Science Fiction for Children and Teens

Science fiction books for children and teens

Children’s, young adult and teen science fiction books. Explore strange new worlds, incredible tech, the future, new life, awe, and wonder. This list contains 60+ titles, to inspire children and teens about other worlds, the universe, time travel, parallel universes, aliens, the unexplained and AI. There’s a range of picture books, short chapter books, middle grade and YA novels suitable for school libraries, independent reading and teaching in primary and secondary settings. This list features books by Karen Inglis, Christopher Edge, Madeleine L’Engle, Louis Sachar, Donna Barba Higuera, S. F. Said, Malorie Blackman, James Dashner, Douglas Adams, Soyoung Park, Ben Oliver and more.

Science fiction books for children and teens

For book prices and ordering, click on the cover image. International orders click here
As an Amazon Associate schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.

Science fiction books for children and teens – our recommendations

Science fiction picture books and illustrated books

Beegu by Alexis DeaconBeegu by Alexis Deacon.
Journey by Aaron BeckerJourney by Aaron Becker.
Supertato by Sue Hendra and Paul LinnetSupertato by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet.

The Rock from the Sky by Jon KlassenThe Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen.
Zita the Spacegirl by Ben HatkeZita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke.
Little Badman by Humza Arshad and Henry WhiteLittle Badman by Humza Arshad and Henry White.

Science fiction books for KS2

The Secret Lake by Karen InglisThe Secret Lake by Karen Inglis.
The Thirteenth Circle by MarcyKate Connolly and Kathryn HolmesThe Thirteenth Circle by MarcyKate Connolly and Kathryn Holmes.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-ExupéryThe Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

The Wild Robot by Peter BrownThe Wild Robot by Peter Brown.
Escape Room by Christopher EdgeEscape Room by Christopher Edge.
SCRAP by Guy BassSCRAP by Guy Bass.

Future Friend by David Baddiel

Heroine Pip travels back in time to team up with tech prodigy Rahul and warn the world of climate change and viruses. This fast paced illustrated futuristic adventure with punchy dialogue and raucously funny moments is ideal to engage reluctant readers in years 5 and 6.

Future Friend by David Baddiel

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'EngleA Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
A Year Without Autumn by Liz KesslerA Year Without Autumn by Liz Kessler.
Black Hole Cinema Club by Christopher Edge and David DeanBlack Hole Cinema Club by Christopher Edge and David Dean.

Space Oddity by Christopher Edge

At times laugh-out-loud and at times arrestingly thought-provoking, this mesmerizing story about Jake and his search for answers to big questions about life and our place in the universe will appeal to children with imaginations in upper KS2. An excellent choice for book groups.

Space Oddity by Christopher Edge

The Shape of Time by Ryan CalejoThe Shape of Time by Ryan Calejo.
The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day by Christopher EdgeThe Infinite Lives of Maisie Day by Christopher Edge.
Fuzzy Mud by Louis SacharFuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar.

The Last Storyteller by Donna Barba Higuera

Petra awakes after hundreds of years to find herself on a distant planet, one of the few emigrant survivors from the long ago doomed planet Earth. She is also the only person to remember stories of their past world, and the only person who can tell them. A sweeping and epic vista of a novel that blends history, science, traditional Mexican tales and philosophy, this middle-grade novel is a tour de force for 9-12-year-olds. The thought-provoking premise will fire children’s imaginations and is a perfect starting point for book club discussions. And for English teachers, if you need a good example of a novel first-person narrated in the present tense, this is a compelling choice.

The Last Storyteller by Donna Barba Higuera

The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher EdgeThe Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge.
Crater Lake by Jennifer KillickCrater Lake by Jennifer Killick.
Phoenix by S. F. SaidPhoenix by S. F. Said.

Science fiction books for KS3

The Secret Deep by Lindsay GalvinThe Secret Deep by Lindsay Galvin.
Landscape with Invisible Hand by M. T. AndersonLandscape with Invisible Hand by M. T. Anderson.
TimeRiders by Alex ScarrowTimeRiders by Alex Scarrow.

The Undying of Obedience Wellrest by Nicholas Bowling

This fascinating combination of science and dark magic explores how both narratives can fill gaps of what we don’t know about the natural world. A unique, refreshing and memorable teen novel.

The Undying of Obedience Wellrest by Nicholas Bowling

Chasing the Stars by Malorie BlackmanChasing the Stars by Malorie Blackman.
Where the Dark Stands Still by A. B. PoranekWhere the Dark Stands Still by A. B. Poranek.
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrauThe City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau.

Chris Mould’s War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells

Chris Mould’s War of the Worlds reimagines H. G. Wells’ classic novel as a stunning full-colour graphic novel. When Leon watches and sketches the arrival and attack of Martians on Earth, he and his scientist wife work together to understand and fight the alien threat. This new version is a stunning achievement and offers incredible illustrations and immersive storytelling. It’s an ideal hardback gift for 12+ aged readers who enjoy classic science fiction and graphic novels. Highly recommended for KS3 libraries. Read our full review.

