For young adult book fans, now has never been a better time for diversity in the market. Gone are the days when young readers, especially females, had only books about menstruation, puberty, and crushes to choose from. Now, almost every subject, from abortion to murder, societal changes to school shootings has been thrust into the market place. One of the most recent genres to have seen a surge in popularity is science fiction. This is a guide to some of the best science fiction books and series for young adults.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
When Jenna Fox awakes from her year-long coma, she is unable to remember anything personal about her life. Sure, she can recite entire books from memory, but what good is that if she doesn’t remember her parents, grandmother, or friends? In fact, why hasn’t anyone, aside from her parents and grandmother, been to see her? There are so many routes this book could have gone to explain Jenna’s mental lapses: cloning, brainwashing, robotics, but Mary E. Pearson chose to go a different route for Jenna -one that science might be closer to than previously thought.
Airhead and Being Nikki by Meg Cabot
At first glance, Airhead and its sequel might seem like the typical fluffy fare from Meg Cabot. The basic premise is there: an awkward, somewhat geeky protagonist longs to be a part of the popular crowd, all the while wishing that her best guy friend notice she’s a girl. However, the Airhead series differs from regular chick-lit the moment a large plasma screen television falls from the rafters at a large superstore and crushes the heroine. When she wakes up, she’s no longer Emerson Watts, awkward high school girl and computer game player. She’s now Nikki Howard, teenage supermodel. This is more than simple Freaky Friday wish fulfillment, as Emerson soon learns the frightening lengths to which medicine and technology have evolved. Sure, the dependable Cabot giggles and kisses are ever-present, but if you’re not careful in reading these, you just might think a bit.
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
What good is a list of science fiction books without aliens? Stephenie Meyer presents world where not only have aliens attacked, they’ve already won. The aliens are small worm-like souls which implant themselves in human brains, taking over their human hosts’ minds completely. With one exception. Melanie Stryker refuses to let her mind die and she haunts her invader soul Wanderer with memories of her boyfriend and brother who she still believes are alive and out there somewhere. As Melanie’s thoughts lead Wanderer to her loved ones she’s confronted with a group of people intent on taking back Earth for the human race.
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Due to a series of unknown events, the America we know has disappeared. It has been replaced by a fear-inspiring capitol, full of wealth and riches, and twelve outlying districts, each poorer than the next. Where there was once a thirteenth district is now darkness, as a rebellion by its citizens caused the capitol to literally wipe it off the map. Since those events, the capitol has enacted the yearly Hunger Games, where each district is required to send one boy and one girl to fight to the death in order to win a much-needed lifetime supply of food for their family. Only one can win as the participants are reduced to barbarity in front of television cameras that broadcast the spectacle for all to see. When Katniss Everdeen takes her younger sister’s place at the games, she is determined to win, despite being a participant from the district with only one prior champion.
Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras by Scott Westerfeld
When it comes to futuristic societies, what could be more exciting than a world where the government gives everyone an operation to become beautiful? Tally Youngblood is more than happy to participate, as she dreams of the face and body she will eventually have. However, when her friend Shay displays her dislike of this forced procedure and runs away to a secret, illegal collective of like minded people, the menacing Special Circumstances department entrusts Tally with tracking down Shay, forcing her to return, and exposing the secret colony. What was at first a simple task becomes complicated when Tally finds that she likes the colony, doesn’t want to betray it, and no longer wants the operation. Special Circumstances has other plans in mind.
