A parent might reach for this book when their teen is a voracious reader who wants variety or feels stuck in a reading rut. This is a curated anthology, a "greatest hits" of young adult science fiction and fantasy short stories from 2015, offering a dozen different worlds in one volume. The stories tackle sophisticated themes common in teen life: finding your identity, fighting for fairness, and building resilience in the face of challenges. Ideal for ages 13 and up, it’s a perfect way to introduce a teen to a wide range of authors and sub-genres, helping them discover new voices and ideas beyond a single series.
Characters often face complex choices with no clear right or wrong answer.
Character DeathMild
The deaths of secondary or primary characters occur in some stories.
Sensitive Topics
As an anthology, the approach to sensitive topics varies by story. Themes of death, discrimination, violence, and identity crises are present. Most are handled through a speculative lens, using metaphor to explore real-world issues (e.g., using aliens to discuss xenophobia). Resolutions are equally varied: some stories end on a hopeful note, others are bittersweet or intentionally ambiguous, encouraging the reader to think deeply about the moral questions raised.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a teen (13-17) who already enjoys SFF and is looking to broaden their horizons. It is also perfect for a teen with a shorter attention span, a busy schedule, or who is in a reading slump and overwhelmed by the commitment of a full novel. It serves as an excellent 'tasting menu' for discovering new authors and sub-genres.
Parent Prep
No specific prep is needed to read this cold. However, given the variety of tones and topics, a parent might want to read the editors' introduction to understand the selection criteria. Reading a story or two alongside their teen could also spark fantastic conversations about which ones they liked best and why. A parent hears their teen say, "I'm bored with my books," or "I don't know what to read next." It's also a great choice when a parent wants to encourage their child to read more diversely and explore more complex, thought-provoking fiction.
Age Experience
A younger teen (13-14) will likely connect most with the high-concept plots, action, and world-building. They'll enjoy the sheer creativity and adventure. An older teen (15-18) is more equipped to appreciate the nuances: the social commentary, the moral ambiguity, the craft of the writing, and the power of metaphor in each story. They will engage more with the 'why' behind the story, not just the 'what'.
What Makes It Special
Unlike single-author collections, this curated "best of the year" anthology provides a unique snapshot of the entire YA speculative fiction landscape. It showcases a tremendous diversity of authorial voices, styles, and ideas, making it a powerful tool for reader discovery and a reflection of the genre's most exciting trends.
Read plot summary
This is an anthology of 14 young adult speculative fiction short stories, selected by the editors as the best of 2015. The collection features a wide variety of plots and settings, including stories about a girl who illegally downloads a new personality, a city where giant magical beasts are a public utility, a future where memories are currency, and a journey into a sentient, star-faring forest. The genres span from hard science fiction to portal fantasy to magical realism, united by a focus on teenage protagonists grappling with extraordinary circumstances.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Many stories in this collection use science fiction or fantasy to explore real-world issues like justice or identity. Which story's metaphor did you find most powerful, and why?
2
Compare the protagonists from two different stories. What similar challenges did they face, and how did their different settings (e.g., a magical city vs. a spaceship) influence their choices?
3
The editors chose these as the 'best' stories of 2015. What qualities do you think made a story strong enough to be included? Was there a story you felt didn't belong?
4
Several stories end on an ambiguous or open-ended note. Pick one and discuss what you think might happen next for the characters and their world.
5
If you could live in the world of one of these stories, which would you choose and why? Which world would you absolutely want to avoid?
