Come now, dear reader, and let us journey together to the second star to the right—and straight on through galaxies undreamed, to worlds where young heroes pilot starships and face impossible odds. For in the realm of young adult science fiction, there await adventures quite as marvellous as any to be found in Neverland itself.
This guide shall serve as your trusted companion through the finest YA science fiction tales to read in 2026 and beyond, alongside the timeless classics that have captured the hearts of young dreamers for generations.
New YA Science Fiction Releases of 2025
The year 2025 proved a remarkable season for young adult science fiction, with authors spinning tales that would make even the cleverest of fairies gasp in wonder.
All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
From the pen of one of YA dystopian fiction’s finest storytellers comes a tale most peculiar indeed. In All Better Now, a new virus called Crown Royale sweeps across America—but here is the curious thing: those who survive it emerge utterly happy and filled with empathy. Yet at what cost? Through the intertwined fates of three young people—immune Mariel, alpha-spreader Rón, and ambitious Morgan—Shusterman weaves a thought-provoking thriller about whether happiness, when forced upon us, remains happiness at all. Kirkus Reviews called it “a thought-provoking and grimly enjoyable tale exploring a strange future.”
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Twenty-four years before a young woman named Katniss would volunteer as tribute, there lived a boy called Haymitch Abernathy in the impoverished reaches of District 12. Sunrise on the Reaping chronicles the infamous Second Quarter Quell, where twice the usual number of young souls must fight for survival. This prequel sold over 1.5 million copies in its first week—the most successful debut in the entire Hunger Games series—and shall receive a film adaptation in November 2026. It is a tale of propaganda, power, and the courage required to survive impossible cruelty.
Oathbound by Tracy Deonn (The Legendborn Cycle)
The Legendborn Cycle completed its magnificent arc in 2025 with Oathbound, the third installment in Tracy Deonn’s #1 New York Times bestselling series. Though it walks the line between fantasy and science fiction, Deonn’s reimagining of Arthurian legend through the eyes of a Black teenage young woman has captured hearts across all genres. The series has earned the Coretta Scott King Award, and reviewers have called it “one of the greatest YA fantasy novels I’ve read in a long, long time.”
Anticipated YA Science Fiction for 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, several extraordinary adventures await young readers hungry for tales of the stars.
The celebrated Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of Witching, shall release her very first young adult novel—a tale following a young woman who must bargain with Death himself to discover the truth of her sister’s mysterious demise.
From South Korea comes Kim Choyeop’s speculative fiction collection, featuring stories where emotions are sold as material goods and young women journey through wormholes seeking lost family members.
And in a tale pitched as “sapphic Moby-Dick in space,” readers may anticipate new adventures amongst the stars from unexpected quarters.
Essential Modern YA Science Fiction
Now let us turn to those modern marvels that have already proven themselves worthy of the highest shelves in any reader’s library.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman (Arc of a Scythe Series)
In a future where humanity has conquered death itself, population control falls to the Scythes—individuals trained in the “art” of gleaning, the permanent ending of life. When teenagers Citra and Rowan are chosen as apprentices to a scythe—a role neither desires—they must master this terrible art or lose their own lives. Included on Time’s list of the “100 Best YA Books of All Time,” Scythe asks profound questions about mortality, morality, and what price we would pay for a perfect society. The series spans four books, concluding with Gleanings in 2021.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Described as “Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale,” this instant #1 New York Times bestseller imagines a world where giant robots called Chrysalises battle alien monsters—but only men receive glory while women pilots are sacrificed as “concubines.” When Wu Zetian volunteers as a concubine-pilot seeking revenge for her sister’s death, she discovers a power that makes her an Iron Widow, feared by all. It is a boldly feminist tale inspired by the only woman to rule China as empress in over 3,000 years.
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (Cytoverse Series)
Master storyteller Brandon Sanderson delivers a tale of Spensa, a seventeen-year-old determined to become a starfighter pilot despite the shame attached to her father’s name. In a world where humans survive on a ruined planet under constant alien attack, Spensa must prove herself in deadly combat and uncover secrets that will change everything she knows. Publishers Weekly praised its “fearless heroine and memorable cast,” and the series completed in 2023 with Defiant.
Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles)
Entertainment Weekly called it “a mash-up of fairy tales and science fiction… a cross between Cinderella, Terminator, and Star Wars.” In New Beijing, cyborg mechanic Cinder lives as a second-class citizen until her fate becomes entangled with a handsome prince and a deadly plague. This clever retelling combines familiar fairy tale magic with futuristic technology, creating a series beloved by readers worldwide.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Told entirely through classified documents, interviews, and chat logs—with stunning visual design on every page—Illuminae follows teenage refugees Kady and Ezra after their planet is attacked by a hostile corporation. Debuting at #5 on the New York Times bestseller list and winning multiple awards, this space opera is described by Romantic Times as “a twisting, heart-pounding story moving at the speed of light.”
The Fever King by Victoria Lee
In a dystopian Carolinia where a magical virus grants superpowers to survivors, refugee Noam becomes a technopath and is recruited by the government. But his plans for justice become complicated when he meets Dara, the minister’s haunted son. School Library Journal noted it will appeal to “fans of Neal Shusterman and Veronica Roth,” praising its sophisticated writing and deep character development.
These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
When the massive luxury spaceliner Icarus crashes on a mysterious planet, privileged Lilac LaRoux and young war hero Tarver Merendsen must rely upon each other to survive. Winner of Australia’s prestigious Aurealis Award, this tale combines epic romance with dazzling science fiction. It has been optioned for television adaptation.
Timeless Classics Every Young Reader Should Know
And now, dear reader, we come to those venerable tales that have inspired generations of young dreamers to look up at the stars.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Winner of the Newbery Medal and beloved for over sixty years, this groundbreaking novel follows Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin as they journey through space and time via tesseract to rescue Meg’s father from a terrible darkness. L’Engle created one of the first female protagonists in science fiction, opening doors for countless heroines to follow. The novel has sold over ten million copies and inspired two film adaptations.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards—making Card the only author to win both in consecutive years—this 1985 classic follows young Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, recruited to an orbiting Battle School where children train for war against an alien threat. The novel won the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime contribution to young adult literature and remains on the American Library Association’s “100 Best Books for Teens.”
Finding Your Perfect YA Science Fiction Adventure
Whether you seek the thoughtful dystopias of Neal Shusterman, the action-packed space operas of Brandon Sanderson, or the imaginative retellings of Marissa Meyer, young adult science fiction offers worlds enough for every dreamer.
For those who love giant robot battles and feminist rage, Iron Widow awaits. For survival stories set in cruel societies, the Hunger Games universe continues to expand. And for those who treasure unique formats and stunning design, Illuminae offers something unlike anything else on your shelves.
The beauty of YA science fiction lies in its willingness to ask the biggest questions—about identity, morality, love, and sacrifice—while wrapping them in adventures thrilling enough to keep us turning pages through the night.
Now fly away, dear reader, to whatever star calls to you. The universe of young adult science fiction awaits, and it is wonderfully, impossibly vast.
