Best Teen & Young Adult Alien Science Fiction
1 Cinder
See where the futuristic YA fairytale saga all began, with the tale of a teenage cyborg who must fight for Earth's survival against villains from outer space. 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. “This series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future.” ― Kirkus Reviews on Cinder. “First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension .” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review for Cinder. “Singing mice and glass slippers are replaced with snarky androids and mechanical feet in this richly imagined and darkly subversive retelling of ‘Cinderella. Marissa didn't actually go to Stadium High School, but she did attend Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have bought this book for many friends as it is a fun adventure to get lost in."
"It was the Cinderella story (with other fairytales hovering in the background), but at the same time it was its own thing. Living in a future where a horrible disease can kill you at any moment and there is constant threat of war from the Lunar empire, things are looking bleak. However, she still loves her youngest stepsister, has a quick mind, and dreams of escape."
"The premise is quite intriguing: Cinderella is a cyborg and lives in a future Beijing with her wicked stepmother and two step-sisters, only one of which isn't appalling. The (Evil) Queen of the Moon, Levana, is set on marrying the Crown Prince, Kai so she can rule EVERYTHING. And she's the long lost lunar princess who is the only one who can overthrow Levana's totalitarian regime and bring liberty to her people. Peony is a plot device put there simply to tug at one's heart strings when she dies. 2) If Kai were really a prince of an entire realm he'd be too busy running things to spend time hiking down to Cinder's book on his own to flirt with her. These all seem like relatively minor points but these are all setting contrivances made in order that Kai and Cinder would cross paths as much as possible throughout the book. It adds a bit of a forced layer to the narrative and makes the world building less complex and believable. Sure the target demographic might not care about these little holes in the story, I know I wouldn't as a kid, but I think the overall result still lessens an otherwise excellent read."
2 Cress
The third book in the #1 New York Times- and USA Today- Bestselling Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer! The evil space queen gives an imprisoned hacker orders to track down our cyborg heroine and her team of reimagined fairytale characters. Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker; unfortunately, she's just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. Find out what happens in another richly imagined adventure in Marissa Meyer's world of fairytale (with characters based off of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzel), science fiction, and intergalatic intruigue. Don't miss these other books from #1 New York Times - and USA Today -Bestselling author Marissa Meyer : The Lunar Chronicles : Cinder. Scarlet. Cress. Winter. Stars Above. Fairest. Her latest assignment is to search for Cinder, the escaped cyborg mechanic who crashed Emperor Kai’s ball and won his heart in spite of his announced betrothal to Lavana. In this third book in Meyer’s fractured fairy tale series, Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf, and Cress team up to stop the emperor’s wedding, preventing Lavana from becoming Earth’s queen and thus destroying it.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Cress kept up this cat and mouse game where Prince Kai and the on the run, Cinder are feeling overwhelmed yet willing to save everyone on earth in their own ways. Meeting a few new players, lots of excitement, a couple great twists and introspective moments and I had myself a very satisfying read. Cress is book three of the Young Adult dystopian fairytale retelling series, The Lunar Chronicles. There are at least a handful of correlations that fairytale lovers will adore seeing, though, the author writes a very original story here. She also has some darker thoughts and fights using her unlocked Lunar ability for the wrong reasons and turning into Levana. Oh, and then we have a few new players added to the mix that promise for some great reading in the final book, Winter. I can most definitely recommend this series to those who enjoy a blend of sci-fi, dystopian, fairytale retelling, suspense, and romance."
"I’m not one for romance in stories because I often feel it detracts from the overall plot, but the connection between Carswell and Cress made this a page-turner for me. I feel connected to every character and I’m rooting for each of their individual stories."
"This book is a brilliant addition to the series and one I was so excited to read. It starts right up where the last let off and although there are parts in it that seem a tad bit slow going or maybe needlessly stretched out, when you get into the action it just doesn't stop!"
"As the main character in book three of The Lunar Chronicles it seemed that Cress doesn't get quite as much of the novel dedicated just to her as the two previous books have to their characters. Any reader new to the series will definitely want to begin with the first book, Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles, even though author Marissa Meyer has done a really good job of integrating the backstory of all the characters up to this point."
