In this episode of the Hugonauts we’re breaking down what truly defines great Young Adult fiction and answering the ultimate question: do these books actually hold up when you read them for the first time as an adult? We look at the core guidelines of YA literature—from exploring the human condition through a young protagonist's eyes to (ideally) teaching profound stuff that resonates beyond teenhood.

We count down the absolute best YA sci-fi books and YA fantasy recommendations. We dive into legendary dystopian hits like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, masterclass sci-fi like Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card and Red Rising by Pierce Brown, and classic fantasy staples like Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, and C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. But we don't just look at the masterpieces.

We also separate the true YA novels from books that are actually meant for middle-grade kids (like The Giver, Redwall, and The Phantom Tollbooth). Finally, we tackle the controversial "duds" of the genre. Why are massive bestsellers like The Maze Runner, Divergent, and Scythe so incredibly popular, and why did they fall totally flat for us? Grab your reading list and let's find out which books are actually worth your time!

No spoilers anywhere in this episode.

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This episode is sponsored by Memoirs of the End by Vincent Rylan

All the books we recommend, plus timestamps:

• 00:00 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• 04:16 Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
• 07:02 The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
• 08:55 SPONSOR - Memoirs of the End by Vincent Rylan
• 09:30 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
• 12:54 Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
• 15:20 Red Rising by Pierce Brown
• 18:47 Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden
• 20:15 A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
• 22:39 The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
• 23:56 The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
• 26:40 The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• 29:10 The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
• 31:38 Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin
• 34:14 The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King
• 35:14 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
• 36:55 Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
• 39:10 Redwall by Brian Jacques 41:17
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
• 41:55 The Giver by Lois Lowry
• 42:41 The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
• 43:34 Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
• 44:40 Cinder by Marissa Meyer
• 45:56 Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix
• 46:54 How are these duds so popular?