Sci-Fi & Dystopia

The Last Gate of the Emperor by Kwame Mbalia

From the publisher: "Yared Heywat lives an isolated life in Addis Prime -- a hardscrabble city with rundown tech, lots of rules, and not much to do. His worrywart Uncle Moti and bionic lioness Besa are his only family... and his only friends. Often in trouble for his thrill-seeking antics and smart mouth, those same qualities make Yared a star player of the underground augmented reality game, The Hunt for Kaleb's Obelisk. But when a change in the game rules prompts Yared to log in with his real name, it triggers an attack that rocks the city. In the chaos, Uncle Moti disappears. Suddenly, all the stories Yared's uncle told him as a young boy are coming to life, of kingdoms in the sky and city-razing monsters. And somehow Yared is at the center of them. Together with Besa and the Ibis -- a game rival turned reluctant ally -- Yared must search for his uncle... and answers to his place in a forgotten, galaxy-spanning war."

The Dog Who Saved the World by Ross Welford

From the publisher: "He smells terrible. He’ll eat literally anything. And he’s humanity’s only hope….

When 12-year-old Georgie makes friends with an eccentric retired scientist, she becomes the test-subject for a thrilling new experiment: a virtual reality 3-D version of the future. At first, it’s just a game. But when a deadly virus threatens to wipe out every pup on the planet, Georgie and her beloved (and very smelly) dog, Mr. Mash, along with best friend Ramzy, must embark on a desperate quest to save the dogs– and also all of humanity. And they have to do it without actually leaving the room. Is it really possible to alter the future?"

The Green Book by Jill Paton Walsh

A group of families are chosen to leave a dying Earth and repopulate another planet.  They must pack very light, taking only what they need. Each is allowed just one book – Pattie's father struggles to decide between Works of Shakespeare and a how-to fix-it type manual, which he chooses because of its practical use.  When they get there, there is virtually nothing there – they must build shelter and try to grow their own food, because what they brought will run out, eventually. At first, their attempts at farming are unsuccessful, and they fear they will have to use the cyanide pills.  It's up to Pattie and her sister to find a creative solution to make life possible on Shine. Not till the end will you discover which book Pattie chose to bring along. This is a short read, but will definitely get you thinking about survival!

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

From Scholastic: “Thirteen-year-old Jonah has always known that he was adopted, and he's never thought it was any big deal. Then he and a new friend, Chip, who's also adopted, begin receiving mysterious letters. The first one says, "You are one of the missing." The second one says, "Beware! They're coming back to get you. Jonah, Chip, and Jonah's sister, Katherine, are plunged into a mystery that involves the FBI, a vast smuggling operation, an airplane that appeared out of nowhere - and people who seem to appear and disappear at will. The kids discover they are caught in a battle between two opposing forces that want very different things for Jonah and Chip's lives. Do Jonah and Chip have any choice in the matter? And what should they choose when both alternatives are horrifying?”

Sven Carter and the Trashmouth Effect by Rob Vlock

From the publisher's website: "Sven Carter—part boy, part robot—is on a mission to save himself from destroying the human race in this fun and funny MAX novel!

Ever since Sven Carter was caught eating a moldy blueberry muffin under the gym bleachers, earning himself the nickname “Trashmouth,” he’s been his school’s biggest outcast.

But he soon discovers that having a lame nickname is the least of his worries. After a horrible wipeout involving a bike, a ramp, and a chocolate-anchovy-garlic-mint wedding cake (don’t ask), his left arm just…well, it falls off. But before Sven can even remove the stray anchovy from his nostril, his arm drags itself across the pavement and reattaches itself to his shoulder!

That’s when Sven learns he’s not a kid at all, but a “Tick”—a high-tech synthetic humanoid created as part of an elaborate plot to destroy the human race. Now Sven, his best friend Will, and his tough-as-nails classmate Alicia must face down a host of horrors—killer clown-snakes, a giant Chihuahua, the stomach-churning Barf Bus, murderous roast chickens, and even Sven’s own brain—to save humanity from permanent extinction."

EngiNerds by Jarrett Lerner

From the publisher's website: "Ken is an EngiNerd: one of a super-smart group of friends—all nerds—who have been close since kindergarten.

They may be brainiacs, but they’re just like everyone else: they fight with one another, watch too much TV, eat Chinese food, and hate walking their dogs. Well, maybe not just like everyone because Ken’s best friend Dan has been building robots. He then secretly sent one to each of the EngiNerds, never letting them know he’s the mastermind.

At first Ken is awed and delighted: what kid hasn’t dreamed of having a robot all their own? Someone who can be their friend, clean their room, walk the dog, answer homework questions…how amazing is that?

But be careful what you wish for: Dan’s robot, Greeeg, may look innocent, but his ravenous consumption of food—comestibles—turns him into a butt-blasting bot. And once the other robots ‘come alive’ it’s up to the motley crew of EngiNerds to not only save the day, but save the planet! "

Sequel: Revenge of the EngiNerds

Invasion of the Overworld by Mark Cheverton

Book 1 in the GameKnight999 series, unofficial Minecraft adventures. From the publisher: "Gameknight999 loved Minecraft, but above all else, he loved to grief -- to intentionally ruin the gaming experience for other users. 

When one of his father’s inventions teleports him into the game, Gameknight is forced to live out a real-life adventure inside a digital world. What will happen if he’s killed? Will he respawn? Die in real life? Stuck in the game, Gameknight discovers Minecraft’s best-kept secret, something not even the game’s programmers realize: the creatures within the game are alive! He will have to stay one step ahead of the sharp claws of zombies and pointed fangs of spiders, but he’ll also have to learn to make friends and work as a team if he has any chance of surviving the Minecraft war his arrival has started."

Look for all the sequels!

Pi in the Sky by Wendy Mass

From the publisher's website: "Joss is the seventh son of the Supreme Overlord of the Universe, and all he gets to do is deliver pies. That’s right: pies. Of course these pies actually hold the secrets of the universe between their buttery crusts, but they’re still pies.

 Joss comes from a family of overachievers, and is happy to let his older brothers shine. But when Earth suddenly disappears, Joss is tasked with the not-so-simple job of bringing it back. With the help of an outspoken girl from Earth named Annika, Joss embarks on the adventure of a lifetime and learns that the universe is an even stranger place than he’d imagined."

Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson

If you like wacky, funny series, try this one! From the publisher's website: "Lily Gefelty is just an average twelve-year-old girl. But her dad–a normal-enough seeming guy–just so happens to work for an evil genius who plans to unleash an army of extremely cranky, stilt-walking, laser-beam-eyed whales upon the world. Lucky for Lily, her two best friends are anything but average. Both of them are famous for their adventures. Jasper Dash, Boy Technonaut, invents gadgets; Katie Mulligan spends her spare time fighting off zombies and were-goats. Surely they’ll know what to do. And if they don’t? then it will be up to Lily–average, everyday Lily–to come up with a plan."

Archvillain by Barry Lyga

From the publisher's website: "Kyle Camden knows exactly where he was the night Mighty Mike arrived: sneaking around the fallow field behind Bouring Middle School (motto: “The U Makes It Exciting!”), running the electrical cabling that would allow him to dump the contents of the old water tower on the visiting football team during the next day's game. Which is why he couldn't tell anyone where he was. Or what he saw.

