I’m looking for a memorable book that might change or enhance my worldviews. Preferably fiction, something that tells a story with lots of symbolism to deconstruct, that brings the reader along on a journey. I’m looking for something that’s for young adults or teenagers, and has some sort of fantastical or arcane feeling that comes with it. A prime example I can think of is We Were Wolves by Jason Cockcroft. I’m not sure this fully makes sense but I tried
by cheerfulflowerss
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I still think about “Alien Earth” by Megan Lindholm on a regular basis and I read it years ago. I don’t think it was written specifically with young or new adults in mind, but it certainly doesn’t contain anything that would be inappropriate for a teenager. Examines themes of colonialism and environmentalism. Science fiction, includes a living space ship!
Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia is one of my favorites. It’s YA fantasy with really cool botanical magic. It’s so immersive and has deep themes that tackle poverty, addiction, and revenge. The sequel, Lucha of the Forgotten Spring, just came out last Tuesday too!!
A Wizard of Earthsea by LeGuin (and the following books in the series) will stay with me forever.
I’ve read it 4-5 times at various stages of my life and it’s one of those wonderful books that grows along with you. Truly beautiful work.
*Neuromancer* by William Gibson. It was about 1985, so I was 16 or 17. I was in a John Menzies stationary store at a mall in the UK (one of the few malls at the time). I was browsing the science fiction section for something new. I flipped open the book and read the first line:
>The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
Neuromancer is one of the defining books of the cyberpunk genre, and is the first and only novel to win the Hugo, the Nebula, and the Philip K. Dick award for original paperback fiction in the same year. I think I read the first third of the book standing in the store. It’s a core memory for me.