Chris Mould's War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells

Ender's Game by Orson Scott CardEnder’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
Ready Player One by Ernest ClineReady Player One by Ernest Cline.
Gamer by Chris BradfordGamer by Chris Bradford.

The Terracotta Horse by Scott Lauder and David Ross

Salma Mansour hopes she’ll never have to use her black belt taekwondo skills in real life, but that’s before she’s thrust into a time travel science fiction timeslip adventure. Part of the Three Hares series, The Terracotta Horse is a cracking middle-grade novel, with a fast-moving, rollercoaster action, dialogue-driven plot A heady mix of science fiction, ancient magic, and life or death period combat, spanning thousands of miles and thousands of years, this will appeal to history and science fiction readers in KS3.

The Terracotta Horse by Scott Lauder and David Ross

The Giver by Lois LowryThe Giver by Lois Lowry.
Game Over Memory Wars by M.J. SullivanGame Over Memory Wars by M.J. Sullivan.
The Maze Runner by James DashnerThe Maze Runner by James Dashner.

The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

In a quiet English village, everyone falls asleep unexpectedly. When they wake up a day later, all the women are inexplicably pregnant. It soon becomes apparent that the children have abilities and powers that are not normal, threatening the community. Brilliantly written, this unsettling story is ideal to spark philosophical debate and discussion. Recently adapted into a TV series by Sky, The Midwich Cuckoos is a classic work of science fiction that has renewed relevance in an age of conformity, information wars and distrust in political leadership.

The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

Science fiction books for KS4

Green Rising by Lauren JamesGreen Rising by Lauren James.
Decimation by Marisa Cantrell-RodriguezDecimation by Marisa Cantrell-Rodriguez.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky ChambersA Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Monstrous Devices by Damien LoveMonstrous Devices by Damien Love.
Passenger by Alexandra BrackenPassenger by Alexandra Bracken.

The Great Science Fiction by H. G. WellsThe Great Science Fiction by H. G. Wells.
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick NessThe Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.
Snowglobe by Soyoung ParkSnowglobe by Soyoung Park.

The Kill Factor by Ben OliverThe Kill Factor by Ben Oliver.
Swarm by Jennifer LyleSwarm by Jennifer Lyle.
Nubia: The Awakening by Omar Epps and Clarence A. HaynesNubia: The Awakening by Omar Epps and Clarence A. Haynes.

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufmann and Jay KristoffAurora Rising by Amie Kaufmann and Jay Kristoff.
Nemesis by Brendan ReichsNemesis by Brendan Reichs.
Scythe by Neal ShustermanScythe by Neal Shusterman.

A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna EmrysA Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys.
Uglies by Scott WesterfeldUglies by Scott Westerfeld.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le GuinA Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin.


Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this science fiction book list, as well as class sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org UK. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or your classroom library.

Buy from UK.Bookshop.Org Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Disclosure: If you buy books using the buttons above: we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops; as an Amazon Associate schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.

Schools & teachers: please respect copyright and don’t copy our science fiction book list. If you find our book recommendations useful, please consider sharing on social media or linking to this page instead. Thanks.


Science fiction resources for teachers

  • The British Science Fiction Association supports science fiction in all its forms and promotes writing groups and awards. Members receive Focus and Speculative Art publications.
  • Science Museum’s science fiction content hub contains free resources including videos, blogs, science articles, a science fiction trail, and upcoming events.
  • British Film Institute’s science fiction resources for teachers resource include a list of top ten sci-fi films to watch with children – which include free lesson plans and a downloadable science fiction bingo game.
  • This Education Week article explains why science fiction might be key to helping children understand AI, and offers insights into starting conversations and discussions about AI, using fiction to make an often complex subject more accessible and relatable.
  • This piece from Edutopia explores how science fiction can be used in the classroom, especially in primary and early secondary education. There’s a useful set of criteria to use when picking sci-fi class novels and practical ideas for planning activities.
  • This timeline from the BBC explores how science fiction has developed in literature and film. It’s a fascinating interactive resource that starts with Gulliver’s Travels in 1726, explores Frankenstein, Jules Verne, HG Wells, modern British science fiction and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.


About Tom Tolkien

Photo of author
Tom Tolkien is a highly qualified (BA Hons, PGCE, QTS) children's literature expert and teacher with over 25 years of experience. He has led inset courses, developed curriculum materials, spoken at conferences, advised on longlisting for several international children's literature literature awards and written for educational publishers including contributing to a BETT award-nominated app. Social profiles: X | Linkedin

This booklist was last updated on October 7th, 2024 and first published in 2024.