Science Fiction Archives - Redeemed Reader

The Unlikely Intrusion of Adams Klein by John Greco

Hayley Morell — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Time travel and small town America collide in The Unlikely Intrusion of Adams Klein, an action-packed series starter to the TimeFall Trilogy.

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Moonleapers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 09:40:00 +0000

Maisie is excited to get her first phone, but when she starts getting weird messages and hears about Moonleapers, she starts to wonder what is going on....

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The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 18:42:06 +0000

The Forest of a Thousand Eye pictures a decaying community at the mercy of nature, and one girl plunged into a desperate situation.

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Schoolbot 9000: A Graphic Novel by Sam Hepburn

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:20:00 +0000

Schoolbot 9000 is the first volume of a graphic-novel series examining the effect of machine learning on education.

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The Giver by Lois Lowry

Betsy Farquhar — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 18:42:19 +0000

The Giver examines deep and foundational questions through a dystopian framework.

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Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games Series)

Betsy Farquhar — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 21:00:32 +0000

Mockingjay, book 3 of The Hunger Games series, brings a dubious conclusion to Katniss's battle with the Capitol.

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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games Series)

Betsy Farquhar — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 20:39:32 +0000

In Catching Fire, book 2 of The Hunger Games series, Katniss and Peeta find themselves in another Hunger Games.

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Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games Series)

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:06:00 +0000

Sunrise on the Reaping is an intriguing, if violent, prequel to the thought-provoking Hunger Games series.

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Echo Nova by Clint Hall

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 12 May 2025 09:33:00 +0000

Echo Nova mixes time travel, illegal rooftop racing, and a greedy corporation into a fun science-fiction thriller for teens.

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All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:26:56 +0000

All Better Now, a thought-provoking read for mature teens, grapples with the consequences of a different kind of pandemic.

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Thunder City by Philip Reeves

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:43:28 +0000

Thunder City supplements Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines quartet with different characters but similar formula.

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Newbery Roundup #2: Plain Jane, Wrong Way Home, and The First State of Being

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 13:47:51 +0000

Our second roundup of Newbery-buzzing books includes a graphic-novel fairy tale, an escape narrative, and a time-travel adventure.

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Jolabokaflod for Megan’s family in 2024

Megan Saben — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 18:26:58 +0000

Choosing Jolabokaflod titles for my family every year is a pleasant challenge. What would interest each member that we don’t already have in our collection? As each boy reaches a new stage of maturity and I see their own characteristics developing, I want to find a good fit for their personal libraries. Here’s what I…

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Back Porch Book Chat with Tasha Kazanjian (YA author)

Megan Saben — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 18:17:39 +0000

Back Porch Book Chat: a casual conversation about books and writing. Today we’re visiting with Tasha Kazanjian, author of A Trick of Spades. A lover of old books, history, and theology, Tasha writes fantasy inspired by very real places and times. She can’t resist adding a bit of magic to her worlds, but her stories primarily focus…

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Fun Middle-Grade Reads for Winter Break: Library Girl, The Long Way Around, and We Do Not Welcome Our 10-Year-Old Overlord

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:17:00 +0000

Three new middle-grade novels offer something for fans of survival fiction, quirky humor, and sci-fi.

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The Legend of the Last Library by Frank L. Cole

Janie Cheaney — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 12:30:14 +0000

The Legend of the Last Library pictures a dystopian future without books or paper, and one intrepid reader who holds the key to restoration.

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Evan Miller Is Waking Down by Jerel Law

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 07:52:00 +0000

Evan Miller Is Waking Down is an interesting addition to the dystopian fiction landscape that is thought-provoking and clean.

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Dune: Book vs. Movie

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:44:00 +0000

Reading Dune (with teens) vs watching the movies (with teens): a Christian reader reflects.

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Arc of a Scythe Trilogy by Neal Shusterman

Betsy Farquhar — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 18:11:12 +0000

The Arc of a Scythe Trilogy is a thought-provoking dystopian series for mature teens; it has problematic elements, but raises good questions about the essential nature of humanity.

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Scythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:57:42 +0000

Scythe is the first in a gritty dystopian trilogy about a society in which no one can die... unless a scythe gleans him or her. And scythes have a quota to fill....

