Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Magical Realism
The Game of Love and Death, by Martha Brockenbrough
In Seattle in 1937 two seventeen-year-olds, Henry, who is
white, and Flora, who is African-American, become the unwitting pawns in a game
played by two immortal figures, Love and Death, where they must choose each
other at the end, or one of them will die. (CIP)
Undertow, by Michael Buckley
A sixteen-year-old girl is caught in an epic clash of
civilizations when a society of undersea warriors marches out of the ocean and
into modern-day Coney Island. (CIP)
Ink and Bone (The
Great Library, Book 1), by Rachel Caine
Ruthless and supremely powerful, the Great Library is now a
presence in every major city, governing the flow of knowledge to the masses.
Alchemy allows the Library to deliver the content of the greatest works of
history instantly—but the personal ownership of books is expressly forbidden.
Jess Brightwell believes in the value of the Library, but the majority of his
knowledge comes from illegal books obtained by his family, who are involved in
the thriving black market. Jess has been sent to be his family’s spy, but his
loyalties are tested in the final months of his training to enter the Library’s
service. (Publisher)
Armada, by Earnest Cline
Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy
and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with
anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe. And then he sees the flying
saucer. No, Zack hasn’t lost his mind. It’s Zack’s chance, at last, to play the
hero. But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can’t help thinking back
to all those science-fiction stories he grew up with, and wondering: Doesn’t
something about this scenario seem a little…familiar?
The Cracks in the Kingdom
(The Colors of Madeleine, Book 2), by Jaclyn Moriarty
Princess Ko's been bluffing about the mysterious absence of
her father, desperately trying to keep the government running on her own. But
if she can't get him back in a matter of weeks, the consequence may be a
devastating war. So under the guise of a publicity stunt she gathers a group of
teens -- each with a special ability -- from across the kingdom to crack the
unsolvable case of the missing royals of Cello. (Publisher)
Shadowshaper, by Daniel José Older
When the murals painted on the walls of her Brooklyn neighborhood
start to change and fade in front of her, Sierra Santiago realizes that
something strange is going on – then she discovers her Puerto Rican family are
shadowshapers and finds herself in a battle with an evil anthropologist for the
lives of her family and friends. (CIP)
Bone Gap, by Laura Ruby
Eighteen-year-old Finn, an outsider in his quiet Midwestern
town, is the only witness to the abduction of town favorite Roza, but his
inability to distinguish between faces makes it difficult for him to help with
the investigation, and subjects him to even more ridicule and bullying. (CIP)
More Happy Than Not, by Adam Silvera
The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-relief procedure
seems too good to be true to Aaron Soto … But Aaron can't forget how he's grown
up poor or how his friends aren't always there for him … Then Thomas shows up.
He has a sweet movie-watching setup on his roof, and he doesn't mind Aaron's
obsession with a popular fantasy series. There are nicknames, inside jokes.
Most importantly, Thomas doesn't mind talking about Aaron's past. But Aaron's
newfound happiness isn't welcome on his block. Since he's can't stay away from
Thomas or suddenly stop being gay, Aaron must turn to Leteo to straighten
himself out, even if it means forgetting who he is. (Publisher)
The Alex Crow, by Andrew Smith
The story of Ariel, a Middle Eastern refugee who lives with
an adoptive family in Sunday, West Virginia, is juxtaposed against those of a
schizophrenic bomber, the diaries of a failed arctic expedition from the late
nineteenth century, and a depressed bionic reincarnated crow. (CIP)
Blue Lily, Lily Blue (The
Raven Cycle, Book 3), by Maggie
Stiefvater
Blue Sargent has found things. For the first time in her
life, she has friends she can trust, a group to which she can belong. The Raven
Boys have taken her in as one of their own. Their problems have become hers,
and her problems have become theirs. The trick with found things, though, is
how easily they can be lost. Friends can betray. Mothers can disappear. Visions
can mislead. Certainties can unravel. (Publisher)
An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir
In a world inspired by ancient Rome and defined by
brutality, seventeen-year old Laia has grown up with one rule for survival:
Never challenge the Empire. But when Laia’s brother Darin is arrested for
treason, she leaves behind everything she knows, risking her life to try and
save him. She enlists help from the rebels whose extensive underground network
may lead to Darin. Their help comes with a price, though. Laia must infiltrate
the Empire’s greatest military academy as a spy. (Publisher)
The Martian, by Andy Weir
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first
people to walk on Mars. Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die
there. (Publisher)