3 Scarlet
The second book in the #1 New York Times- and USA Today - Bestselling Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer! Our cyborg heroine teams up with two new characters, Scarlet and Wolf, to defend Earth against a wicked space queen. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. The adventure continues in this fresh fairytale retelling that combines elements of Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood. “ A great choice for all ages, with strong appeal for both girls and boys , these novels will be read and enjoyed―repeatedly.” ― VOYA, starred review on Scarlet. “Returning fans of Meyer's Cinder will gladly sink their teeth into this ambitious, wholly satisfying sequel.” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review on Scarlet. “The author has stepped up the intrigue and plot from the first novel, and readers will be eagerly awaiting the next.” ― School Library Journal on Scarlet. “Further development of this futuristic world plus plenty of action, surprises, and a fast pace will keep readers invested in their journey.” ― The Horn Book on Scarlet. “ A great choice for all ages, with strong appeal for both girls and boys , these novels will be read and enjoyed―repeatedly.” ― VOYA, starred review on Scarlet. “Returning fans of Meyer's Cinder will gladly sink their teeth into this ambitious, wholly satisfying sequel.” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review on Scarlet. “The author has stepped up the intrigue and plot from the first novel, and readers will be eagerly awaiting the next.” ― School Library Journal on Scarlet. Readers will be thrilled to discover that this steampunky fairy-tale/sci-fi mashup promises two more installments.” ― BCCB on Scarlet. “Further development of this futuristic world plus plenty of action, surprises, and a fast pace will keep readers invested in their journey.” ― The Horn Book on Scarlet.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"So exciting to get thrown right back into this world with some new characters. I am glad we got to go back to Cinder and see what happened with her but I did find going back and forth between Cinder and Scarlets story arcs left me lacking on them."
"The second book in the Lunar chronicles picks up where the other left off, and then starts up a whole new set of delightful subplots that all come together beautifully, if a bit violently. This whole time, Snow White’s Evil Queen has mainly stayed on the moon, but after the moves she made in book two, I don’t even want to imagine what she does next. Many questions are answered and new problems and mysteries arise as we get caught up in a new level of action and brutality that somehow never lets you forget, there just might be room for romance in the end."
"Scarlet is dropping off her weekly produce to a tavern in a nearby town, and everyone at the tavern is watching the ending scenes of "Cinder" play out. I love how this story plays out!"
"In the first book in the Lunar Chronicles, readers met the determined and admirable mechanic, Cinder, and watched her begin to unravel the mysteries behind her cyborg body and her missing past. I absolutely adored Cinder and found it to be a great twist on a classic fairy tale that also included some intriguing subplots to balance the more well-known storyline. First, there is the continuation of Cinder's story which includes her imprisonment following the ball, her subsequent escape from that prison, and her journey to discover more about her past before she became a cyborg. Then, readers see Kai's reaction to Cinder's arrest and watch him try to deal with the Lunar Queen's threats to his kingdom which are growing more dire by the day. The queen of the Lunars is quickly becoming one of my favorite YA villains with all her detailed takeover plans and the just general creepy feeling I get when she appears on the page. Like with Cinder, I loved the intriguing twists on the classic Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale that Meyer peppered throughout the story such as the basket, the woods, and, of course, the wolf. Scarlet was another great science fiction fairy tale that provided readers with new and old characters, a plot that seems to becoming more complex as it goes on, and some amazing settings."
Best Teen & Young Adult Fairy Tales & Folklore
See where the futuristic YA fairytale saga all began, with the tale of a teenage cyborg who must fight for Earth's survival against villains from outer space. 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. “This series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future.” ― Kirkus Reviews on Cinder. “First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension .” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review for Cinder. “Singing mice and glass slippers are replaced with snarky androids and mechanical feet in this richly imagined and darkly subversive retelling of ‘Cinderella. Marissa didn't actually go to Stadium High School, but she did attend Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have never been to Beijing so I can't verify what changes are made in this version, but I loved how Meyer described the contrasting worlds of glitz and glamour and the dreary and impoverished. I also was fascinated by the descriptions of the Lunar kingdom that is mentioned through myths in this installment, but I have a feeling it will become a primary setting later in the series. The two main ones are the deadly illness that is slowly wiping out the population of the city and the impending attack from the ruthless Lunar kingdom. I also enjoyed seeing the little Cinderella tidbits that Meyer threw into the fray such as Cinder's orange "classic" car and her prosthetic foot that keeps falling off. I was especially intrigued by the way Meyer used the cyborg prejudices of Cinder's neighbors to mirror the neglect of the Cinderella from the fairy tale. Prince Kaito, or Kai as he is known to Cinder, is a unique hero in the land of young adult literature."
