What YA' Reading: Fantasy & sci-fi primary worlds

Dive into the enchanting realms of fantasy and sci-fi with books set on Earth or worlds that closely resemble our own. These novels, known as primary world (or first world) stories, blend the familiar with the magical and/or futuristic, creating a captivating escape. In contrast, secondary world (or second world) novels transport you to entirely new and unfamiliar settings.

Primary world novels are perfect for readers who enjoy a mix of reality and fantasy, offering a seamless blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Whether you're looking to explore hidden magical societies or futuristic Earth-like worlds, these books provide an immersive experience that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Read on for my recommendations of YA primary world novels.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Nigerian Sunny Nwazue is bullied by her classmates because she's an albino. They think she's a ghost or a witch. The latter turns out to be true, and she and a few classmates must learn to use their magical powers to stop a serial killer and avert the impending nuclear war Sunny saw in a vision.

This isn't your typical fantasy novel. You won't find dwarves, elves and the like here. This story instead reflects African ideas of magic and fantasy in telling this first installment of a trilogy. However, some elements will be familiar as Okorafor infuses both sides of her Nigerian American heritage into this story.

"This vividly imagined, original fantasy shows what life is like in today's Nigeria...a consistently surprising, inventive read that will appeal to more thoughtful, patient fantasy readers because it relies less on action and more on exploring the characters' gradual mastery of their talents." -School Library Journal

If you like this one, check out the subsequent books of the series: Akata Warrior and Akata Woman. For more Afrocentric fantasy try The Gilded Ones and if you're into superheroes, you might enjoy Ikenga.

Into the Sunken City by Dinesh Thiru

I love the premise of this novel! Centuries of torrential rain over the American southwest have irrevocably altered the geography. Familiar locations like Los Angeles and Las Vegas are now completely underwater, and the Grand Canyon has been mostly filled with water. Jin Haldar is an orphan trying to scrape by so she won't be pressed into Navy service and her sister won't be sent to an orphanage. Enter a drifter with a plan to retrieve a stash of gold from a Vegas casino. Jin thinks it's too good to be true, but when her sister joins in the quest, Jin goes to keep her safe. They'll need to get through Navy patrols, pirates and sea creatures. To find this treasure Jin will also need to dive, which she hasn't done since her father died in a diving accident.

Between the speculative setting rooted in climate change and a fresh twist on the concepts of casino heists and dystopian futures, this book has a lot to recommend it. The effects of trauma are also front and center in the story.

"The cinematic story line, electric prose, and creative and lived-in worldbuilding make ... a thoroughly compelling read." - Publishers Weekly

If you like this one, check out Winter, White and Wicked and The Vanishing Deep. These books have similar aspects and tones.

Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson

In near-future Baltimore, people conduct police brutality protests when an officer is acquitted of murder charges. City leaders and police erect an experimental dome around the city that cuts off all communication with the outside world as they crack down on dissent and anyone they consider "a problem." Seventeen year-old Jamal Lawson works with hacker Marco Gonzales to survive and tell the outside world what's happening inside the dome.

This near-future novel is written in first-person narrative. The story examines several topics important to our time including the importance of First Amendment rights, experimental technology, and discrimination against minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. Publishers Weekly and School Library agree it's a "thrilling read." 

"Reminiscent of Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give, Jackson's too-close-to-home dystopian novel adds a level of thought-provoking complexity that will undoubtedly compel readers to grapple with the use and abuse of power by government entities" ― Booklist, (STARRED review)

If you like this one, check out another Primary World Sci-Fi novel from Kosoko Jackson: Yesterday is History.