Science Fiction

Science fiction is one of my favorite genres. It's more than just space ships, robots, and aliens. The very best books in this genre really get its readers thinking as they ask some tough questions. What does it mean to be human? How does technology impact our lives, for better or for worse? What kind of society do we want to live in: One that is peaceful but restricting, or one that's a bit messier but with freedom?

Ever since the publication of the widely-popular Hunger Games, quite a bit in this genre has been published specifically for teens. And I think that this is absolutely wonderful for the genre. So often in teen lit we see characters who come of age as they question the world around them, and the science fiction genre by its very nature provides the perfect platform for such storylines. Here are just a few more titles - some brand new, some just a bit older - that will make you wonder what the future really holds:

Matched by Ally Condie
Cassia has never questioned the choices that The Society makes for her, and she is thrilled when her best friend Xander is selected as her Match, the person she will marry. But another face also appears on her match disk, and Cassia starts to wonder if she should really be satisfied with The Society's choices.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Thomas wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his past. He finds himself in an area known as The Glade with other boys who have been trying to survive and find a way out of the maze that surrounds them. Can Thomas find his way out of this experiment before it turns deadly?

The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
Matt seems to live a life of privilege as El Patron's young clone. But his real purpose for being created is actually quite sinister.

Unidentified by Rae Mariz
In this alternative future kids are constantly wired in and observed by corporate sponsors. Katy must decide which she values more: the perks that come with corporate sponsorship, or her privacy.

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
An asteroid hits the moon and knocks it closer to the Earth, causing a series of natural catastrophes. As the world is left in shambles, 16-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive.

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Amy has been cryogenically frozen and sent aboard the spaceship Godspeed on a 300 year journey to another planet where the passengers will build a new colony. Elder is in training to be the future leader of the people who operate the ship on its generations-long voyage. But when Amy is woken up 50 years early, she and Elder uncover the lies that surround the ship's society.

And there's plenty more were that came from! Whether you're looking for a dystopia that looks at society's flaws, a space opera, or something dealing with technology, chances are that there's a teen novel out there somewhere for you thanks to the blossoming market for this age group.