Those lights everyone witnessed in the sky weren't tiny meteors burning up in the atmosphere. They were some kind of strange supercooled plasma that bathed the entire field, including Kyle, in alien energies, energies that boosted Kyle's intellect and gave him superpowers. Unfortunately, the energies also brought Mighty Mike to earth.

Kyle is the only one who knows that Mighty Mike is a space alien. Everyone else thinks that Mike is just some kid who stumbled into the field, got beefed up on meteor juice, lost his memory, and decided to start rescuing kittens from trees. But Kyle knows the truth. And he'll do anything in his power to stop Mighty Mike, even if it means being an archvillain!"

Jack and the Geniuses by Bill Nye the Science Guy & Gregory Mone

From the publisher's website: "In the series opener, Jack and the Geniuses: At The Bottom of The World, readers meet Jack and his foster siblings, Ava and Matt, who are orphans. But they’re not your typical kind of orphans—they’re geniuses. Well, Ava and Matt are, which sometimes makes life difficult for 1twelve-year-old Jack. Ava speaks multiple languages and builds robots for fun, and Matt is into astronomy and a whiz at math. As for Jack, it’s hard to stand out when he’s surrounded by geniuses all the time.

When the kids try to spy on Dr. Hank Witherspoon, one of the world’s leading scientists, they end up working for him in his incredible laboratory. Soon, Hank and the kids travel to Antarctica for a prestigious science competition, but they find that all is not as it seems: A fellow scientist has gone missing, and so has any trace of her research. Could someone be trying to use her findings to win the contest? It’s up to Jack, Ava, and Matt to find the missing scientist and discover who’s behind it all—before it’s too late."

Captain America: the First Avenger adapted by Alex Irvine

From the publisher's website: "After scrawny kid Steve Rogers joins a top-secret government experiment, he becomes Captain America, ready to protect the free world against villains like Red Skull and Hydra." Check out the whole series!

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade

From the publisher's website: "When Mr. Socrates, a member of the shadowy PermanentAssociation, hears of a hunchbacked infant with theability to transform his appearance, he decides to take him in.Naming him Modo, he raises the boy in isolation, training himto become a secret agent. Then, when Modo turns fourteen,his education is complete. He is transported to the streets ofdowntown London and abandoned, penniless, to try to survive.

But Modo is resourceful, and he finds a way to get by,keeping to himself . . . until one day, when the beautiful OctaviaMilkweed knocks on his door. Soon, with the help of Mr.Socrates, Modo and Octavia find themselves uncovering a sinisterplot being carried out in the very sewers beneath their feet.Will they be able to stop the mad scientist Dr. Hyde before he unleashes his monstrous plans upon unsuspecting Londoners?"

Shipwreck Island by S.A. Bodeen

You'd think Sarah would be happy her dad is taking her on a vacation to a private island, but she's not. See, her new stepmom, Yvonna, and two new stepbrothers, Marco and Nacho, are coming with them. Sarah thinks Yvonna is a golddigger, and doesn't see anything in common with the boys.  The boys think Sarah is stuck-up.  This trip is doomed to fail. But not for the reasons they think... everything that can go wrong will.  And that's before the strange creatures show up and try to kill them! The twists and turns will surprise you and keep you on the edge of your seat!

Gamer Army by Trent Reedy

From the publisher's website: "After Rogan Webber levels up yet again on his favorite video game, Laser Viper, the world-famous creator of the game invites him to join the five best players in the country for an exclusive tournament. The gamers are flown to the tech mogul's headquarters, where they stay in luxury dorms and test out cutting edge virtual-reality gaming equipment, doing digital battle as powerful fighting robots. It's the ultimate gaming experience.

But as the contest continues, the missions become harder, losing gamers are eliminated, and the remaining contestants face the growing suspicion that the game may not be what it seems. Why do the soldiers and robots they fight in Laser Viper act so weird? What's behind the strange game glitches? And why does the game feel so...real?

Rogan and his gamer rivals must come together, summoning the collective power of their Gamer Army to discover the truth and make things right, in a dangerous world where video games have invaded reality."

Insert Coin to Continue by John David Anderson

Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett

First of the Johnny Maxwell trilogy. Johnny and his friends love new video games -- they like to pirate them before they come out, and alter them.  He gets a pirated version of the new game, Only You Can Save Mankind.  He's playing the game, and the alien ship he's supposed to be shooting down suddenly stops, and the aliens (ScreeWee) aboard contact him to surrender. Okay, fine, okay.  But the problem is, they don't just disappear in the pirated edition of the game Johnny has... they disappear from ALL copies!!! Johnny, his friend Wobbler, and a player called Kristy, must find the ScreeWee and get them home safely.

Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

A sci-fi that's also a humorous mystery, and the start of a series. From the publisher's website: "Like his fellow lunarnauts—otherwise known as Moonies—living on Moon Base Alpha, twelve-year-old Dashiell Gibson is famous the world over for being one of the first humans to live on the moon.

And he’s bored out of his mind. Kids aren’t allowed on the lunar surface, meaning they’re trapped inside the tiny moon base with next to nothing to occupy their time—and the only other kid Dash’s age spends all his time hooked into virtual reality games.

Then Moon Base Alpha’s top scientist turns up dead. Dash senses there’s foul play afoot, but no one believes him. Everyone agrees Dr. Holtz went onto the lunar surface without his helmet properly affixed, simple as that. But Dr. Holtz was on the verge of an important new discovery, Dash finds out, and it’s a secret that could change everything for the Moonies—a secret someone just might kill to keep..."

Tesla's Attic by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman

First book in the Accelerati trilogy. From the author's website: "After their home burns down, fourteen-year-old Nick, his younger brother, and their father move into a ramshackle Victorian house they’ve inherited. When Nick opens the door to his attic room, he’s hit in the head by a toaster.That’s just the beginning of his weird experiences with the old junk stored up there.After getting rid of the odd antiques in a garage sale, Nick befriends some local kids—Mitch, Caitlin, and Vincent—and they discover that all of the objects have extraordinary properties. What’s more, Nick figures out that the attic is a strange magnetic vortex, which attracts all sorts of trouble. It’s as if the attic itself has an intelligence… and a purpose."

Wonder Woman at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee

First of the DC Comics super girls series.  From the author's website: "Kicking off with WONDER WOMAN AT SUPER HERO HIGH, the series delves into the life of teenaged Wonder Woman when she leaves Paradise Island, the only home she's ever known, and is thrown into a strange world of chaos, confusion and intense pressure. That's right. High school.

​Though the girls and boys at Super Hero High are all super-heroes-in-training, they don't have their full powers yet, and aren't fully aware of their potential to be a super hero -- or super villain."

Series also includes: Harley Quinn; Katana; Bumblebee; Supergirl; Batgirl.

The Flooded Earth by Mardi McConnachie

First of a trilogy. From the publisher: "Forty years after a devastating flood changed the face of the earth, new consequences and challenges are still surfacing.

