Tag: science fiction

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2027) Feature Review: Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean

Cynical about romance, teenage Emma makes a wish at a festival for proof that love is real, only to find herself falling for three very different boys at the same time. Complicating matters further, she begins receiving mysterious notes from someone claiming to be from her future—and they know enough of her deepest secrets for her to believe them. As Emma develops an obsession with uncovering the letter-writer’s identity, this engaging mystery unfolds alongside mild, age-appropriate content including references to sex, virginity, and underage substance use.

Intricately plotted and evenly paced, this sweet romantic comedy will effortlessly hook readers, first with its vibrant cover and then with its witty, sharp dialogue. The clever blend of contemporary romance and sci-fi mystery creates an addictive whodunit element, keeping readers desperate to catch every clue as they try to guess which of Emma’s three suspects is writing the letters.

Teenagers who enjoy a sweet  romantic comedy with a love triangle, a will-they-won’t-they trope, and a sprinkle of magic. Readers who enjoyed Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy and Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter will eat this up.

–Kelly Roberts

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Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2027) Featured Review: Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

  • Red Star Rebels 
  • Author: Amie Kaufman
  • Narrated by Max Meyers, Jessica Almasy, Pete Bradbury, Lisa Flanagan, James Fouhey, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Amy Landon, Samara Naeymi, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Gail Shalan, Full Cast
  • Penguin Random House Audio
  • Publication Date: February 2, 2026
  • ISBN: 9798217172221

It’s 2067 and one rich family has colonized Mars, selling the opportunity to escape an overcrowded Earth to the highest bidders. Hunter Graves, the grandson of the man who settled Mars, arrives at the United Nations base just as an emergency evacuation sends everyone scrambling, leaving him behind. Cleo has been stowed away on the base, and she’s in the exact same pickle as Hunter. It turns out the evacuation is just a cover for a group of mercenaries who arrive with a plan to blow up the base in eight hours. Hunter and Cleo must work together to save themselves while the timer counts down to an asphyxiating doom.

Amie Kaufman’s young adult sci-fi thriller utilizes a full cast of narrators and impeccable audio production to bring the suspenseful and action-packed novel alive. Told from the alternating viewpoints of the two main characters, Red Star Rebels promises an immersive experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

For readers who enjoy this title, Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s 2015 Illuminae Files audiobook provides a similar experience with a full cast of narrators and audio effects aiding the book’s storytelling. Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff and The Disasters by M.K. England run in the same vein as Red Star Rebels if you like high stakes science fiction!

-Eoin Kennedy

Other Nominated Titles

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

Follow YALSA’s The Hub on YouTube for exclusive author interviews!

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2027) Feature Review: Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

  • Red Star Rebels
  • by Amie Kaufman
  • Knopf Books for Young Readers
  • Publication Date: February 10, 2026
  • ISBN:  979-8217029013

By 2067, Mars has been sporadically settled. Teenage rich boy Hunter is the heir to his family’s colonization empire, traveling to Mars from Earth to make a play for his rightful place in the business. He meets stowaway Cleo on a planetary base immediately after an emergency evacuation– that they both miss. When a secret plot is uncovered and mercenaries threaten to destroy the (almost) empty base, Hunter and Cleo form an uneasy alliance to stop the impending explosion and stay alive. 

The action starts in the first few pages, when Hunter’s arrival on the planet turns into a chaotic scene of workers and settlers in full evac mode. Details about Hunter and Cleo’s pasts are revealed slowly, heightening the tension and adding to the drama as they start to fall for each other. Space pirates, a ticking bomb, escape attempts, and ambushes add to the nonstop momentum of this story, which takes place in just 8 hours. 

Teens looking for fast paced action and sci-fi escapism who don’t mind a large dose of romance will most appreciate this title. Plenty of banter and the Home Alone-style traps Hunter and Cleo set for the bad guys keep this book fun and silly. Comparable science fiction titles include Titan of the Stars by E. K. Johnston, Victories Greater than Death by Charlie Jane Anders, and Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

-Emily Williams

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Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2027) Featured Review: Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry

Eighteen-year-old Eternity Price is on death row, so she decides to take her chances and become a contestant on the country’s most popular reality TV shows, Last Chance Live!, a show where the winner is forgiven of their crimes and can go back to society, but all of the contestants voted off the show are executed within a week. On the show, Eternity must convince the country that she deserves a second chance, but when she begins making strong connections with fellow contests and finds herself with friends for the first time in her life, she must grapple with the tough decision of whether she should take the risk and betray the only friends she’s ever had to survive, or protect her new found companions, no matter the cost.

