YA Fall Fiction Preview Part 1

The Fall Preview series continues with a sneak peek at some exciting science fiction and fantasy YA novels coming out  over the next few months. Here are some of the exciting YA reads I heard about at ALA:

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld. Uglies author Scott Westerfeld is back this fall with a meta-novel that tells two intertwined stories. Darcy Patel puts her post-secondary education on hold and moves to New York in order to focus on publishing her teen novel. She doesn’t know anybody, and has no place to live, but she soon finds herself caught up in a community of writers. Interspersed with her story is that of Lizzie, the protagonist of her novel, who slips into the Afterworld–a place between life and death–to survive a terrorist attack. Available September 23, 2014.

First sentence: “The most important email that Darcy Patel ever wrote was three paragraphs long.”

Atlantia by Ally Condie. Known for her dystopian trilogy Matched, Crossed, and Reached, Ally Condie returns in October with a new dystopian world that recalls elements of the legend of Atlantis, and The Little Mermaid. The world has been Divided between those who live Below in the city of Atlantia, where they enjoy health and longevity, while those who live in the polluted Above make a sacrifice in order to ensure the survival of mankind beneath the waves. Rio has always dreamed of living Above, but after their mother died, she promised her twin sister, Bay, she wouldn’t leave her. Then Bay betrays her, causing Rio to reveal a secret she has kept all her life. On sale October 28, 2014.

First sentence: “My twin sister, Bay, and I pass underneath the brown-and-turquoise banners hanging from the ceiling of the temple.”

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray. Ahead of the Spring 2015 release of the conclusion to her Spellcaster trilogy, Claudia Gray begins a new series with A Thousand Pieces of You.  Marguerite Caine is the daughter of two brilliant scientists, creators of the Firebird, an invention which allows people to travel to parallel universes. When Marguerite’s father is murdered by his assistant, who then escapes into another dimension, only Marguerite is prepared to go after the killer, chasing him across worlds. Coming November 4, 2014.

First sentence: “My hand shakes as I brace myself against the brick wall.”

The Young Elites by Marie Lu. Adelina Amouterou is a rare survivor of the blood fever that decimated her generation a decade ago, leaving her scarred and deformed, an abomination in her father’s eyes. But rumours continue quietly circulating that some of the survivors have been left not just with scars, but unusual gifts. It is a top secret race between the Dagger Society to recruit these special survivors, and the Inquisition Axis, which seeks to eliminate them. Marie Lu, author of the bestselling Legend trilogy, returns with The Young Elite on October 7, 2014.

First sentence: “I’m going to die tomorrow morning.”

Check back next week for part two of the YA fall fiction preview, which will focus on more contemporary/realistic YA fiction.