"I hope it this gets turned into a movie they found actors who can portray this well because those I feel were the best moments in the book."
"I have bought this book for many friends as it is a fun adventure to get lost in."
"People don't look too kindly on cyborgs, so Cinder mainly keeps to herself and gets her work done. I liked Marissa Meyer's take on the fairy-tale and the changes she made in making it her own, but regardless of these changes there is still the familiar story that many of us grew up knowing. When Peony falls ill of the plague, once again Cinder is looked at with disgust by her stepmother and offered up as a "volunteer" for a plague vaccine (which has not boded well for said volunteers). For all that I thought was predictable, I still didn't want to put down the book, and Meyer did surprise by leaving us with an open ending. I'm very interested to find out how Meyer continues on with the fairy-tale retellings while weaving together the overall conflicts she started here in Cinder."
Best Teen & Young Adult Fairy Tale & Folklore Adaptations
See where the futuristic YA fairytale saga all began, with the tale of a teenage cyborg who must fight for Earth's survival against villains from outer space. 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. “This series opener and debut offers a high coolness factor by rewriting Cinderella as a kickass mechanic in a plague-ridden future.” ― Kirkus Reviews on Cinder. “First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer's brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension .” ― Publishers Weekly, starred review for Cinder. “Singing mice and glass slippers are replaced with snarky androids and mechanical feet in this richly imagined and darkly subversive retelling of ‘Cinderella. Marissa didn't actually go to Stadium High School, but she did attend Pacific Lutheran University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have never been to Beijing so I can't verify what changes are made in this version, but I loved how Meyer described the contrasting worlds of glitz and glamour and the dreary and impoverished. I also was fascinated by the descriptions of the Lunar kingdom that is mentioned through myths in this installment, but I have a feeling it will become a primary setting later in the series. The two main ones are the deadly illness that is slowly wiping out the population of the city and the impending attack from the ruthless Lunar kingdom. I also enjoyed seeing the little Cinderella tidbits that Meyer threw into the fray such as Cinder's orange "classic" car and her prosthetic foot that keeps falling off. I was especially intrigued by the way Meyer used the cyborg prejudices of Cinder's neighbors to mirror the neglect of the Cinderella from the fairy tale. Prince Kaito, or Kai as he is known to Cinder, is a unique hero in the land of young adult literature."
"I hope it this gets turned into a movie they found actors who can portray this well because those I feel were the best moments in the book."
"I have bought this book for many friends as it is a fun adventure to get lost in."
"People don't look too kindly on cyborgs, so Cinder mainly keeps to herself and gets her work done. I liked Marissa Meyer's take on the fairy-tale and the changes she made in making it her own, but regardless of these changes there is still the familiar story that many of us grew up knowing. When Peony falls ill of the plague, once again Cinder is looked at with disgust by her stepmother and offered up as a "volunteer" for a plague vaccine (which has not boded well for said volunteers). For all that I thought was predictable, I still didn't want to put down the book, and Meyer did surprise by leaving us with an open ending. I'm very interested to find out how Meyer continues on with the fairy-tale retellings while weaving together the overall conflicts she started here in Cinder."
Best Alien Invasion Science Fiction eBooks
A planet on the fringe of known space, where the people only respect masters of combat. Earth’s Legions must impress them, but other alien powers have been invited to join the contest.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Does not take itself seriously like others and one of the funnier books I've read in a while."
"Absolutely love this whole series, great story with believable action and twists."
"Great series and enjoy each story more and more."
"I like Larson but this series of books has become cookie cutter."
"Good read I enjoy these book's ."
"I love,this whole series."
"I really can't get enough of Mr. Larson's books."
"Fun read."