Last Chance Live! has strong character development and will keep teens on their toes while also addressing some of the social issues in the criminal justice system. Mature teens interested in social justice, dystopias, and that liked Squid Games will enjoy this book.

Readers of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Truth Is… by Hannah V. Sawyerr, and The Story of My Anger by Jasminne Mendez will enjoy this book.

-Amy Kilkenny

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Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2027) Featured Review: Last Chance Live! By Helena Haywoode Henry

  • Last Chance Live!
  • Author: Helena Haywoode Henry
  • Narrated by Rocky Anicette & Helena Haywoode Henry
  • Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
  • Publication Date: October 7, 2025
  • ISBN: 9798217080908

Last Chance Live! is the most popular reality show in America—and eighteen-year-old death row inmate Eternity Price’s last chance to live. Getting cast on the show could win her clemency preventing her execution… if she can convince the viewing audience she deserves a second chance. The catch? If America doesn’t vote for her, she loses the chance to appeal her sentence, and she’ll be executed within a week of being eliminated from the show. And since Eternity’s been unpopular her whole life, she’s terrified America won’t pick her. But any chance of getting out of prison and back to her little brother Sincere, no matter how slim, is better than rotting away in her cell.

Eternity never expected to find her first real friends in a reality TV house full of people battling for survival after being convicted of capital crimes, but that’s exactly what happens. So when she gets the opportunity to sabotage them and secure her own victory, she has a choice to make: protect the friendships and acceptance she’s always longed for at the cost of her own life, or sacrifice her newfound community. Eternity must ultimately decide what forgiveness, family, and freedom mean to her, and how far she’ll go to win a game where the stakes are literally life or death.

This is one of those audiobook performances where the narrator doesn’t just read the story, she builds it moment by moment. What stood out most is the way she uses tension in her voice. There’s deliberate pacing throughout: slight pauses, subtle shifts in tone, and a tightening of delivery that mirrors the stakes of the story. You can feel when something is about to go wrong before it even happens. It’s not overdone or dramatic in a distracting way; instead, it’s controlled and intentional, which makes the suspense land even harder.

In high-stakes moments, her voice sharpens just enough to raise your pulse, while quieter scenes carry an undercurrent of unease that keeps you leaning in. That balance is tough to pull off, but she nails it. The emotional beats hit because the tension is always present, just beneath the surface. If you’re an audiobook listener who appreciates narration that actively elevates the story, this one is very well done.

Fans of Black Mirror and Squid Games will be on the edges of their seats with this one!

-Amanda Hunt

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2026) Feature Review: Family Force V: Book 1 by Matt Braly

  • Family Force V: Book 1 by Matt Braly
  • Image Comics
  • Publication Date: June 10, 2025
  • ISBN: 9781534340336

Maise is a normal teen to her friends at school, but she’s secretly part of an alien-fighting team legacy known as the Moon Troopers. Since being a superhero is a family business, Maise never asked for this responsibility and isn’t sure she wants it. When a tragedy occurs, Maise needs to sort out her priorities and find a way to keep everyone safe while being true to herself.

Multiple alien kaiju battles and a zippy Power Rangers-like fighting force make for an visually dynamic and action-filled graphic novel. The art is clear and bright, with expressive characters and a good balance of text. Manga and comic book readers, fans of Disney’s Amphibia (by the same creator), and those looking for easy-to-follow action stories will most appreciate this title.

Comparable titles include Into the Heartlands, a Black Panther graphic novel that also features the complexities of super-families and lots of action, and Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds, which shows teens struggling with responsibility and important decisions.

–Emily Williams

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2026) Feature Review: The Factory by Catherine Egan

Asher signs up to participate in a special research experiment at the Factory that will help out his mother financially. However, as he makes friends with some of the other kids in the study, he finds out that something sinister seems to be going on at the facility. Will he be able to see the experiment to the end and save his family?