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Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson

Hayley Morell — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 20:46:52 +0000

In an engaging sci-fi thriller, one girl attempts to outrun her past while discovering her true identity. Quicksilver by R. J. Anderson. Carolrhoda Lab, 2013. 320 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, Ages 16-upRecommended For: Ages 16-up On June 7, the year I turned sixteen, I vanished without a trace. On September 28 of the same year I came…

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Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 20:00:49 +0000

A first-person psychological thriller inside one young woman’s remarkable consciousness. Ultraviolet, by R. J. Anderson. Carolrhoda Lab, 2011, 303 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, Ages 14-upRecommended For: Ages 14-up When Alison Jeffries wakes up in an unfamiliar place with a head full of screaming memories and arms scarred with angry welts, it takes a while to…

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*Larklight by Philip Reeve

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 23:01:00 +0000

The Larklight series is a rollicking ride through a steampunk solar system.

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2023 Newbery Buzz #1: A Rover’s Story

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:26:19 +0000

In which we discuss books that are likely under consideration by this year's Newbery committee.

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A Rover’s Story by Jasmine Warga

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:17:00 +0000

A Rover's Story employs an unusual protagonist to celebrate science, space exploration, and humanity.

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Brand New Kid by David Almond

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 08:21:00 +0000

Brand New Boy explores the "humanity" of manufactured humans through the eyes of curious middle-school students.

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Maze Runner Series: a Christian Response

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 14:00:34 +0000

High octane, fast-paced adventure books for teens, the Maze Runner books raise interesting questions if readers can stop long enough to ponder. The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner. Delacorte. Reading Level: Teens, ages 12-15 Recommended For: Teens, ages 14 and up When Thomas arrives in the Glade, in a box, he is utterly bewildered.…

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Your Pal Fred by Michael Rex

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 11:11:00 +0000

A fun graphic novel for young middle-graders, Your Pal Fred pictures a dystopian world startled by kindness.

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The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 11:07:54 +0000

In The School for Whatnots, popular children's author Margaret Peterson Haddix explores how good intentions go awry

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Wake Up Missing by Kate Messner

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 11:18:00 +0000

Wake Up Missing mixes science with science fiction: DNA manipulation, nefarious plots, and excitement. Wake Up Missing by Kate Messner. Walker Childrens, 2013. 272 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 9-12 When 12-year-old Cat suffers a concussion and brain damage after falling from her bird watching perch, nothing is quite the…

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Itch: the Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter by Simon Mayo

Janie Cheaney — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 08:25:00 +0000

Solid science adds heft to Itch, a present-day sci-fi novel with elements of an international spy thriller. Itch: the Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter, by Simon Mayo. Splinter, 2013, 410 pages. Reading Level: Teens, Ages 11-15 Recommended For: Ages 11-15 Itchingham “Itch” Lofte, age 14, has a hobby with unfortunate side effects—not just for…

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Operation Do-Over by Gordon Korman

Janie Cheaney — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 12:42:15 +0000

Operation Do-Over is an entertaining jaunt that asks the perennial question: What if you got a chance to correct a past mistake?

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The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 13:20:48 +0000

The Last Cuentista, winner of this year’s Newbery medal is thought-provoking but leaves other thoughts unexplored.

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Stowaway by John David Anderson

Janie Cheaney — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 16:45:21 +0000

Stowaway offers nonstop action, interesting characters, and food for thought with classic science fiction tropes.

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Smaug’s Kind: A List of Dragon Books

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 12:10:00 +0000

A booklist of more than 40 dragon books, both secular and spiritual, for children and teens.

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Attack of the Killer Komodos by Summer Rachel Short

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 10:52:00 +0000

Action, adventure, and chimeras await Maggie and Nate in Yellowstone in the Attack of the Killer Komodos. Attack of the Killer Komodos (A Maggie and Nate Mystery) by Summer Rachel Short. Simon & Shuster, 2021. 240 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, Ages 10-12 Recommended For: Ages 10 and up Maggie and Nate are in Yellowstone…

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The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book by Kate Milford

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 11:43:00 +0000

15 storytellers each tell a mesmerizing tale for the Raconteur’s Commonplace book, a book as clever as any Milford has written. The Raconteur’s Commonplace Book : A Greenglass House Story by Kate Milford. Clarion, 2021. 400 pages. Reading Level: Teens, Ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 12 and up A storm is brewing outside the Blue…

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Weird Kid by Greg Van Eekhout

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 08:04:45 +0000

Weird Kid blends humor with the "aliens among us" theme to make an entertaining read for middle graders, (especially boys).

