In an era where reality is slowly moving towards the fantastical technologies of science fiction, young adult science fiction books stand at a fascinating intersection of imagination and reliability.
Today’s young readers navigate the fast-paced technological world with ease. They are part of new ethical dilemmas and social transformations – themes that resonate very well through the lens of sci-fi books. The following curated selection of 5 young adult science fiction books doesn’t only offer escapism; these works also serve as metaphors for contemporary young adult experiences, with complex narratives that explore identity, authority, technological ethics, and the fundamental question of what it means to be human.
These five captivating books showcase the remarkable diversity that exists within the science fiction genre. Whether exploring artificial intelligence, parallel universes, or post-apocalyptic societies, these stories offer both a warning and hope – essential elements for young adult readers struggling with the increasingly complex modern world.
Let’s dive in!
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5. Skyward Flight: The Collection by Brandon Sanderson
This collection contains three novellas; Sunreach, ReDawn, and Evershore. Each novella follows a different character from the Skyward Flight team the main protagonist from the main series, Spensa, is away. The three characters include;
- Sunreach follows FM and the remaining members of Skyward Flight who work to understand the newly discovered cytonic hyperdrive technology while defending Detrius. The story explores FM’s growing romance with Rig while they race to develop technology to help their people.
- ReDawn follows Alanik, who returns to her homeworld of ReDawn to find it under attack by the Superiority. Working with Skyward Flight members, FM, and Jorgen, she tries to rally her people to resist the invasion.
- and Evershore follows Jorgen, who leads Skyward Flight to help defend the planet Evershore from Superiority forces. During this mission, they discover more about the nature of the delvers (mysterious entities that threaten all human civilization) and cytonic abilities. Jorgen struggles with his newfound cytonic powers while trying to be an effective leader.
The stories expand on the main events of Cytonic, the third main Skyward novel. The novellas dive deeper into the world of the main novels and provide a different perspective of the key events happening in other worlds connected to the main storyline.
These books are best read along with the Skyward series.
Why young adults would love this: The novellas touch on some key themes for young adult readers such as; leadership and responsibility, trust and teamwork, cultural understanding and differences as well as personal growth and adaptation to change.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletter4. The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold
This book is expected to be released soon, in January of 2025, but it already offers an amazing overview of a great young adult sci-fi novel!
The Last Bookstore is a young adult dystopian novel set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by climate change. The story follows Liz, a 17-year-old girl who has taken refuge in an abandoned bookstore after a catastrophic storm devasted civilization.
Maeve breaks into the bookstore as another storm is coming, and although Liz and Maeve initially clash, Liz agrees for her to stay as Maeve has the skills needed to repair the bookstore. Their story develops into a story of romance and survival as they face a group of survivors who attempt to steal their generator.
Why young adults would love this: The book offers a relatable protagonist, struggling with anxiety and fear in a post-apocalyptic world. It also explores important themes such as climate change, loss, and survival. It has a compelling plot and great LGBTQ+ representation.
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3. The Disasters by M.K. England
The Disasters is a standalone novel published in 2018 that combines space opera themes with coming-of-age. The story follows Nax Hall. He has been kicked out of the Ellis Station Academy after only 24 hours. The academy is an elite training facility for future space explorers and he is out!
Unfortunately for Nax and a group of other washouts, they become unexpected witnesses to a terrorist attack on the Academy. Branded as suspects in the attack, they are forced to go on a run in a stolen space shuttle. As their on-the-run journey progresses, they uncover a larger conspiracy threatening Earth’s colonies across the galaxy
Why young adults would love this: This book is all about finding your place when you don’t fit the conventional expectations. It also touches upon themes of strength of a found family, redemption, and second chances as well as handling failure and working together. All of those things that young adults need to better understand the world around them.
2. Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston
This is another space opera novel, also published in 2018. However, the fun twist in this one is that it blends science fiction with fairy tale themes!
The story follows Ana, a space orphan (that’s a new term), found drifting in a spaceship with a sentient android called D09. A group of outlaws rescue Ana aboard their ship called Dossier, which becomes her home.
The main story centers around Ana trying to find replacement parts for her android friend, D09. He is starting to malfunction and is deteriorating quickly. If this sounds a bit flat, don’t fret, because the story is told from various perspectives;
- From Ana’s perspective, the mysterious orphan,
- From D09’s perspective, the android with missing memories,
- From Robb’s perspective, the royal guard in training for a supposedly killed royal family,
- and from Jax’s perspective, a skilled engineer with his own secret.
Why young adults would love this: The book touches on a lot of deep and interesting themes. A lot of it is about self-discovery and identity. Also, there are themes of the nature of humanity, loyalty and betrayal, the meaning of family, and the role of memory in defining who you are.
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1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Cinder is the first book of The Lunar Chronicles series, published in 2012. It is a retelling of the Cinderella story, but it is set in a futuristic New Beijing. (this already sounds intriguing!)
The main character is Linh, a talented teenage cyborg mechanic who faces discrimination due to her cybernetic enhancements. The story is set in a post-World War 4 where Earth is threatened by a deadly plague and a potential war with the Lunars at the same time.
Prince Kai seeks Cinder’s help in repairing an android that might hold crucial political secrets regarding the war. The story explores Cinder’s discovery of who she really is and her true identity, which connects to the Lunar’s society.
It still has similar, traditional Cinderella tale elements, such as the ball, the lost shoe, and the evil stepmother, but those elements are reimagined in innovative sci-fi ways.
Why young adults would love this: Cinder has great world-building and a creative blend of sci-fi elements with fairy tale elements. It also explores themes of discrimination, what makes someone human, free will versus manipulation, and personal sacrifice.
Science fiction continues to evolve to this day, as a vehicle for exploring current challenges through the lens of imagination and extrapolation of the current status of the world. As technology continues to reshape our world at an unprecedented pace, these books serve not just as entertainment, but as crucial thought experiments that help young adults navigate an increasingly complex future.
