Books for Christian Teens: Clean YA Sci-Fi, Fantasy, & Dystopia

When it comes to young adult literature, sci-fi, fantasy, and dystopia continue to be strong-selling genres even as diversity gains traction in the YA scene. There’s something about stretching the boundaries of reality that appeals to teens (and the many adult readers of young adult literature).

But of course, finding suitable books for Christian Teens and other conscientious readers continues to be a challenge as more and more YA titles contain “mature” content. (I put that in quotes because mature implies it’s okay for adults to read books with explicit sex and high levels of profanity when, in fact, Christians of all ages should avoid such material.)

You were called to be holy. So be holy in all you do, including what you read.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of well-written titles for readers looking for an alternative to Sarah J. Maas. You don’t have to sacrifice quality for clean content. Check out these recommendations!

When dream technology goes wrong, a virus spreads across the globe. Except, this virus doesn’t attack the body but the mind, trapping people in a universal dreamscape. And Cain Cross is determined to find a cure using his brother’s chicken-scratch formula notes. But when he gets infected, he has only 22 days until he’s trapped in the mental prison forever. Now, every time he falls asleep, he must fight in a Nightmare Arena until he earns his freedom to live in the “new world” that exists only in the mind.

Then he finds a way to manipulate the Nightmare.

If you’re looking for a story that doesn’t center on romance (not that there isn’t any), this is it. I love how Christian elements are incorporated naturally, and there’s enough action in this book to denote it a suspense novel. (But it definitely leans more toward sci-fi fantasy.)

As the orphaned daughter of a traitor, Novalise grew up in hiding with an outlawed religious group hated by the Crown. She dreams of aiding her people as a scientist and begs her overprotective brother for a chance to assist in his schemes against the government. All her hopes of making a difference implode when she’s kidnapped and forced to compete against the Enhanced—a group of highly trained, biologically upgraded young women—for a position as the king’s Protector.

This is Esther-meets-the-Hunger-Games with a side of techie sci-fi. While faith elements are clear, I believe many non-Christians would enjoy it too. The writing is as vivid as the cover, the characters will have you torn between sides (I know I was), and the occasional violence isn’t unnecessary or overly graphic.

Watch for the sequel, Proclaimer, in April 2025! Learn more at MeganSchaulis.com.

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg who lives under her stepmother’s cruel hand. Then her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, and suddenly she finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, a forbidden attraction, and a desperate mission to protect her world’s future.

And that’s just the first book of the series.

If you like fairytale retellings, you’ll like this series, which takes four well-known characters—Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White—and drops them smack in the middle of an advanced sci-fi world. And if you don’t like fairytale retellings . . . you’ll probably still like The Lunar Chronicles because they’re so unique you almost forget they’re all spin-offs. The mix of characters is delightful.

As far as content, this was clean—no sex, limited profanity. Appropriate for all ages of teens.

Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a hideous birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her as normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.

But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird. Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.

This one had my brain spinning, but the writing was phenomenal. The religious messages are very subtle, making this appeal to a wider audience. Be prepared to encounter a stressful love triangle!

Decades before Thalli’s birth, the world was decimated by a nuclear war. But life continued deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten, who created genetically engineered human beings free of emotions in the hope that war wouldn’t threaten the world again.

Thalli is an anomaly, born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far by hiding her differences. But then her secret is discovered, her annihilation scheduled, and her only ally is her childhood friend, Berk—a scientist being groomed by The Ten.

While the one contemporary Krista McGee novel I read was sweet, I loved this story more. It opens a lot of “What if?” questions, plus the relationship between Thalli and Berk keeps the plot moving. The religious themes made sense for the storyline and were Biblically accurate.

After the accident, Meg would do anything to wake her best friend from his deadly coma. At least, that’s what she whispered into the woodland shadows. She never imagined her wish would trap her in a gray other-earth, void of any color.

Meg’s vibrant humanity is a priceless artifact in the gray kingdom, coveted by the royal court. All she wants to do is find a way back home. Until she discovers the other-earth contains healing powers that can save her friend. But only if Meg becomes what the gray people need—a human bride for Kalmus, the powerful king of the capital city.

This story contains a beautiful example of Christ-like love as Meg is willing to give up anything—including becoming a slave in another world—for Andrew to live. Romance readers will appreciate the underlying love story.

Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort—a life that isn’t her own to control as she faces being forced into a loveless marriage for political gain. Miles away, Lennox has devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day help them reclaim the throne that was stolen from them. For Lennox, the idea of love is merely a distraction—nothing will stand in the way of fighting for his people.

Then their paths cross, and they find themselves swept up in a forbidden love.

This book is long and slow-burning, but engaging all the way through. If you liked Kiera’s Selection Series, you’ll like this one. (This has less steam, too.)

Looking for a shorter read? Try this novella by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz.

Seventeen-year-old assassin Cottia is desperate to leave behind the work she’s been forced into. Her lord offers freedom in exchange for one last hit. The assignment is to start a war by killing a target during the Giddelian prince’s betrothal selection ceremony. When the prince uncovers her identity, he offers her a new opportunity.

As someone who doesn’t read fantasy regularly, I struggled at times to understand what was happening in the plot. But I enjoyed the intricate relationships of the characters and the unique concept of “giftings.” Some of the parts zip by rather quickly, though that’s to be expected for a short novel.

And isn’t the cover captivating?

In the Society, officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one…until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

The world depicted in the Matched Trilogy very closely mirrors the setting of the 1993 classic The Giver, by Lois Lowry (which I also recommend—check out my review in Great YA Literature: Clean Classics for Teens). You’ll encounter a few swear words in the final book of the series, but otherwise this is a popular clean read.

One issue I had with MC in this series was her continued choice to follow her heart rather than heed the call to loyalty. This is common with many YA titles, but not something you should emulate in real life. (Read about the danger of following your heart in What Does It Mean to Surrender Your Dreams to God?)

Books For Christian Teens: More Resources

Looking for more clean young adult literature and books for Christian teens? SUBSCRIBE to my weekly note and you’ll get FREE access to a library of short stories, plus monthly reading recommendations.

And don’t forget to check out my other reviews:

• Great YA Literature: Clean Classic Books For Teens
• YA Christian Fiction Thrillers, Suspense & Horror: 8 Books to Keep You On Edge
• Christian Teen Fiction Review: Something I Am Not
• Christian YA Fiction Spotlight: Author Jenny B. Jones
• Clean YA Fiction Spotlight: Author Kasie West

More resources on clean and Christian young adult literature:

• How to Find Clean Young Adult Fiction in a Dirty Market
• 6 Red Flags to Watch For In YA Christian Fiction
• The Problem With Clean YA Fiction For Christian Teens
• 5 Terrific Reasons Why Christian Teens Should Read Fiction
• Why Is It so Hard to Find Christian Books For Teens?
• Christian Romance: The Life Behind the First Kiss in Fiction