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Atlantis: The Accidental Invasion by Gregory Mone

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:36:00 +0000

This series-opener promises a clash of civilizations between Earth’s terra firma and the “lost” continent of Atlantis.

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The Overthrow Series by Kenneth Oppel: Bloom, Hatch, and Thrive

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 10:21:00 +0000

The fast-paced Overthrow sci-fi series by Kenneth Oppel raises interesting questions for young teens. The Overthrow Series by Kenneth Oppel. Knopf Books for Young Readers. Bloom (2020); 320 pages Hatch (2020); 416 pages Thrive (2021); 416 pages Reading level: Teen/Adult, Ages 12 and up Recommended for: Ages 12 and up A strange rain drops seeds…

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Jonesy Flux and the Gray Legion by James Pray

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 25 May 2021 11:27:00 +0000

Jonesy Flux is a spunky space voyager with unsuspected potential, in this action-packed science fiction debut.

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The Lion of Mars by Jennifer L. Holm

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 12:58:00 +0000

In The Lion of Mars, when the adults succumb to illness, the kids of the space colony must find a way to survive.

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Enclave Escape Round-up: YA Fantasy & Dystopia

Hayley Morell — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 15:10:08 +0000

Two series end and one begins in this round-up from Enclave Publishing, a Christian publishing house.

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Outlaws of Time Series by N. D. Wilson

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 10:10:00 +0000

Wilson’s Outlaws of Time series is intense, time travel fun with plenty of action and philosophy thrown in. Great for young teens. Outlaws of Time Series by N. D. Wilson. Katherine Tegen Books. The Legend of Sam Miracle (2017) The Song of Glory and Ghost (2018) The Last of the Lost Boys (2018) Reading Level:…

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Two Excellent YA Fantasy Sequels

Hayley Morell — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 15:12:13 +0000

The second book in a series faces a lot of pressure; here are two YA fantasy follow-ups that satisfy.

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The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games Series)

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 09:30:00 +0000

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a disappointing prequel to the thought-provoking Hunger Games series.

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A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (Book Club Edition)

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 09:16:00 +0000

Good books are even better when people discuss them. In fact, we label books “discussion starters” when they offer much food for thought. A Wrinkle in Time is one such book. Unfortunately, kids often read this book at far too young an age and think they don’t like it. Even if your child reads at…

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The Tripods Series by John Christopher (Retro Reads)

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 08:41:00 +0000

The Tripods: classic science fiction from the 1960s that’s still enjoyable for today’s young teens. The Tripods Series by John Christopher: The White Mountains, The City of Gold and Lead, The Pool of Fire, When the Tripods Came. Aladdin, 2014. (boxed set; the first book was originally published in 1967) Reading Level: Young Adult, ages…

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Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 10:56:00 +0000

Are you brave enough to rescue a bully from a hazardous substance, at your own risk? A thought-provoking middle grades read from the author of Holes. Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar. Delacorte, 2015. 208 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended For: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 “Fuzzy mud” is a mud that gets, well,…

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The Mutant Mushroom Takeover by Summer Rachel Short

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 10:46:00 +0000

Bioluminescent fungi, a strange death, and zombie-like side effects threaten Maggie and Nate’s small town. Can they solve the mystery in time to save the town? The Mutant Mushroom Takeover (A Maggie and Nate Mystery**) by Summer Rachel Short. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. 256 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12…

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Superman Smashes the Klan by Gene Luen Yang

Janie Cheaney — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 13:05:14 +0000

This latest iteration of the Superman legend by Gene Luen Yang includes familiar faces, social commentary, and historical context--also one big misstep.

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Feed by M. T. Anderson

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 12:57:00 +0000

M. T. Anderson's Feed imagines what the world would look like if we all had "feeds" (like today's smart phones) implanted in our brains.

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Series Fiction for Tweens and Teens: A Book Series List!