Twins Will and Annalie thought the hardest part about this year was going to be their separation when bookish Annalie began life at a prestigious Admiralty-run boarding school and avid sailor Will stayed behind in the flood-damaged slums. But that was before the Admiralty raided their father’s workshop. Before they sent a questioner to threaten Annalie at school. Before their father disappeared, leaving a single coded clue to his destination. Desperate for answers and to find their father, the twins set out in the family’s small sailboat. But though they are both experienced sailors, they have no idea what dangers the sea has in store."

Sequels: The Castle in the Sea; The Skeleton Coast.

Thor adapted by Chris Wyatt and Alex Irvine

Thor's origin story -- part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe series of books that includes Iron Man; Guardians of the Galaxy; The Incredible Hulk; Captain America: The First Avenger; Captain America: The Winter Soldier; Captain America: Civil War; Marvel's The Avengers; Marvel's Ant-Man; Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron; Marvel's Doctor Strange, etc.

I am the Walrus by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman

A hilarious new sci-fi series from our fave author!  From the publisher: "When fourteen-year-old Noah falls from the trees on his classmate Sahara, he doesn’t understand how, or why, he would have been up there. It’s just one more in a string of strange things happening to Noah lately.

Like when he keels over and every muscle in his body freezes when confronted by bullies. And when he vanishes into the background at a moment he doesn’t want to be noticed. And when he unexpectedly blasts Sahara with a bird shriek while flapping his arms uncontrollably in the middle of a school dance. What does it all mean? And why do there suddenly seem to be so many mysterious people trying to kill him?

Noah’s friend Ogden has an idea…but like all of Ogden’s ideas, it’s out there. Way out there… "

Sequel: Shock the Monkey

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan usually does mythology-inspired fantasy, so this is a bit of a departure, but his storytelling, as always, slays! This sci-fi adventure was inspired by Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, literally one of the first sci-fi novels. From the author's website: "Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Ana’s parents died while on a scientific expedition two years ago, and the only family she’s got left is her older brother, Dev, also a student at HP. Ana’s freshman year culminates with the class’s weekend trial at sea, the details of which have been kept secret. She only hopes she has what it’ll take to succeed. All her worries are blown out of the water when, on the bus ride to the ship, Ana and her schoolmates witness a terrible tragedy that will change the trajectory of their lives.

But wait, there’s more. The professor accompanying them informs Ana that their rival school, Land Institute, and Harding-Pencroft have been fighting a cold war for a hundred and fifty years. Now that cold war has been turned up to a full boil, and the freshmen are in danger of becoming fish food. In a race against deadly enemies, Ana will make amazing friends and astounding discoveries about her heritage as she puts her leadership skills to the test for the first time."

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel by Sheela Chari

First of a series, based on the popular podcast. From the publisher: "Mars Patel’s friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed out about her jobs. But Mars refuses to give up—after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he and Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help—smart Toothpick, strong and stylish JP, and maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (and Mars’s hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt’s mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems—and anyone could be deceiving them."

Sylo by D.J. MacHale

Book 1 of a trilogy. From the author's website: "THEY CAME FROM THE SKY, parachuting out of military helicopters to invade 14 year old Tucker Pierce’s idyllic hometown on Pemberwick Island, Maine.

They are a secretive branch of the U.S. Navy called SYLO. Their commander, Captain Granger, informs Pemberwick residents that their island has been hit by a lethal virus and must be quarantined.

Instantly, Pemberwick Island is cut off from the outside world.

Tucker believes there’s more to SYLO’s story.   He was on the sidelines when the star high school running back dropped dead with no warning. He saw the bizarre midnight explosion over the ocean and witnessed mysterious singing aircraft travel like shadows through the night sky. He tasted the Ruby; and experienced the incredible power it gives to anyone brave and foolish enough to try it.

What it all means, SYLO isn’t saying.

Only Tucker holds the clues that can solve the deadly mystery.

LOOK TO THE SKY for Pemberwick Island is only the beginning."

Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds

Not an origin story, but it does feature the newest teen Spiderman, Miles Morales. Miles lives in Brooklyn, plays old video games, and has a crush on Alicia. He's trying to figure out how he can be a superhero, when he's just trying to deal with life and not lose his scholarship. His spidey-sense keeps tingling, and he can't figure out why, but something is definitely up, at school and in his neighborhood.

Now read the sequel!

Miles Morales: Suspended

Miles is in ISS for what happened with his history teacher in the first book, stuck doing boring homework packets, and surprisingly the girl he loves and the nerdy student library helper are stuck there with him.  The story takes place in one day, and his Spidey senses tell him something is wrong...  will bad guys and book-eating termites distract him from his crush and the poetry she inspires him to write?  This one is partly in verse, and partly illustrated, too.

The Orphan Army, book 1 in The Nightsiders series by Jonathan Maberry

A sci-fi/horror blend. From the author's website: "Milo’s Louisiana bayou is overrun with alien bug invaders and magical creatures in this start to a new middle grade series.

In a world filled with Bugs—monsters that ceaselessly ravage the Earth—Milo Silk has a hard time keeping his dreams separate from reality. So he keeps them locked up in his dream journal and hopes they’ll never come to pass. But too often, they do—like when his father disappeared three years ago. Lately, the Witch of the World has been haunting his dreams, saying he is destined to be the hero who saves everyone. But all Milo can think about is how he fears the Bugs will attack his own camp, and bring something even more terrible than ever before.

What Milo doesn’t know is that the Earth is already fighting back with its own natural power in the form of Nightsiders, magical creatures who prefer shadows to sunlight and who reside in trees, caves, and rivers. And the Nightsiders are ready to find an ally in Milo."

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

This is a cult sci-fi classic with a wicked twist at the end! Humans waged war against the alien Buggers for 100 years, and must be ready when they come back. They need another great leader like the one who defeated them in the last battle. The Wiggin family volunteered their children: the eldest, Peter, was too violent. The daughter, Valentine, was too nice. The youngest, “Ender”, is the last hope. At age 6, he is drafted to the Battle School for military training, which involves virtual war games, weapons training, and skirmishes in the gravity-free ‘battle room’. Ender’s brilliance and skills make him a leader, but also a target for resentful bullies. He must use his growing skills to deal with rivals, forge alliances, and win the simulated battles. If you're a gamer, you will definitely appreciate Ender's Game. It was made into a movie with Harrison Ford as the old general. There are many sequels, and a whole companion series from Ender's friend, Bean's point of view.

The Last Cuentista by Donna Higuera

Earth has been destroyed, and a small group of scientists and their families are headed to a new planet to save the human race. When Petra awakes aboard the spaceship after hundreds of years asleep, she finds out that everyone's memories of Earth have been wiped out, except hers.  The Collective wants to make sure that humans don't repeat their mistakes... but Petra has always longed to be a great storyteller, like her abuela.  Can Petra's memories, her stories, help everyone remember the past, and make a future?  This Newbery and Belpre Award winner will remind you what being human is all about! 

Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

From the publisher: "In America’s flooded Gulf Coast region, oil is scarce, but loyalty is scarcer. Grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts by crews of young people. Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota–and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or by chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it’s worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life…"  Printz Award Winner!

Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll

From the publisher: "It has never been easy for Cora to make friends. Cora is autistic, and sometimes she gets overwhelmed and stims to soothe her nerves. Adrien has ADHD and knows what it is like to navigate a world that isn’t always built for the neurodiverse. The two are fast friends until an accident puts Adrien in a coma.

Cora is devastated until Dr. Gold, the CEO of Pomegranate Institute, offers to let Cora talk to Adrien again, as a hologram her company develops. While at first enchanted, Cora soon discovers that the hologram of Adrien doesn’t capture who he was in life. And the deeper Cora dives into the mystery, the more she sees Pomegranate has secrets to hide. Can Cora uncover Pomegranate’s dark truth before their technologies rewrite history forever?"

Hocus Pocus by Barry Lyga

First of the Flash series. From the publisher: "In a timeline where Flashpoint never happened, The Flash (aka Barry Allen) must face a mysterious villain who can control the minds and actions of citizens. But when Hocus Pocus, as he calls himself, takes control of Barry, it’s up to Team Flash to help the Scarlet Speedster before he’s forced to do the unthinkable."

Read the whole series!

Children of Exile by Margaret Peterson Haddix

From the publisher: "Twelve years ago, all of the children of Earth were taken from their homes to provide them better lives away from a war-ravaged planet. Now, they have been returned to their families, but their homes are nothing like they could have imagined. Heart-pounding and daring, the Children of Exile trilogy explores family, prejudice, and learning how to start over."

This prolific author is one of students' favorites. Haddix's newer series, Greystone Secrets, starts with The Strangers. She is also the author of the Shadow Children series (which are read in both Intermediate and BRMS classes), the Missing series, the Palace Chronicles, Under their Skin series, approximately 14 stand-alone YA novels, as well as books for younger readers. Visit her website for more info.  

Her newest book, Remarkables, will keep you guessing right up to the end!

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Imagine if a meteor hit the moon, and knocked it out of orbit, closer to the Earth. Tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, blizzards... millions of people die... all electronics knocked out...

Miranda is living her normal old life as a teenager in Pennsylvania, worried about grades, upset that her Dad and his new wife, Lisa, are having a new baby -- what will that mean for her? 

When the asteroid hits, Miranda's mom goes into overdrive, smartly taking all her money out of the bank and buying everything she can at the grocery store before it gets closed down. Luckily, her brother Matt comes home from college to ride it out with them.

But as the dangers grow, the family is more isolated, and conditions get harsher, will their supplies last? Will anyone be able to grow food again? Will neighbors turn against them? How many sacrifices must they make to survive? Is there anyone out there that will help them?

This is the first of the Last Survivors series.

The Well's End by Seth Fishman

From the publisher: "Magic, adventure, and danger collide in an unsuspecting small town. Sixteen-year-old Mia Kish's small town of Fenton, Colorado, is known for three things: being home to the world's tallest sycamore tree, the national chicken thigh–eating contest, and one of the ritziest boarding schools in the country, Westbrook Academy. But when emergency sirens start blaring and Westbrook is put on lockdown, quarantined and surrounded by soldiers who shoot first and ask questions later, Mia realizes she's only just beginning to discover what makes Fenton special.

The answer is behind the wall of the Cave, a.k.a. Fenton Electronics, of which her father is the director. Mia's dad has always been secretive about his work, allowing only that he's working for the government. Unless Mia is willing to let the whole town succumb to a strange illness that ages people years in a matter of hours, the end result death, she's got to break quarantine, escape the school grounds, and outsmart armed soldiers to uncover the truth."

Sequel: The Dark Water

The Limit by Kristen Landon

From Simon & Schuster: “An eighth grade girl was taken today . . . With this first sentence, readers are immediately thrust into a fast-paced thriller that doesn't let up for a moment. In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the monthly debt limit imposed by the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he might be next, but quickly dismisses the thought. After all, his parents are financially responsible, unlike the parents of those other kids. As long as his parents remain within their limit, the government will be satisfied and leave them alone. But all it takes is one fatal visit to the store to push Matt’s family over their limit—and to change his reality forever.”

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick

Set in a future with NO books…  civilization has been destroyed by a giant earthquake.  The “Proovs” have ‘improved’ themselves genetically, and closed themselves off in a place they call Eden – the only place with grass, trees, and blue sky. Outside in the toxic wasteland where it rains acid rain, the “normals” are plagued by gangs. A teenager called Spaz (because he has epilepsy) can’t survive without Billy Bizmo’s gang, so he does what they tell him.  They tell him he has to rob an old guy named Ryter. When Spaz robs him, Ryter gladly gives him all his possessions, except for a book he’s writing. Spaz has never seen writing – he can’t read or write – and wants to know about it. Ryter teaches him about the “old ways” of learning, before knowledge got injected into you with a mindprobe needle. When Spaz goes off to find his dying sister Bean, old man Ryter goes with him on the dangerous journey.  With the help from a proov girl named Lanaya, maybe they can get into Eden. It just may be their only chance for survival. 

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

In the future, the government has a creepy idea to punish trouble-making teens and solve the shortage of organ donors.  If you're a problem, your parents can sign you up to be 'unwound'.  All your organs, skin, eyes, blood, EVERYTHING is harvested (while you're still alive!), and given to somebody more deserving.  Connor, Risa, and Lev are three teens about to be unwound.  Connor's "trouble".  Risa is an orphan.  And Lev is proud to sacrifice himself.  These three teens meet by accident -- a car accident -- and set off on a cross-country escape.  All they have to do is survive until they turn 18, when they can't be unwound anymore. 

Icebreaker by Lian Tanner

Really cool setting -- a ship that's been sailing for 300 years, and the crew (or descendants of the crew) has broken into three warring factions, and doesn't even know what their special cargo is... But somebody from the world does, and they've sent a spy to destroy it... "send a boy, they'll never suspect a boy".  But a stranger aboard a ship that hasn't seen anybody new in 300 years is noticed by all -- and they all think it's an omen of terrible luck. Except Petrel, a "Nothing Girl" whom nobody loves, nobody pays attention to, since her traitorous parents were thrown overboard to be eaten by the sharp-toothed sea-monster, the Maw. She saves Fin, though even she isn't sure why, or that she can trust him. But at least she won't be alone anymore. 

Elemental by Antony John

Have you have ever visited the Outer Banks in NC? You will recognize the inspiration of the mystery of Roanoke's missing colonists. In the future (?), a great plague has decimated the human population. There is a small colony of people on Hatteras Island, all of whom possess powers that let them predict, if not quite control, the elements (wind/weather, fire, water, earth). The leaders are the Guardians. Well, almost all have powers-- main character Thomas has no element. His brother Griffin's is weak, though he can predict people's death, but his deafness and the fact that he can only communicate in sign language with his brother Thomas make him a bit of an outcast. When marauding pirates force the teens and children to hide out on Roanoke Island, the action and adventure begin. Figuring out the truth about their colony, and their powerful abilities, are necessary if the teens and children are to save themselves and their Guardian parents. The first of a trilogy. This author often includes deaf characters and sign language in a realistic and compelling way. Perhaps he has someone in his family who is deaf, because he clearly knows what it is like.

