Mai K. Nguyen
Anzu and the Realm of Darkness
Young adultages 12–16grades 7–11950L2024
A solid entry in the 'dark fantasy' YA wave that balances high-stakes peril with a clear character arc about self-acceptance.
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Up the Line
by Robert Silverberg
Young adult · ages 12–18 · 900L · 1969
A classic first-contact sci-fi that feels dated in its tech but remains a powerful study of adolescent anxiety and the weight of responsibility.
The Face in the Frost
by John Bellairs
Young adult · ages 12–18 · 890L · 2000
A genuinely atmospheric adult-leaning fantasy that rewarded Bellairs' careful prose; 12-year-olds who loved Coraline can handle the dread, but this isn't a light series-reread.
A Magic Steeped in Poison
by Judy I. Lin
Young adult · ages 13–18 · 950L · 2022
A sharp, character-driven fantasy that handles the tension of being 'other' in a magical system with real emotional weight.