Betsy Farquhar — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 11:00:04 +0000

Recommended series fiction for tweens and teens no matter what type of reading they enjoy!

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Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 11:13:42 +0000

Fast-paced and far-out, this series opener mixes theoretical science with human joys and sorrows

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The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Janie Cheaney — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 11:24:57 +0000

Popular children's author Margaret Peterson Haddix begins another sci-fi/adventure series for middle-graders

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STEM Girls: a Roundup

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 11:51:26 +0000

Three new series for middle-graders seek to encourage girls' interest in the STEM fields.

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Eventown by Corey Ann Haydn

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 19:38:57 +0000

Eventown is a place of forgetting, but how much forgetting does that take before you forget yourself?

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Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret by Trudi Truett

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 12:40:35 +0000

Explorer Academy launches an action sci-fi series taking readers to the world's natural wonders.

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Graphic Novel Roundup: The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 09:44:03 +0000

Two recent graphic-novel adaptations of classic stories have their strengths, but overall demonstrate the adage, “the book is better.” A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson. Farrar Strauss Giroux, 2012, 391 pages. The James Patterson blurb on the back cover praises the “colorful panels” but the first thing a…

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*Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Hayley Morell — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 03:33:09 +0000

A beleaguered planet, flight school, and one young woman's quest to prove herself and clear her family honor.

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The Hungry Cities Chronicles by Philip Reeve

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:18:55 +0000

The movie version of Mortal Engines opens this weekend. Here’s our original review of the series, originally published in January 2011. The Hungry Cities Chronicles, by Philip Reeve: Mortal Engines (2001), Predator’s Gold (2003), Infernal Devices (2005), A Darkling Plain (2006). Harper Collins. Age/interest level: 14-up. If I were idly browsing shelves, I would…

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Philosophy, Science, Ethics: the Need for Science Fiction

Betsy Farquhar — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:18:55 +0000

Are You a Sci-Fi Fan? Are you a Trekkie? A Star Wars fan? Perhaps you’ve faithfully watched Dr. Who, Stargate, or Battlestar Galactica. Or perhaps you are a sci-fi fan along the lines of Jurassic Park, eschewing intergalactic technology for “real world” technology? My husband and I both find sci-fi fascinating (admittedly, he is more into it than I…

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Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 12:28:27 +0000

The story that inspired the movie chain: Jurassic Park is more complex than the movie in every way–and not for kids. Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. Ballantine, 2012 (25th anniversary edition). 464 pages. Reading Level: Ages 16 and up/adult Recommended For: Ages 16 and up/adult Summary + Review Most of us know the basic story of Jurassic…

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Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 10:39:19 +0000

Liam, a super tall 12-year-old, goes on a cosmic adventure in this light-hearted British science fiction story that includes subtle emotional weight. Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Walden Pond Press, 2011 (reprint edition). 336 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Middle Grades, ages 8-12, especially as a book for boys and their…

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A Wrinkle in Time at Fifty Years

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 13:21:43 +0000

A Wrinkle in Time was published 55 years ago and gets the full movie-treatment this month. In this repost from 2012 Janie wonders how well it holds up. Madeline L’Engle was a little-known novelist and mother of three when she and her actor husband, Hugh Franklin, decided to move from rural Connecticut back to New…

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Invictus by Ryan Graudin

Janie Cheaney — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 13:09:48 +0000

Invictus takes science-fiction to the max with a wild ride that involves time travel, doppelgangers, and parallel universes. Ages 15-up Invictus by Ryan Graudin. Little, Brown, 2017, 454 words. Reading Level: teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 15-up Time travel is dicey, as everyone knows. And, as everyone knows, you must never fall in love…

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Edge of Extinction Series by Laura Martin

Betsy Farquhar — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 14:12:59 +0000

Living on the edge of extinction: Cloned dinosaurs plus dystopian autocratic society plus a renegade band of treetop dwellers equals a fast-paced middle grades sci-fi adventure. Ages 8-12. Edge of Extinction Series by Laura Martin. HarperCollins. The Ark Plan. 2016. 368 pages. Code Name Flood. 2017. 352 pages. Reading Level: Ages 8-12 Recommended For: Ages…

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Here Be Dragons: Mega Fantasy and Sci-Fi Booklist! (All ages)