The Comet's Curse by Dom Testa

The first of the Galahad series. Most adults on Earth were killed by a virus brought by the comet Bhaktul.  Those left hatch a desperate plan: send 251 teens off in a spaceship to find a new home. They spend two years training; each has a specific role. But just after they take off, they find that there are 252 passengers... and the stowaway is trying to sabotage the mission. Will they reach their destination and save the human race?

Downsiders by Neal Shusterman

From the publisher's website: "Beneath the sewer grates and manholes of the city lies a strange and secret world called the Downside. Every Downsider knows that it's forbidden to go Topside, and most fear a collision of the two worlds. But fourteen-year-old Talon is curious about what goes on above ground, and one day he ventures out in search of medicine for his ailing sister. There he meets Lindsay, who is as curious about Talon's world as he is about hers. When Lindsay visits the Downside for the first time, she marvels at the spirit of the Downsiders, and the way they create works of art from topside "trash," like old subway tokens and forgotten earrings. As awed as she is by the Downside, however, she also questions its origins, and when she finds out that this fantastic world is not all it appears to be, she is determined to tell Talon the truth. Then a construction accident threatens to crush Talon's world, and his loyalty is put to the test. Can the truth save the Downside, or will it destroy an entire civilization?"

Black River Falls by Jeff Hirsch

For fans of post-apocalyptic fiction (though it might hit a little too close to home during a pandemic!). From the publisher: "Seventeen-year-old Cardinal has escaped the virus that ravaged his town, leaving its victims alive but without their memories. He chooses to remain in the quarantined zone, caring for a group of orphaned kids in a mountain camp with the help of the former brutal school bully, now transformed by the virus into his best friend. But then a strong-willed and mysterious young woman appears, and the closed-off world Cardinal has created begins to crumble."

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

First of the Maximum Ride series.  Meet the family – Max, a tough, 14-year-old girl who’s our hero; Fang – same age, the strong, silent type; Iggy – 13, blind, does all the cooking & high-tech stuff (like making bombs); Nudge – 11-year-old nonstop talker, Gazzy, 8-year-old prankster and you-don’t-want-to-know-how-he-got-this-name; and the youngest, 6-year-old Angel, who can read people’s minds.  They are the only family each other has known, because they were raised in cages in a secret lab called “The School”.  They were part of a twisted genetic experiment to combine human DNA with bird DNA – yes, THEY HAVE WINGS, along with other hidden powers.

With help from one of the scientists, Jeb, they escaped from the lab, and Jeb taught them how to live on their own.  But he disappeared two years ago, and they’ve been on their own since then.  Sounds like fun?  Except that lab also used wolf DNA to make vicious wolf mutants called Erasers – who have been ordered to kill the bird-kids so the rest of the world won’t find out about the experiment.  The Erasers find the family and kidnap Angel.  The rest of the mutant-kid flock must return to The School and rescue Angel.  Along the way, they battle the Erasers, hide from other humans and search for the real story of their human parents.

This is a non-stop action adventure that you won’t be able to put down.  Be sure to catch the whole series! 

School's Out Forever; Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports; The Final Warning; Max; Fang; Angel; Nevermore; Maximum Ride Forever, and the latest one -- Hawk!

Also check out his Dangerous Days of Daniel X series, about a boy destined to use his powers as an Alien Hunter to avenge his parents' murder and save the universe!

Snowglobe by Soyoung Park

Hunger Games meets Squid Game meets Snowpiercer in this novel translated from Korean. From the publisher: "Enclosed under a vast dome, Snowglobe is the last place on Earth that’s warm. Outside Snowglobe is a frozen wasteland, and every day, citizens face the icy world to get to their jobs at the power plant, where they produce the energy Snowglobe needs. Their only solace comes in the form of twenty-four-hour television programming streamed directly from the domed city.

The residents of Snowglobe have everything: fame, fortune, and above all, safety from the desolation outside their walls. In exchange, their lives are broadcast to the less fortunate outside, who watch eagerly, hoping for the chance to one day become actors themselves.

Chobahm lives for the time she spends watching the shows produced inside Snowglobe. Her favorite? Goh Around, starring Goh Haeri, Snowglobe’s biggest star—and, it turns out, the key to getting Chobahm her dream life.

Because Haeri is dead, and Chobahm has been chosen to take her place. Only, life inside Snowglobe is nothing like what you see on television. Reality is a lie, and truth seems to be forever out of reach.

Winner of the Changbi X Kakaopage Young Adult Novel Award."

The Loop by Ben Oliver

Luke Kane has been in the Loop for two years.  The Loop is a futuristic prison for teens, where everyone is on Death Row.  Each prisoner is isolated in a cell.  Everything is automated.  Every day is exactly the same. Their food comes from a a slot that opens in the wall. They go outside for one hour a day -- but to a wedge of a 'yard' flanked by walls so high they can't see over them, though they can hear their neighbor prisoners. Every day there's an automated 'rain'. And every night, they must stand in their cell while a beam of light sucks the energy from them, to power the prison.  Prisoners can opt in to the "Delays", scientific experiments done on them, in order to push back their execution date.  

Rumors of a war outside the prison are spreading -- Luke fears for his family. Then, the automated monotony starts going wrong -- there's no rain. The food stops coming.  Is there any way to escape? Can Luka get past the homicidal fellow prisoner that wants to kill him? Past the rabid rats in the tunnels? Will the outside be any safer than inside?

Sequels: The Block, The Arc

Genius: The Game by Leopoldo Gout

Book 1 in a sci-fi action series about bravery, friendships, and ethics. From the publisher: "Trust no one. Every camera is an eye. Every microphone an ear. Find me and we can stop him together.

Rex: Sixteen-year-old Mexican American programmer. One of the best in the world. Determined to find his missing brother.

Tunde: Fourteen-year-old self-taught engineering genius. Brought the Internet to his Nigerian village. Targeted by a ruthless military warlord.

Painted Wolf: Mysterious sixteen-year-old activist blogger. Pulled into the spotlight when her father became involved with a corrupt Chinese official.

The Game: Two hundred geniuses. A head-to-head competition devised by India’s youngest CEO and visionary.

Welcome to the revolution. Get ready to run.

In Genius: The Game, an action-packed young adult novel by Leopoldo Gout, three brilliant teens from around the world use their knowledge of hacking, engineering, espionage, and activism in a race to save the world."

Sequels: The Con, The Revolution.

Sanctuary by Caryn Lix

From the publisher: "Kenzie holds one truth above all: the company is everything.

As a citizen of Omnistellar Concepts, the most powerful corporation in the solar system, Kenzie has trained her entire life for one goal: to become an elite guard on Sanctuary, Omnistellar’s space prison for superpowered teens too dangerous for Earth. As a junior guard, she’s excited to prove herself to her company—and that means sacrificing anything that won’t propel her forward.

But then a routine drill goes sideways and Kenzie is taken hostage by rioting prisoners.

At first, she’s confident her commanding officer—who also happens to be her mother—will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. Yet it soon becomes clear that her mother is more concerned with sticking to Omnistellar protocol than she is with getting Kenzie out safely.

