Our teen book spotlight this week is focused on books that take place in outer space!! I do not know about you, but there have been times I have wondered what it would be like to live somewhere other than Earth; what would I wear, eat, how do you sleep and travel and there are so many more questions. One of the amazing things about books is we can choose one that actually places us in that scenario without having to leave the comfort of our pajamas and living room! All of these fiction books deal with living in outer space whether it is the journey in getting there to living on a totally different planet; there are themes of friendship, adventure, science, and even humor. Some take place on planets we have heard of while others are completely made up (or are they?). There is a combination of stand alone titles as well as some first in a series! These books and more can be found by searching the catalog using the search tag #yaspacelife as well as on Libby and Hoopla. Check back next week for a new teen book spotlight and if you have any book suggestions, please let us know!!
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman--In 2380, eighteen-year-old Tyler Jones, the top graduate of Aurora Academy, is left with the bottom dregs of recruits after a misguided heroic act causes him to miss the Draft. The six misfits go on their first mission as members of the Aurora Legion, an interplanetary peacekeeping coalition, but soon learn they have a stowaway--a cryogenically frozen girl named Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley, who's been asleep for over 200 years. But the recently awakened Auri might be the catalyst for an intergalactic war millions of years in the making, and the motley crew of losers and degenerates might be the galaxy's only hope.
Mirage by Somaiya Daud--Eighteen-year-old Amani has been kidnapped and forced to live as the body double for Princess Maram. Hated by the people her family rules, Maram is at risk of being assassinated when she appears in public. Though Amani enjoys the beauty of the palace and spending time with Maram's fiance, she is determined to escape her captivity and return to her family on her own moon.
Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray--Noemi Vidal is a 17-year-old soldier trained to defend her planet, Genesis, at any cost. Abel is a humanoid robot that was abandoned in space 30 years ago. When Noemi finds Abel on an unused research vessel, the two form an unlikely bond. Soon Noemi begins to wonder if Abel's intelligence has evolved beyond his programming, and her foolproof plan to use him as a means of protecting her planet becomes more complicated than she ever imagined.
Light Years by Kass Morgan--After centuries of exclusivity, the Quatra Fleet Academy opens its doors to cadet candidates from all parts of the solar system. Teens Vesper, Arran, Cormak, and Orelia are from different backgrounds and have their own reasons for wanting to join, but the four will have to learn how to work together to survive against a mysterious alien enemy.
Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth--On a planet ruled by violence and vengeance, in a galaxy where fate favors everyone with a “currentgift,” Cyra is the sister of a brutal tyrant, a brother who uses her gift of pain and power to rule the Shotet people. Meanwhile, Akos is the son of a farmer, gifted with an endlessly generous spirit and limitless loyalty. When Akos is thrust into Cyra's violent world, he and Cyra will either help each other survive—or destroy each other.
Waste of Space by Gina Damico--Ten teenagers believe they are on a spaceship for the first reality show in space. But it's all fake, and the teens are safely in a replica ship in a warehouse. Millions tune in, but after communication from the outside gets cut, the teens believe they might be stranded in space, and viewers watch as the teens struggle for control to find out what went wrong, leading them to a shocking truth.