequel into the general scheme of things. In any case, this would work quite happily as a standalone, and, indeed, I didn't feel greatly hard-done-by having missed the second book of the trilogy. (Not that I wouldn't read that... um, you know what I mean!)

Anyhow, this is a quick read, a utopia-dystopia, wandering rather further beyond the realms of realism than The Giver and consequently rather less frightening (though if you were to ask me again in a dark forest I might revise that statement...). All the same, a suspenseful and poignant book, well worth a read.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/9957262