The Factory draws the reader in immediately, hooking them in with the mystery of the plot. It is fast-paced, easy to read, and will leave readers guessing until the very end. It combines both thriller and science fiction, and has strong themes of friendship, survival, and family, which will appeal to most every teen. It is also one of the few young adult books to not have a romance subplot, instead focusing on the action and friendship plots. Teens, especially reluctant readers, will find this book hard to put down.

Give this to teens who enjoyed Neal Shusterman’s Unwind, Donna Barba Higuera’s The Last Cuentista, or who are fans of the anime Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead.

–Jacqueline Bush

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

A new pandemic is sweeping across the world. But this virus is different. People who recover from Crown Royale find themselves content and happy. The new mindset rattles economies and the traditional power structure. Three teens find themselves involved in an international power struggle between forces that want to use the virus to enlighten the human race and those determined to maintain the status quo.

The book balances a fast-paced storyline with thoughtful character development. Schusterman once again uses dystopian themes to explore the human condition, just as he did in the Arc of the Scythe trilogy. Readers will be drawn into the moral complexities, left questioning whether either side truly has humanity’s best interests at heart.

Readers who enjoy a mix of inner turmoil and high-stakes plots will enjoy this book. Fans of Shusterman’s previous works, specifically Dry and Arc of the Scythe, won’t be disappointed. Consider recommending this to readers who would enjoy Plagueland by Alex Scarrow without the gore.

– Cathy DeCampli

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: tinyurl.com/bfya2026

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2026) Featured Review: Family Force V: Book One by Matt Braly, Illustrated by Ainsworth Lin

  • Family Force V: Book One
  • by Matt Braly, Illustrated by Ainsworth Lin
  • Image Comics
  • Publication Date: June 10, 2025
  • ISBN: 978-1534340336

Family Force V by Matt Braly and illustrated by Ainsworth Lin is about a family known as The Moon Troopers, who fight off kaiju attacks. Moon Trooper, Maise, has to balance being part of the family team and being a teenager, which includes school work and impressing her crush. The kaiju evolve to the tactics of the troopers, and tragedy strikes the family. Maise must learn be there for her family, and balance a regular life.

This graphic novel has an action-packed storyline that will make the reader want to keep reading. Additionally, there are plenty of aliens fights to keep readers interested, and readers will continue to be engrossed by the storyline with Maise’s struggle with balancing family and school life. The detailed and dynamic illustrations make the story pop off the page, and make the action scenes even better. 

Family Force Five is great for readers, who have enjoyed the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comics or shows because both include action packed sequences, and alien fights.  This title is also perfect for fans of Ms. Marvel Vol. 1 No Normal by Wilson Willow because it depicts a teenage with superheroes also struggling to balance helping her community and regular life. Readers of the manga, Shy, would also enjoy this graphic novel due to the similar storyline, and superhero dynamic.  

–Kyler Wesner

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: Fledgling by S.K. Ali

  • Fledgling
  • by S.K. Ali
  • Publisher: Kokila
  • Release date: October 8, 2024
  • ISBN: 9780593531242

Tensions between Upper Earth and Lower Earth have simmered since the last revolution. Now, a fragile peace hangs in the balance as Raisa of Upper Earth prepares to marry Lein of Lower Earth, a union meant to solidify an alliance and bring an end to lingering hostilities. But beneath the surface, danger brews. Nada and Nayf, Lein’s twin cousins and political prisoners, see an opportunity to derail Upper Earth’s sinister plans. They aim to manipulate Raisa and prevent the rollout of the Enlightenment, a dystopian program of mind control delivered through wearable technology. Meanwhile, Upper Earth fights back with a powerful propaganda campaign, casting Raisa as the Fledgling, a mythical figure destined to bring freedom

The narrative explores urgent contemporary issues: the manipulation of history through the destruction of records, the exploitation of land and people, and the use of technology to subjugate society. The post-apocalyptic world is vividly described, with a stratified society revealed through lost records and memories. The chapters alternate between multiple perspectives, each voice distinct and consistent, adding emotional depth to the story.

Fans of a large cast of characters and dystopian stories about oppressive governments will be captivated by this book. Fledgling will have ready-made fans among readers of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir.

– Cathy DeCampli

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: tinyurl.com/bfya2026