Betsy Farquhar — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 13:51:32 +0000

A mega fantasy and sci-fi booklist with books for all ages and all types of fantasy lovers (even those who don’t think they ARE fantasy lovers). Bonus: here be dragons. Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Love It or Hate It? Are you a fantasy or sci-fi junkie? Skip to the fantasy and sci-fi booklist below and start putting books…

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Interview with Keith Robinson, author of the Origins Series

Pamela Palmer — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 10:27:48 +0000

Pamela interviews Keith Robinson, author of the Origins trilogy and other Christian sci-fi works. Read on for more information about Robinson, his work, and his many roles. Describe the process you went through in the writing of Origins; how did you first come to consider the project? Did you have a strong sense of God’s leading? Did it develop…

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The Origins Trilogy by Keith Robinson

Pamela Palmer — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 16:38:59 +0000

The Origins Trilogy: Christian science fiction that simultaneously delivers good adventure AND reasoned arguments for Creation and the flood? Read on! Ages 16-up The Origins Trilogy by Keith Robinson. Logic’s End. CreateSpace, 2016 (reprint). 360 pages. Pyramid of the Ancients: A Novel About the Origin of Civilizations. Defender, 2010. 400 pages. Escaping the Cataclysm: A Novel…

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Landscape with Invisible Hand by M. T. Anderson

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 12:51:34 +0000

The always-interesting M. T. Anderson serves up another intriguing science-fiction concept that touches on economics, art, and religion. Landscape with Invisible Hand by M.T. Anderson. Candlewick, 2017, 149 pages Reading Level: YA, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 16-up Note: This novel falls under our definition of “discussion starters.” Click here for our rationale for reviewing…

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Worthy YA: the Best Teen Reads of 2017

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 16:01:26 +0000

The world of Young-Adult publishing can be dicey territory for Christian readers. Nowhere are the latest cultural trends more vigorously promoted than in books marketed to this age group. YA has long been a haven for gritty “realism” depicting every depravity known to man: abuse (from parents and boyfriends), exploitation, suicide, murder, rape, incest .…

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The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 12:12:10 +0000

A town where qualities disappear every seven years is the setting for The Disappearances, a clean, thought-provoking teen mystery. The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017, 385 pages Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-up Aila Quinn knows only one thing about Sterling: it’s her mother’s home town. And it’s…

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Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Hayley Morell — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 04:30:12 +0000

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. 512 pages. Noemi Vidal will die for her country, but an abandoned spaceship and a mysterious mech draw her into a quest that could save Genesis yet threatens to overturn everything she believes. Reading Level: Young Adults, 16 and up Recommended for: Ages…

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Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:23:10 +0000

Last Day on Mars by Kevin Emerson. Walden Pond Press, 2017. 336 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15 A guest post by Sherry Early, of the excellent Semicolon blog: Really good science fiction for middle grade and young adult readers is hard to find these days. I mean the old-school, space…

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Get Ready for the Eclipse! Space and Sci-Fi Booklist

Betsy Farquhar — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 22:44:23 +0000

Ready for the Eclipse? Have you tested out your eclipse glasses? Do you know where you’re going to be on August 21 when the eclipse happens? Are you planning to travel to a better spot, or are you one of the lucky ones who’s already in a 100% coverage zone? Do you have your eclipse…

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The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:00:09 +0000

This middle-grade science fiction novel includes enough human interest to make it engaging, enough real science to make it educational. The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge. Delacorte, 2017, 162 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for : ages 10-14 Albert Steven Bright, named for his parents’ favorite scientists (Einstein and…

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The Martian: Classroom Edition by Andy Weir

Betsy Farquhar — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 13:26:39 +0000

A snarky, totally believable science fiction narrative for teens. The Martian: Classroom Edition by Andy Weir. Broadway Books, 2016. 400 pages. Reading Level: Teens, ages 15-18 Recommended For: Teens, ages 15-18 Andy Weir never dreamed his book would be a runaway hit! First published in blog format, then in practically free Kindle format (at the request…

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Time Traveling with a Hamster by Ross Welford

Janie Cheaney — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 12:29:57 +0000