As Kenzie forms her own plan to escape, she doesn’t realize there’s a more sinister threat looming, something ancient and evil that has clawed its way into Sanctuary from the vacuum of space. And Kenzie might have to team up with her captors to survive—all while beginning to suspect there’s a darker side to the Omnistellar she knows."

Sequels: Salvation, Containment

War Girls by Tonyi Onyebuchi

Did you love the Black Panther movie? Then you'll like this book! From the publisher: "The year is 2172. Climate change and nuclear disasters have rendered much of earth unlivable. Only the lucky ones have escaped to space colonies in the sky. 

In a war-torn Nigeria, battles are fought using flying, deadly mechs and soldiers are outfitted with bionic limbs and artificial organs meant to protect them from the harsh, radiation-heavy climate. Across the nation, as the years-long civil war wages on, survival becomes the only way of life. 

Two sisters, Onyii and Ify, dream of more. Their lives have been marked by violence and political unrest. Still, they dream of peace, of hope, of a future together.

And they’re willing to fight an entire war to get there."

Star Splitter by Matthew Kirby

From the publisher: "2199. Deep-space exploration is a reality and teleportation is routine. But this time something seems to have gone very, very wrong. Seventeen-year-old Jessica Mathers wakes up in a lander that’s crashed onto the surface of Carver 1061c, a desolate, post-extinction planet fourteen light-years from Earth. The planet she was supposed to be viewing from a ship orbiting far above.

The corridors of the empty lander are covered in bloody hand prints; the machines are silent and dark. And outside, in the alien dirt, there are fresh graves carefully marked with names she doesn’t recognize. Now Jessica must unravel the mystery of the destruction all around her—and the questionable intentions of a familiar stranger."

This genre-bender was also nominated for an Edgar mystery award!

Skyhunter by Marie Lu

A new series from the mistress of sci-fi/dystopia! Mara is the only country left that hasn't fallen to the powerful, tech-advanced, and ruthless Karensa Federation. Mara is surrounded by refugee camps -- those who fled neighboring countries to escape being turned into Ghosts (giant, mutant war beasts who can't see well, but have supernatural strength and hearing) by Karensa. Mara is protected by an army, and by the elite force called Strikers, who track and kill Ghosts in complete silence, using only sign language to communicate with their fighting partners.

Tarin Kanami and her mother were refugees who sought asylum in Mara, but were accepted begrudgingly by the Marans. Because she was already selectively mute, Tarin was a natural to become a Striker, and found her crew as one of them. Until her partner is killed by a Ghost in a battle where a Karensan prisoner was taken. Because he makes a gesture that reminds her of her lost partner, she saves him from execution. And the Maran leader sentences him to be literally shackled to her as her new partner.

Will he help her to fight Karensa, or is he a spy that will betray her to get back there?  He has secrets of his own...

Imaginative and full of action.

Sequel: Steelstriker comes out in September, 2021.

Your Life Has Been Delayed by Michelle Mason

From the publisher: "What if one flight changed your life forever?  After visiting her grandparents in New York City, Jenny Waters is ready for the perfect senior year. She’s going to hang out with her best friend Angie, finally kiss her new boyfriend Steve, and convince her parents to let her apply to Columbia so she can become an award-winning journalist. But when her plane lands in St. Louis, Jenny and the other passengers are told their plane vanished into thin air. . . and then reappeared twenty-five years later. Suddenly, it’s not 1995 anymore. Everyone in Jenny’s life has spent the last twenty-five years mourning her death. Jenny has missed two decades of pop culture, and her high school is practically unrecognizable. Learning about smart phones and social media is difficult enough, but the unexplainable mystery of the flight has also thrust Jenny’s entire life into the spotlight–which makes it extra-complicated when Jenny falls for a cute, kind classmate with an unusual connection to her past.

Can Jenny figure out a way to move forward, or will she always feel stuck in the past?"

Switch by A.S. King

From the publisher: "Time has stopped. It’s been June 23, 2020 for nearly a year as far as anyone can tell. Frantic adults demand teenagers focus on finding practical solutions to the worldwide crisis. Not everyone is on board though. Javelin-throwing prodigy Truda Becker is pretty sure her “Solution Time” class won’t solve the world’s problems, but she does have a few ideas what might. Truda lives in a house with a switch that no one ever touches, a switch her father protects every day by nailing it into hundreds of progressively larger boxes. But Truda’s got a crow bar, and one way or another, she’s going to see what happens when she flips the switch."

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

There is no disease, no war, no hunger, no government.  The 'cloud' became sentient, and took over all the things that fallible, corrupt humans used to mess up. Now, life is good for all. Since people live almost forever, the only problem remains... overpopulation. So, the Scythedom was created. Scythes 'glean' (terminate) people, to keep population under control. They live by their own set of laws which dictate how many people to glean every year, and forbid any bias or malice. In return, their families have immunity. But scythes must live spartan lives, accepting no gifts, only food and shelter), and cannot marry or have children. They do a service to humanity, but must always be aware of the weight of what they do. Scythe Faraday is a noble scythe who takes on two apprentices, Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch. He trains them, but also strives to test their moral compass. But it's a dystopia, so you KNOW not all is as it should be. Scythe Goddard bends the rules to satisfy his greed and bloodlust. He has many followers. They want to push aside the 'old guard' scythes and take over, and will use Citra and Rowan's unusual situation to do it.  Sequels: Thunderhead, and The Toll.

The Kill Factor by Ben Oliver

Hunger Games meets Squid Game meets influencers in this dystopian thriller by the author of The Loop series. Emerson Ness lives in the Burrows -- an underground village where poor people scrabble to make ends meet.  The rich are those who can get enough followers to get brand credits. Her deluded dad is always off trying to get rich by making content, leaving Emerson to take care of her sickly little brother, Kester.  In desperation, she steals money from her school one night, accidentally setting fire to it.  Arrested, with the threat of prison hanging over her, she is offered an option: participate in a reality tv competition with 50 other young criminals. Get enough followers, win enough challenges, and this will all go away AND her family would be set for life. Get voted out, you go to prison for life. Emerson's brother convinces her to try, against her better judgment.  Little do the contestants know that the challenges are deadly... and most of them won't even survive to face a vote...

Robo Sapiens by Toranosuke Shimada

Award-winning manga, originally published in Japan. From the publisher: "In the future, robots are more than machines. Autonomous “cyber-persons” with A.I. brains are now part of society, interacting with humans while developing their own culture. In fact, they may be surpassing humans, as biological homo sapiens have begun to die out and give way to robo sapiens. But are humans truly disappearing, or are robots becoming the newest form of humanity? "

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Your fave romance author does sci-fi, with a side of mystery! From the publisher: "Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, a special type of clairvoyant, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she is able to look into the future and see both outcomes. So when her parents tell her they are getting a divorce and she has to pick who she wants to live with, a Search has never been more important. 

In one future Addie is living with her mom in the life she's always known and is being pursued by the most popular guy in school. In the other she is the new girl in school, where she falls for a cute, quiet artist. Then Addie finds herself drawn into a murder investigation, and her fate takes a darker turn. With so much to lose in either future, Addie must decide which reality she's willing to live through . . . and who she's willing to live without."

