It starts with the rain. A rainstorm that seems to happen simultaneously all over the globe. Next comes the strange black grass that grows at an alarming rate. Then allergic reactions to the pollen in the air. People start disappearing into the ground, consumed by monstrous plants. Soon the world is in a panic. Crops are failing. Buildings are collapsing. People are crowding the hospitals. But there are three teenagers who seem oddly unaffected by it all. What makes them so special and what can they do to save the rest of the world before it's too late?

This is a fast-past thriller told from the perspective of three teenagers. Luckily all three books are out because the minute you finish one you'll want to pick up the next. Perfect for fans of fast-paced science fiction.

The Overthrow #1 Bloom by Kenneth Oppel

Erica's Picks
5th +
tags: fast-paced, horror, people of color, science fiction, survival

Charlie had a lot of friends in London, but now that they've moved back to the small town where her father grew up, she only has Dizzy. They're both outcasts: Charlie because she doesn't act the way a girl "should", and Dizzy because Polio left him with a permanent limp. Johnny takes a particular delight in tormenting them, but one day he takes it too far. He lures them into the woods with a plan to scare them, but soon all three are lost. As night descends they become trapped in a nightmare where the normal rules don't apply. If they want to survive to dawn, they'll have to rely on each other and keep their wits about them. The woods have more than one trick in store for them, and the morning seems like it will never come.

This is a short and fast-paced adventure that plays with time and history as well as secret codes and science. Great for anyone looking for a spooky mystery to crack.

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon
by Christopher Edge

Erica's Picks
3rd - 5th
​tags: adventure, fast-paced, historical, mystery, science fiction

Shapeshifters, ghosts, androids, gods, MMORPGs, goblins, and more. This collection of short stories has it all. Each story is based on a traditional tale from the author's East or South Asian culture. Some stories stick closer to their traditional roots while some are set far in the future. But every one has a fantastical element that will transport you to another time and place. My favorite was Olivia's Table by Alyssa Wong but they're all great. After each story is a brief note from the author explaining their inspiration and giving you a peek behind the scenes. A must-read for fans of speculative fiction looking for a global perspective.

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh
Erica's Picks
7th & 8th
​tags: fantasy, fairy tales, global perspectives, People of Color, retellings, science fiction, supernatural

Solara and Dylan have always hated each other. Rivals at their elite school, Dylan comes from one of the richest families in the Galaxy while Solara is a scholarship student from the orphanage. But when Dylan’s family is caught up in an inter-galactic scandal, they end up on the run together, booking passage on a pirate ship. In deep space, no one will be able to find them as long as they don’t blow their cover with the crew. But they also have nowhere to escape when things go wrong. 

This is a classic sci-fi story with a bunch of quirky misfits hurtling through space trying to avoid a corrupt government. It's a fun adventure for fans of the genre. 

Starflight by Melissa Landers

Erica's Picks
Grades 6-8
​Tags: 

 “The heavy blade hung high above the prisoners, glinting against the stars, and then the Razor came down, a wedge of falling darkness cutting through the torchlight. One solid thump, and four more heads had been shaved from their bodies.” In a post-technological age where the past is all but forgotten, a rebellion is stirring. The nobility are being captured and executed. Their only hope is the mysterious red rook who keeps sneaking into prisons and freeing people, leaving a red-tipped feather behind. 

I adored this re-imagining of The Scarlet Pimpernel! The dystopian setting provides a perfect background and gender-swapping the main character creates a more modern feeling. There's the perfect mix of action, world-building, and romance. 

Rook by Sharon Cameron

Erica's Picks
8th & up
Tags: adventure, crime caper. dystopian, fast-paced, retellings, romance, science fiction

When the UN gave responsibility for world peace over to an artificial intelligence, it came up with a solution that no one anticipated. Instead of using atomic bombs for deterrence it works on a smaller, more personal scale. Every world leader is required to give a child over to be raised and taught in the prefecture. All of their needs are seen to, they get a wonderful education among the elite, and if their parents declare war on another country, they are executed. Those in power have always been willing to send other people's children off to die in wars, but they are far more hesitant to sacrifice their own. The system worked. Until the sacrificed children decide to fight back.

This book has a lot of meaty moral questions to dig your teeth into, but the pace is never slowed by them. The diverse cast was created with care and they each shine in their own way. The AI running the place is perhaps the most interesting character of all. I absolutely adored this.

The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

Erica's Picks
8th & up
​Tags: dystopian, fast-paced, science fiction

The Oyster has been sailing for 300 years without any contact from the outside world. If they had a purpose once, no one can remember it. The ship has broken down into three warring factions with parents passing their prejudices onto their children for generations. Petrel is the only one without a faction or a family. Her parents committed a great crime and were thrown overboard. She survives by knowing the ship and all its hiding places better than anyone else. She sneaks down secret passageways and steals to survive. Everything changes when they find a half-frozen boy abandoned on an iceberg. How he got out there is a mystery, but he will surely die if they don't take him aboard. Many want to leave this outsider to freeze. But not Petrel. If anyone knows how to survive and evade capture on the ship, it's her. This mysterious boy will put all her talents and her courage to the test.

I liked the hints at the dystopian world and how it came to be instead of a lengthy exposition that explains everything. The world of the ship is fascinating and has a gritty sense of something that's carried on long past its time and is hanging on by sheer force of will. The boy's inner conflict is well-portrayed and Petrel is an endearing character reminiscent of a scrappy, Dickensian street urchin. I love sailing stories and the ship is a great background for the twisting plot. There's a lot of meaty themes explored from identity to friendship to faith. The story takes a bit of time to really get going, but I'm looking forward to how it will unfold in the sequel.

Ice Breaker by Lian Tanner

Erica's Picks
4th - 7th grade
​Tags: Adventure, Dystopian, Science Fiction