This time-traveling novel requires a large suspension of belief, but rewards the reader with several moments of nail-biting suspense. Time Traveling with a Hamster by Ross Welford. Schwartz & Wade, 2016, 426 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 (with cautions) “My dad died twice: once when he was 39, and…

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*Zita the Spacegirl Series by Ben Hatke

Betsy Farquhar — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 13:37:50 +0000

Zita the Spacegirl and her intrepid friends battle the forces of evil in extra terrestrial dimensions in this lively graphic novel series. a review from our archives! (originally published May 25, 2015) *Zita the Spacegirl Series by Ben Hatke. First Second, 2011 (to the present). ~200 pages Reading Level: Graphic novels, ages 8-12 Recommended For:…

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Farewell to Artemis

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 14:50:13 +0000

a review from our archives (first published September 18, 2012) Artemis Fowl: the Last Guardian, by Eoin Coffer. Hyperion, 2012, 336 pages. Age/interest level: 10-up Teenage criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl first appeared in 2001, and was immediately acclaimed as “another Harry Potter.” This was exaggeration—the author rejected it firmly and rightly. Harry, despite his growing…

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Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 13:31:25 +0000

Fuzzy may seem far-fetched, but it raises some interesting, real-world questions in an entertaining way. Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger and Paul Dellinger. Amulet, 2016, 253 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 There’s a new kid at school, only it’s not a kid kid but a very sophisticated, top-of-the-line humanoid robot…

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Fires of Invention by Scott Savage

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 13:18:29 +0000

This dystopian fantasy series (with steampunk overtones) kicks off with a fabulous mechanical flying beast and two intrepid teens. Fires of Invention (Mysteries of Cove #1) by Scott Savage. Shadow Mountain, 2015, 311 pages. Reading Level: middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15, especially boys Cove is a city built inside a mountain; all…

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Gears of Revolution by Scott Savage

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 13:00:27 +0000

A dystopian/fantasy series continues with our heroes’ search for the legendary Leo Babbage Gears of Revolution (Mysteries of Cove #2) by Scott Savage. Shadow Mountain, 2016, 340 pages. Reading Level: middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-15, especially boys The previous volume concluded with Trenton and Kallista escaping their cloistered settlement on their mechanical…

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Astrotwins: Project Blastoff by Mark Kelly

Janie Cheaney — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 12:33:41 +0000

Solid science fiction is delivered by an author who knows his stuff, though the materialist worldview is worth talking about. Astrotwins: Project Blastoff by Mark Kelly and Martha Freeman. Simon and Shuster, 2015, 201 pages Reading Level: 8-10 Recommended for: 8-12 If the name Mark Kelly sounds familiar, it’s because he’s a former astronaut married…

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Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor by Jon Schieszka

Janie Cheaney — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 13:25:45 +0000

Though not to be taken at all seriously, this wacky series by Jon Schieszka threads some real science into its far-out storylines. Frank Einstein and the Anti-Matter Motor (Frank Einstein #1) by Jon Schieszka. Amulet, 2015, 180 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12, especially boys While his parents are traveling…

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The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Janie Cheaney — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 14:00:02 +0000

In most science fiction, technological advances are not shown to advance humanity. However, it would be tough to find a more negative view of a future world than The 5th Wave, which chronicles an alien attack on our weak and vulnerable planet. Depressing as it is, the story raises some vital questions about humanity,…

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Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Hayley Morell — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 17:22:07 +0000

This review is brought to us by Ann Rees Berry, who has now finished an internship with Redeemed Reader. Thank you, Ann! Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Del Ray (Random House), 2014. 382 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 15-18 Recommended for: Young Adults, ages 16-18 Bottom Line: Darrow, a helldiver on Mars, learns a…

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SIX by M. M. Vaughan

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 12:00:54 +0000

SIX by M. M. Vaughan. Simon & Shuster (Margaret K. Elderberry Books), 2015. 361 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: Ages 10-14 Bottom Line: SIX, a science-fiction novel for middle-graders, offers likeable characters and the intriguing possibility of teleportation. Parker Banks has had a lot of adjusting to do over the last…

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The Fog Diver by Joel Ross

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:00:11 +0000

The Fog Diver by Joel Ross. Harper, 2015. 323 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-16 Bottom Line: The Fog Diver imagines a dystopian world of Haves and Have-nots, with plucky heroes, a wealth of detail, and a dash of humor. Hundreds of years ago, mankind proposed to meet a crisis…