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The prequel to The Hunger Games: it's the story of a teenage Coriolanus Snow, and his power-mad attempt to save his family's honor by serving as a mentor to the winning tribute in the 10th annual Hunger Games. But he's assigned the only female tribute, from the lowest-ranking district, District 12.

Star Daughter by Sveta Thakrar

From the publisher's website: "This gorgeously imagined YA debut blends shades of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and a breathtaking landscape of Hindu mythology into a radiant contemporary fantasy.

The daughter of a star and a mortal, Sheetal is used to keeping secrets. Pretending to be “normal.” But when an accidental flare of her starfire puts her human father in the hospital, Sheetal needs a full star’s help to heal him. A star like her mother, who returned to the sky long ago.

Sheetal’s quest to save her father will take her to a celestial court of shining wonders and dark shadows, where she must take the stage as her family’s champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of the heavens—and win, or risk never returning to Earth at all."

Cut Off by Adrianne Finlay

From the publisher: "Each contestant has their own reasons—and their own secrets—for joining the new virtual reality show CUT/OFF that places a group of teenagers alone in the wilderness. It’s a simple premise: whoever lasts the longest without “tapping out” wins a cash prize. Not only that, new software creates a totally unprecedented television experience, allowing viewers to touch, see, and live everything along with the contestants. But what happens when “tapping out” doesn’t work and no one comes to save you? What happens when the whole world seemingly disappears while you’re stranded in the wild? Four teenagers must confront their greatest fears, their deepest secrets, and one another when they discover they are truly cut off from reality. Sci-fi, mystery, and romance converge in this high-stakes, fast-paced read that will leave you guessing to the very last moment."

This football story has a sci-fi twist.  Ash is just a regular guy, a football player with a regular family, a best friend, and a girlfriend.  But when a hard hit on the field leaves him with a concussion, something strange happens.  His friend is driving him home, and Ash notices that all the stop signs are... blue.  And to everyone else, that's normal. They've always been blue.  Only Ash remembers that they used to be red.  Every time he gets hit, the world changes, again... in small ways at first, but then the changes get bigger and bigger. These alternate universes are normal to everyone but Ash, who realizes that the bad stuff in the world can be changed, but only if he's willing to take more hits...

The Hive by Barry Lyga and Morgan Baden

An action-movie of a book, set about 5 minutes into the future with an all-too believable premise called "Hive Justice". when Cassie's tasteless joke goes viral, her "Condemns" outweigh her "Likes" so swiftly and so exponentially that the Hive mobs are, literally, out to kill her. It's all a legal vigilantism encouraged and regulated by the government, though most people just get embarrassing punishments. Cassie goes on the run, but even with the help of underground resistance and the skills her famous hacker father taught her before he died, she might not get out alive. 

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The first of the acclaimed Chaos Walking trilogy, made into a movie with Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley. From the publisher's website: "Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him, something so awful that Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he can also hear.

With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn't she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? The encounter soon prompts Todd to realize he must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is."

Legend by Marie Lu

If you liked the Hunger Games and Divergent, you will love this dystopian series, too, inspired by Les Miserables.  Day and June are complete opposites. June is from the ruling elite, groomed for the military by her brother Metias.  Day is from the slums, and is a wanted criminal, accused of killing Metias.  June is assigned to capture and kill him. But they meet accidentally, without knowing who each other is, at first... so you can guess they might fall for each other...  with spies, betrayals, a brutal government, and plots to overthrow it... this is a nonstop action thriller.

Also check out the Young Elites series.

Warcross by Marie Lu

Do you like video games? Warcross is a global phenomenon - THE most popular multi-player online game in the WORLD! And that has made its young creator, Hideo Tanaka, a VERY rich man. Emika Chen is the opposite -- a poor teen hacker who works as a bounty hunter catching illegal gamblers who bet on Warcross. 

The international championship offers opportunities for gamers, for gamblers, and for hackers, too. Emika hacks into the first game of the tournament, and somehow ends up in the game. Since it's televised to the entire world, everyone knows!  She's no longer invisible. Instead of throwing her in jail, Hideo invites her to be his spy -- catching the black hat hackers who are threatening the security of Warcross.  Suddenly, Emika is part of his glamorous world, and everyone's eyes are on her! But there's more to the security threats than meets the eye. Can she uncover and stop the sinister plot?  

Sequel: Wildcard.

DC Icons series

This is a series of stories about iconic superheroes (as teens), by well-known YA authors. So far, it includes:

• Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

• Batman by Marie Lu

• Catwoman by Sarah J. Maas

• Superman by Matt de la Pena

Here's what Wonder Woman: Warbringer is about:

Immortal Amazon Diana Prince saves a young woman who is a Warbringer -- descendant of Helen of Troy.  According to the Oracle, Diana must take her to a mythical spring in Greece, or face the destruction of Themiscyra (home of the Amazons) and everyone she loves... not to mention, prevent the whole world from going to war!  With action, suspense, danger, and betrayals, you won't be able to put this one down.

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

AMAZING time-travel fantasy adventure.  Nix has spent all of her 16 years navigating for her father, the captain of a time-traveling pirate ship who is trying to get back to 1868 Honolulu, where he might be able to save Nix's mother, who died giving birth to her.  You have to have just the right map to get to a specific time and place (including places that only existed in the map-maker's imagination), and those aren't easy to come by.  But if they save her mother, will Nix be wiped out of existence?  The crew is a cast of quirky characters, and includes the handsome and dashing Persian thief, Kash, who is Nix's best friend, and just might be even more...  

Gone by Michael Grant

Imagine suddenly one day, poof!  All adults are gone. And as each teen turns 15, they poof, too! The town of Perdido Beach, California is surrounded by an unseen barrier, and it might have something to do with the nearby nuclear power plant... Friends Sam, Astrid, and Quinn kind of take charge, until rich boy Caine and his friends from the private school on the hill come down in their limos and take over. Superpowers, the evil "Darkness", talking coyotes, betrayals, and nefarious motives are all part of the action in this kickoff to a thrilling series. There's also a companion, Monster Trilogy.

Internment by Samira Ahmed

Set in the near future US, a place of book burnings and suspicious neighbors and internment camps for Muslim Americans, where Layla Amin and her parents are imprisoned. But the teens in the camp are not going down without a fight. With the help of her Jewish boyfriend on the outside, and someone surprising on the inside, Layla and the others will fight for their freedom.

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie

This dark dystopia imagines a place where some of the last survivors of civilization are hanging onto existence, mining gold from the Serpentine River with ancient, hulking dredge ships. Inside their city they are somewhat safe, but outside they risk their lives against the savage raiders. On her first voyage, Poe suffers an unimaginable loss.  The rest of the story is how she gets revenge on the raiders who took everything from her. But on her last voyage, a traitor, and a new perspective, might help her move beyond her grief and anger.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

An exciting page-turner, full of action! Most of the time when people have superpowers, they become superheroes... not so in this book, where they become "Epics" -- all supervillains. Steelheart is the worst of them all, because he is incredibly strong, can control the elements, and is invincible -- he cannot be harmed. He makes himself emperor of "Newcago" (new Chicago) and forces other Epics to work for him. But the day he killed David's dad, David saw Steelheart bleed; he knows Steelheart has a weakness. David joins a rebel group, the Reckoners, determined to take down Steelheart and the Epics. To do it, they have to find their weaknesses, and assassinate them.  It's a dangerous job, but somebody has to be the hero! And David wants revenge. 

