The Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Teen & Young Adult Books 2026

1. Le Petit Prince (French) (Paperback)

OVER 140 MILLION COPIES SOLD The beloved classic story about a young prince's travels through space--a profound tale about loneliness and loss, and love and friendship--in French. A pilot crashes in the Sahara Desert and encounters a strange young boy who calls himself the Little Prince. The Little Prince has traveled there from his home on a lonely, distant asteroid with a single rose. The story that follows is a beautiful and at times heartbreaking meditation on human nature. The Little Prince is one of the best-selling and most translated books of all time, universally cherished by children and adults alike. In this French edition, the artwork has been restored to match in detail and in color Saint-Exupéry's original artwork.

Le Petit Prince (French), (Paperback) Author: Mariner Books ISBN: 9780156013987 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 2001-09-04 Page Count: 96

2. Lord of the Rings The Hobbit, (Paperback)

"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit." So begins one of the most beloved and delightful tales in the English language. Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, at once a classic myth and a modern fairy tale, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of literature's most enduring and well-loved novels. This edition of The Hobbit has been specially formatted for young readers and features cover art by Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator Peter Sís. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum. Written for Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.

Lord of the Rings The Hobbit, (Paperback) Author: Clarion Books ISBN: 9780618150823 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 2001-09-25 Page Count: 352

3. The Hobbit (Hardcover)

J.R.R. Tolkien's classic is splendidly illustrated in full color by noted artist Michael Hague. This edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic is illustrated with 48 paintings by noted artist Michael Hague. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum. Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.

This edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic is illustrated with 48 paintings by noted artist Michael Hague. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum. Written for J.R.R. Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies worldwide and established itself as a modern classic.

4. I Am Morgan le Fay

This companion to "I Am Mordred" retells the legend of Morgan Le Fay, the half-sister of King Arthur who has power and magic, and is able to to change the course of history--to become "other" and determine her own fate and that of Britain.

Fans who love King Arthur's legend, Camelot, Merlin, and similar tales will love reading about Morgan le Fay. Morgan is a willful, mischievous girl with mismatched eyes of emerald and violet. A girl of magic, whose childhood ends when King Uther Pendragon murders her father and steals away her mother. Then Pendragon dies and, in a warring country with no one to claim the throne, there are many who want Morgan dead. But Morgan has power, and magic. She is able to change the course of history, to become other, to determine her own fate-and, thus the fate of Britain. She will become Morgan le Fay. "Springer wields language like a sword, and both blood and flowers spring to these pages in vivid hues." (Booklist, starred review)

5. The Outlaws of Sherwood, (Paperback)

New York Times bestselling author Robin McKinley's vivid retelling of the classic story of Robin Hood breathes contemporary life into these beloved adventures-with Marian taking a pivotal role as one of Robin's best archers. Robin is an apprentice forester in the woods of Nottingham. The arrows he makes and sells earn barely enough extra coin to retain the title to his father's small lands. The sheriff of Nottingham's jealousy toward Robin's father is just as fierce towards his son, and the sheriff's men take every opportunity to harass the young woodsman. But when Robin defends himself by accidentally killing one of the sheriff's men, he flees to Sherwood Forest, knowing that he has not only lost his father's land and good name forever, but that he will live the rest of his days as a hunted man. But his friends Much, the miller's son, and Lady Marian, Saxon daughter of the half-Norman lord who despises his Saxon blood, believe the disaster that has befallen Robin is also an opportunity: An opportunity for a few stubborn Saxons, cast out or outlawed in ways equally unjust, to gather together in secret under Robin's leadership and strike back against the arrogance and brutality of the Norman overlords.

The Outlaws of Sherwood, (Paperback) Author: Ace Books ISBN: 9780441013258 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 2005-10-04 Page Count: 368

6. If Wishes Were Horses (Hardcover) by Anne McCaffrey

9780451456427. Hard cover. Language: English. Pages: 96. Glued binding. With dust jacket. 96 p. Young Tizra and her twin brother, Tracell, find their world abruptly changed when their father is unexpectedly called to fight in a war which promises to last much longer than a three-day skirmish. From the bestselling author of the "Dragonriders of Pern" series.

9780451456427. Hard cover. Language: English. Pages: 96. Glued binding. With dust jacket. 96 p. Young Tizra and her twin brother, Tracell, find their world abruptly changed when their father is unexpectedly called to fight in a war which promises to last much longer than a three-day skirmish. From the bestselling author of the "Dragonriders of Pern" series.

7. Hero's Song: The First Song of Eirren (Paperback)

Collun has always been happiest working in his garden. But his peaceful life is shattered when his sister, Nessa, mysteriously disappears. He sets off to find her and soon realizes that he has become involved in something much larger and more sinister than he had imagined. With his traveling companions--a wizard, an aspiring bard, a fairy prince, and a feisty young woman on a quest of her own--Collun must face dangers both natural and magical in order to complete his mission. "The author spins a dramatic tale, infused with Irish myth and folklore, that fantasy fans will relish." --Booklist

Collun has always been happiest working in his garden. But his peaceful life is shattered when his sister, Nessa, mysteriously disappears. He sets off to find her and soon realizes that he and his traveling companions, including the feisty young archer Breo-Saight, have become involved in something much larger and more sinister than he had imagined.

8. Snow-Walker (Paperback)

Since Gudrun came from the frozen mists beyond the edge of the world, the Jarl's people have obeyed her in hatred andterror. But the enchantress has one weakness: a son, Kari, banished to a forbidding fortress in the north, never seen by the Jarl's people. In secret they wonder: Are the rumors true? Was he born a monster? Now Jessa and her cousin Thorkil have been exiled to the north, and if they survive the journey, they will find the truth: Is Kari a beast? Or the means to stop the sorceress?

Snow-Walker (Paperback)

9. Speeding Bullet, (Paperback)

After Nick Herrera saved a little girl from being his by a New York City subway car, things have been different....He has been different. Now it seems as if accidents are falling at his feet and he's destined to play the role of the hero. But more importantly, Linda Lanko, one of the richest girls in the city, has noticed him -- a below-average student from a poor family. But is Nick's invincibility just good luck, or is something else responsible?

Speeding Bullet, (Paperback) Author: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ISBN: 9780689873485 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 2004-09-01 Page Count: 200

10. Elsewhere, (Paperback)

When Ron runs away, he ends up in Bordertown, a grim city that lies between the real world and the world of faerie, a place where elf and human gangs stalk the streets side by side, and where magic works better than technology. If the city doesn't kill him, it just may teach him what it is to be human.

Elsewhere, (Paperback) Author: Clarion Books ISBN: 9780152052096 Format: Paperback Publication Date: 2004-08-01 Page Count: 248