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*Hostage Run by Andrew Klavan (The MindWar Trilogy, Book 2)

Hayley Morell — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 21:00:55 +0000

Hostage Run (The MindWar Trilogy, Book 2) by Andrew Klavan. Thomas Nelson, 2015. 352 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Recommended for: Ages 12 and up Bottom Line: In the exciting sequel to MindWar, Rick Dial continues to battle Kurodar through the cyber world of the Realm. Life has changed for Rick Dial since MindWar. His family is reunited,…

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Masterminds by Gordon Korman

Janie Cheaney — Fri, 08 May 2015 20:34:14 +0000

Masterminds by Gordon Korman. Balzer & Bray, 2015, 336 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Bottom Line: Masterminds raises some interesting ethical questions in the midst of a fast-moving thriller that pits kids against grownups. Who would want to live anywhere but Serenity, New Mexico? Yes, it’s small, and kind…

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Avengers: Age of Ultron Resources! (+ Printable)

Betsy Farquhar — Fri, 01 May 2015 14:49:00 +0000

Emily reviewed Avengers: Age of Ultron at Worldmag.com. If you’ll click “Listen” at the bottom of that post, you can also hear hints from Kevin Harvey, author of All You Want to Know About the Bible in Pop Culture. We had a great response to our “cheatsheet” for Cinderella a month ago. Today we…

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Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Hayley Morell — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 01:18:39 +0000

Avalon by Mindee Arnett, Balzer + Bray, 2014. 415 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, (ages 12-14) and up Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) and up Readers meet Jethro Seagrave and his band of Malleus Shades in the middle of stealing a spaceship. Jeth and his friends live in a futuristic world of planets and spaceports, most of…

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Sky Run by Alex Shearer

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 15:00:57 +0000

Sky Run by Alex Shearer. Sky Pony Press, 2014. 228 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages 10-12) and up One-line Summary: Sky Run is a science fiction adventure for middle grades that views the process of growing up through multiple perspectives. I was 120 years old last birthday. Which is…

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The Scavengers by Michael Perry

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 15:00:03 +0000

The Scavengers by Michael Perry. Harper, 2014, 322 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Maturity Level: 4 (ages10-12) and up One-line Summary: The Scavengers is middle-grade dystopian fiction with a warm heart and laughs scattered among the thrills. Maggie, at 13, is a self-described dirty-fingernailed, roughneck girl who has recently taken up residence in…

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*MindWar: A Novel (The MindWar Trilogy, Book 1) by Andrew Klavan

Betsy Farquhar — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 16:55:52 +0000

MindWar: A Novel (The MindWar Trilogy, Book 1) by Andrew Klavan. Thomas Nelson, 2014. 336 pages. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12 and up Recommended for: Ages 12 and up The title MindWar sums it up perfectly: Rick is fighting a mental battle that has far-reaching effects in the temporal world. A high school senior who…

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Space Case by Stuart Gibbs

Janie Cheaney — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 03:17:14 +0000

Space Case by Stuart Gibbs. Simon & Schuster, 2014. 337 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10. Maturity Level: 4 (ages 11-12) Moon Base Alpha (MBA), A.D. 2041. After six months, Dashiel (Dash) Gibson rues the day his parents—geologist mom, mineralogist dad—signed up for a three-year residence on the moon. Being an original colonizer of…

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The Glass Sentence by S. E. Grove

Janie Cheaney — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:26:14 +0000

The Glass Sentence (The Mapmakers Trilogy #1) by S. E. Grove. Viking, 2014, 489 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 12-14 Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) and up Boston, 1799: . . . in one terrible moment the various parts of the world had come apart. They were unfastened in time. Spinning freely in different…

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The Finisher by David Baldacci

Hayley Morell — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:00:57 +0000

The Finisher by David Baldacci. Scholastic, 2014, 497 pages. Reading level: Young Adults, 15-18 Maturity level: 6 What do you get when you blend a medieval town with a bit of magic and science fiction, then add a small dose of dystopian bleakness? A place like Wormwood. Vega Jane is a teenage inhabitant of Wormwood. …

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