• This is the first in a series listing teen favorites in the genre of science fiction. LIHU‘E — Science fiction (also referred to by fans as “SF”) and fantasy are both types of speculative fiction, which encompasses all stories
• This is the first in a series listing teen favorites in the genre of science fiction.
LIHU‘E — Science fiction (also referred to by fans as “SF”) and fantasy are both types of speculative fiction, which encompasses all stories that explore the question, “What if?” For example, what if all adults disappeared and teens were left to rule the world as in “Gone” by Michael Grant or what if you found out your dad was Poseidon, a Greek god as in “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan.
What follows are a few suggestions for SF fans.
“Little Brother” by Cory Doctorow
Master hacker Marcus (a.k.a. “w1nst0n”) easily outwits his high school’s intrusive surveillance systems. But his skills are tested when the Department of Homeland Security transforms San Francisco into a police state. Marcus decides to take down the DHS, but can one teen win against a government that’s intent on silencing him? (Grade nine and up)
“Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
The twelve districts of famine-stricken Panem each send a boy and a girl to the annual Hunger Games, a reality TV show featuring a fight to the death. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers for the Games to spare her little sister’s life and contends in a fierce contest to win food for her district — and to survive. (Grade seven and up)
Michelle Young is the young adult librarian for Lihu‘e Public Library.