Best Galactic Empire Science Fiction
The Atlantis World is the final book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global phenomenon. A GLOBAL CATACLYSM BEYOND IMAGINATION... A MYSTERIOUS SIGNAL FROM SPACE... AND ONE LAST HOPE TO SAVE THE HUMAN RACE: As the catastrophe circles the globe, Ares reveals the true nature of the threat to humanity, and Dorian agrees to one last mission: find and kill David Vale and Kate Warner. With Dorian in pursuit, Kate, David, and their team race through the ruins of the Atlantean ship left on Earth, across Atlantean science stations throughout the galaxy, and into the past of a mysterious culture whose secrets could save humanity in its darkest hour. ABOUT The Atlantis World is the final book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has become a global blockbuster bestseller. A.G. Riddle spent ten years starting internet companies before retiring to pursue his true passion: writing fiction. His debut novel, The Atlantis Gene , is the first book in The Origin Mystery , the trilogy that has sold over two million copies in the US, has been translated into 18 languages, and is in development to be a major motion picture. His recently released fourth novel, Departure , follows the survivors of a flight that takes off in the present and crash-lands in a changed world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I will say that the ending is far more predictable than the first book in that the analyst in the safe room, his departure was a surprise and the 3rd book was a safe "happy" ending of sorts."
"I have been busy building houses but am winding down and plan on doing more reading in my retirement and you are in the top three of my list."
"I understand wanting to connect some dots for readers who joined at the end rather than the beginning, but it inhibited my enjoyment of the book to have to quickly scan and skip 3 or 4 pages at a time to get past the summaries."
"The Atlantis World (The Origin Mystery, #3) by A.G. Riddle. A good finish to the trilogy!"
"A.G. Riddle's conclusion to his Atlantis series is my favorite of the bunch. The other two had more of a thriller/mystery threat theme, whereas World focuses more on the back story. The genetics, the dilemma of technological advancement, the origin theory."
"I agree with the author, that the third book in the trilogy was a departure from the first and second--and I loved it."
"This last book at times was hard to follow all that was happening and why, but in the end it all became clear."
"The 'good' guys win and the 'bad' guys lose but billions of other people lose too."
Best Space Opera Science Fiction
Set on the foundation laid by the Kurtherian Gambit Series, this story tells about one of the fan favorites and her new partner.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The first book,Etheric Recruit, was a great start in the series."
"So, these 2 books are the beginning of Steve's contributing to the Empire of Bethany Ann ... hummm.... waiting on the rest of the books, not just the 3rd !!"
"I am so impressed by this new author, I was late getting the first book, so bought the first and second at the same time, then read them both in one night."
"This was pretty dang good!"
"Love reading about Anne and Jinx continued growth and the new characters are a fun read!"
"If someone told you that this Steven rendition is as cool as the grey Etheric nether regions then they are missing da velly goot point!"
"I really liked this second book."
"Could have been 5 stars, but why the SJW BS with a throw away character?"
Best Teen & Young Adult Time Travel Fiction
A Wrinkle in Time is soon to be a major motion picture from Disney, directed by Ava DuVernay, starring Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling. Many Waters ―Meg Murry, now in college, time travels with her twin brothers, Sandy and Dennys, to a desert oasis that is embroiled in war. “A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorite books of all time. “A book that every young person should read, a book that provides a road map for seeking knowledge and compassion even at the worst of times, a book to make the world a better place.” ― Cory Doctorow on A Wrinkle in Time.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I had purchased the first four books of the series (different edition) a few years back at the local used book store and was looking the complete the series. I noticed that the price was at $10.99 and thought that was a great deal but I hesitated for a day or two and the next time I checked, it was up to $23 (still, technically, a decent price considering that each of these books costs over $5, individually). I was angry with myself for not jumping at the super low price, so I kept checking back. Well, a day or so later, it went back down to $10.99 and I went for it."
"I remember reading the first book in the set as a child and loving it."
"It takes you to the unknown while teaching good and evil as encountered by the young people in the stories."