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

This action-packed novel is the first of a series. From the publisher: "To everyone at Meridian High School, fourteen-year-old Michael Vey is nothing special, just the kid who has Tourette’s syndrome. But in truth, Michael is extremely special—he has electric powers. Michael thinks he is unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor has the same mysterious powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up with their abilities, and their investigation soon brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric teens—and through them, the world. "

Dove Arising by Karen Bao

First of a series. From the publisher's website: "Phaet Theta has lived her whole life in a colony on the Moon. She’s barely spoken since her father died in an accident nine years ago. She cultivates the plants in Greenhouse 22, lets her best friend talk for her, and stays off the government’s radar.

Then her mother is arrested.

The only way to save her younger siblings from the degrading Shelter is by enlisting in the Militia, the faceless army that polices the Lunar bases and protects them from attacks by desperate Earth-dwellers. Training is brutal, but it’s where Phaet forms an uneasy but meaningful alliance with the preternaturally accomplished Wes, a fellow outsider.

Rank high, save her siblings, free her mom:  that’s the plan. Until Phaet’s logically ordered world begins to crumble…"

The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

From the publisher's website: "Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her driver's license; rather, for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

Anticipating this happy transformation, Tally meets Shay, another female ugly, who shares her enjoyment of hoverboarding and risky pranks. But Shay also disdains the false values and programmed conformity of the society. She'd rather risk life on the outside and urges Tally to defect with her.

When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world, and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: Find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever."

Contagion by Erin Bowman

An Edgar-Award nominee, this sci-fi/horror thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. A distress signal is sent from a remote drilling base on Achlys, and a small crew is sent to investigate.  Thea, a science intern, Nova, a young pilot, impulsive female pilot Dylan, and computer geek Toby, are part of the crew that arrive on the storm-ravaged base, which is strewn with corpses. One of them managed to record a cryptic video warning, but it only leaves the would-be rescuers with more questions. A mysterious infection is only the beginning of their problems... There will be one sequel, Immunity.

Invictus by Ryan Graudin

A sci-fi time-travel epic about a boy named Farway Gaius McCarthy, born out of time (when his time-traveler Recorder mother was finishing up a post in Ancient Rome and she got to the time machine after her water broke while she was watching Far's gladiator father's last? fight-to-the-death).  Far fails his exam to become a Recorder (or was it sabotaged?), but then is offered a second chance by a mysterious stranger.  He can be captain of a time machine, but he has to steal precious treasures from the past. 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

First of The Lunar Chronicles series of sci-fi reimaginings of fairy tale characters. From the publisher's website: "Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.

With high-stakes action and a smart, resourceful heroine, Cinder is a Cinderella retelling that is at once classic and strikingly original."

Epic by Connor Kostick

In the future, on New Earth, all conflicts are solved through role-playing multi-player video game called Epic. Your success in the game affects your social class, your income, your career, as well as all legal matters.  The problem is, that people in power have a better chance to win in the game. Poor people can never get ahead. But Erik has plans for a revolutionary way to play the game, which he hopes will save his parents from exile, and earn him a life-changing treasure. He enlists the help of his friends, but their game-play just may cause a true revolution.

Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

From the publisher's website: "What would you be willing to risk for a lifetime of fortune?

 Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family.

 Forever.

 Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden—a planet that Babel has kept hidden—where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe.

 But Babel’s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human."

Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh

From the publisher's website: "EAST ASIA, 2199. After a great war, the East Pacific is in ruins. In brutal Neo Seoul, where status comes from success in combat, ex-gang member Lee Jaewon is a talented pilot rising in the academy’s ranks. Abandoned as a child in the slums of Old Seoul by his rebel father, Jaewon desires only to escape his past.

When Jaewon is recruited into the most lucrative weapons development division in Neo Seoul, he is eager to claim his best shot at military glory. But the mission becomes more complicated when he meets Tera, a test subject in the government’s supersoldier project. Tera was trained for one purpose: to pilot one of the lethal God Machines, massive robots for a never-ending war.

With secret orders to report on Tera, Jaewon becomes Tera’s partner, earning her reluctant respect. But as respect turns to love, Jaewon begins to question his loyalty to an oppressive regime that creates weapons out of humans. As the project prepares to go public amidst rumors of a rebellion, Jaewon must decide where he stands—as a soldier of the Republic, or a rebel of the people."

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

From the publisher: "In a world dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated home.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death."

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Unseen aliens, the "Others", have attacked Earth. The first waves knocked out power and communications, set loose a disease that killed billions, and wild weather that killed millions more. Civilization is almost destroyed. How can humanity survive?

Cassie's parents and friends are all dead, but she's a survivor, and so is her little brother, Sam. They do pretty well on their own. But when Sam gets kidnapped, Cassie must enlist the help of Evan Walker, a mysterious young man who just might be an enemy. They must rescue Sam from the military grounds where he is being trained as a soldier, along with other kids, including Cassie's high school crush, Ben, aka Zombie. This thoughtful, dark, and all too real imagining of the end of the human race is the first of a trilogy.

Undertow by Michael Buckley

Aliens in Coney Island! Lyric Walker was there the night 30,000 aliens marched out of the sea. Now they've been forced into a 'camp' on the beach, with a high wall to separate them from humans, who are afraid of them and don't want them around. Some of them are monstrous, and they're all dangerous. But then a few of them are supposed to be integrated into the high school, and Lyric is assigned to help. The alien leader's handsome son, Fathom, is assigned to Lyric. But Lyric is a girl with dangerous secrets of her own. And these aliens are not the only enemy: something much, much worse is coming... 

The Rule of Three by Eric Walters

Excerpt from Tor: "One shocking afternoon, computers around the globe shut down in a viral catastrophe. At sixteen-year-old Adam Daley's high school, the problem seems to be a typical electrical outage, until students discover that cell phones are down, municipal utilities are failing, and a few computer-free cars like Adam's are the only vehicles that function. Driving home, Adam encounters a storm tide of anger and fear as the region becomes paralyzed. Soon as resources dwindle, crises mount, and chaos descends…"

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron is a futuristic prison so sophisticated it's almost alive.  Gangs fight for territory and supplies in a whole world of ruined cities and a metal forest where they've lived for generations under the all-seeing eyes of Incarceron.  17-year-old Finn woke up there four years ago with no memory, his only clue an eagle tattoo. Convinced he came from 'outside' and inspired by legends of the only one to ever escape -- Sapphique -- he is determined to get out, with or without the help of his untrustworthy oathbrother, Keiro. Claudia is the daughter of the Warden, and just as trapped as Finn, although her ‘prison’ is a beautiful castle, a rich life, and being engaged to a prince she doesn't love. Finn and Claudia each find a crystal key, through which they can communicate. Each is desperate for freedom, but is it possible? Full of twists, betrayals, surprises, and hidden motives, this book will keep you turning the pages. Check out the sequel: Sapphique.