Weekend Pick for October 20, 2023

Weekend Pick for October 20, 2023

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Erinn Bentley

Our guest contributor, Erinn Bentley, a professor of English education at Columbus State University in Georgia, continues October Weekend Picks. Thank you, Erinn, for another suggestion!

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I like to think I am well-read in a variety of YA genres; however, I will admit – I have never been a huge fan of sci-fi. That is, until recently. The following novels, set in outer space, captivated my imagination. For this weekend’s picks, fasten your seatbelt and get ready to be transported to some weird and wonderful worlds.

Illuminae Files series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
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​Let’s start with Illuminae Files series by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. This trilogy, set in the future, chronicles the adventures of six teens as they race across the universe battling the murderous villains, BeiTech. Each novel focuses on two teens (a boy and a girl), who navigate the physical dangers of intergalactic war, biological hazards, and some incredibly creepy AI. Amid these dangers, the teens also face emotional struggles - grieving the loss of family, friends, and homes as well as navigating romantic relationships. Though the setting may be “out there,” the themes in the novel are relatable, and the characters are well developed.

A few caveats: These novels are loooong (600+pages). They are also not written in prose. Instead, the stories are told through a compilation of various documents, such as IMs, medical reports, interviews, personal diaries, maps, space craft schematics, drawings, etc. As a reader, one must piece together the information provided to determine what the characters are experiencing physically, mentally, and emotionally. For me, this unique style made for a fascinating read. The fast-paced action and numerous plot twists made the pages fly by; however, I can see how these unusual (and long) texts could be off-putting to some readers.

My love for Kaufman’s work led me to another of her novels, Unearthed, co-authored with Meagan Spooner. Like The Illuminae Files, this novel takes place in the future on the distant planet of Gaia. The ancient alien culture who lived on this planet has sent a message to Earth, promising technology to save our ravaged planet. With various space explorers eager to find this technology, two teenage protagonists take the lead: Jules (an academic prodigy who can translate the ancient writings) and Mia (a scavenger who has the street-smarts to survive on this planet). The unlikely pair teams up to decode ancient clues and death traps in the sacred temples, while running for their lives from all sorts of bad people.​

In short, Unearthed is Indian Jones meets outer space. Written in prose, this novel may be more accessible to readers than The Illuminae Files. While it started a bit slowly, the plot quickened with each new puzzle to solve and several unexpected twists, leading to a cliffhanger ending (which will hopefully be addressed in the sequel!). If you are looking for books for independent reading or to line your classroom’s shelves, I guarantee these series will be a hit.

Enjoy the weekend and books!