Best Teen & Young Adult Space Opera
The never-before-told story of how young Leia Organa comes to join the rebellion against the evil Empire, from best-selling author Claudia Gray. Claudia Gray is the author of Star Wars: Bloodline and Defy the Stars , as well as the Firebird series, the Evernight series and the Spellcaster series.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"So while it is a part of the canon material, it is considered ancillary to the main story. This book is set about 3-4 years before A New Hope when Leia is 16, and undergoing the trials to be named the heir to Alderaan. Of course, her father Bail has shown up since the prequel movies in the canon material, but this book really established who he was and his thoughts on the Rebellion more than any of the other books, shows, and movies have. Given when it was set, the book includes, or at least mentions many things that would bear out in the original trilogy. Overall the book does a great job of making Leia not quite the character she was in A New Hope but showing how much of that person was within her."
"It's as good as Gray's other Leia-centered book "Bloodline," and the two novels together cover pretty much all the facets of Leia's complex, luminous character."
"Honestly this didn't feel like Leia to me."
"Wow!"
"The voice of Leia here was somewhat annoying to me but the plot is solid and this is a fun read."
"Stories like these only enrich the characters that we have grown to love over the years in the star wars universe."
"Another excellent book from Claudia Gray in the Star Wars universe."
"Great book."
Best Teen & Young Adult Steampunk
Danger, betrayal, and enchantment abound in the “exhilarating” ( Booklist ) conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy—now with a gorgeous new cover, a new foreword, and exclusive bonus content! The tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy. She is the coauthor of The Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson and Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy with Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson, and Robin Wasserman, as well as The Shadowhunter’s Codex, which she cowrote with her husband, Joshua Lewis.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The epitome of the best (& most emotional) love triangle I would've ever hoped to have read/imagined."
"I found the story and it's previous books, to not only be enchanting but also beautifully written, with extreme detail and a very good description of current and past land marks and locations, Tessa's London and Williams Wales made me inspired to travel."
"This book really helps you understand James and Tessa in suck a deep sense."
"Charlotte and Henry's love was explained more and left me smiling."
"Absolutely love the whole clockwork series."
"I don't want to give it away, so I will just say that the thing I didn't like was later redeemed by Cassandra because of all the other events that happen. I did take a peek at Cassandra's web page though, and am happy to say 2 more Shadowhunter type series are in the works, so I will just have to hold on to that!"
"I think it's beyond comprehension that a force is about to annihilate your race & you call a council meeting to argue about it. I also wish the mundane servants could have made more practical use of their second sight. I was stunned at the choice Jem made, but after finishing the book, I understand it better."
"I read this series before the Mortal Instruments, which are set it the same world but present day, and I have to say I like this set more (although both are on my favorites list!). I loved the Mortal Instruments as well, but I don't feel like I would have fully experienced them without reading these, as the Mortal Instruments didn't delve as deep into some of the important aspects of the shadow world (like the parabatai connection between shadowhunters)."
Best Teen & Young Adult Dystopian
All three Hunger Games books in one gorgeous package! “Fans will be happy to hear that Mockingjay is every bit as complex and imaginative as Hunger Games and Catching Fire." “At its best the trilogy channels the political passion of 1984, the memorable violence of A Clockwork Orange, the imaginative ambience of The Chronicles of Narnia and the detailed inventiveness of Harry Potter." “Unfolding in Collins' engaging, intelligent prose and assembled into chapters that end with didn't-see-that-coming cliffhangers, this finale is every bit the pressure cooker of its forebears. * “This concluding volume in Collins's Hunger Games trilogy accomplishes a rare feat, the last installment being the best yet, a beautifully orchestrated and intelligent novel that succeeds on every level."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"All in all, this is a really good book which are a great gift for every Hunger Games fan!"
"Catching Fire is different than most of the other young adult fiction books, because of the character development, and the relationship from book to movie."
"She unwillingly and reluctantly has become the symbol of the rebellion and the rebel leaders urge her to exploit this via video feeds to the 12 Districts. Katniss at first feigns infirmity but eventually caves in after negotiating an agreement with the rebel leaders that they will not harm Peeta or the other Hunger Games survivors if they assume leadership."
"I know what you're saying what took you so long to read this book, to be honest I just have a crazy insane TBR list and it just kept getting pushed back. So when my son got The Hunger Games for Christmas on DVD we watched Christmas Night and I knew immediately I had to read the book afterwards."