Families who loved Year's Best Young Adult Speculative Fiction 2015 by Julia Rios often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this anthology when your teen is grappling with their place in the world or feeling like an outsider in their own community. It is an ideal choice for the young reader who finds traditional realism too limiting and craves stories that use the fantastic to explore very real human truths. This collection brings together diverse short stories ranging from high-fantasy realms to gritty near-future science fiction, all centered on the adolescent experience of forging an identity. Because it is an anthology, it offers a buffet of perspectives on justice, resilience, and belonging. It is a sophisticated read for ages 12 and up, providing a safe but intellectually stimulating space to encounter big questions about ethics, technology, and the future without the commitment of a thousand-page series.
