The best YA books about experiments gone wrong

By Aella Black

Who am I?

I am a former book editor turned writer and a lover of literature in all forms. Young adult literature will forever be my favorite. Though I’m no longer “young,” I have two teenagers who love YA as much as I do and we bond over these stories. Since one prefers contemporary & urban fantasy, and the other likes dystopian & epic fantasy, I read a lot of everything! I particularly enjoy books with characters who triumph over extreme adversity, and if you do too, then you'll like the books on this list.

I wrote...

Lock Down

By Aella Black,

Book cover of Lock Down

What is my book about?

Phoebe Atkinson has always felt different, but in the typical angsty way most teenagers do. She had no idea just how different until that fateful day she died—and then came back to life. It appears that sort of thing is frowned upon because Phoebe awakens to find herself locked up in Leavenworth, a notorious prison that now holds teens with supernatural abilities.

Behind bars, some are welcoming and others are… not. Although Phoebe’s life before being imprisoned was far from perfect, she wants it back. And she will… if they don’t find a way to kill her first. Regardless, she’s no longer going to stand by and be the rule-follower she’s always been. Look where that got her.

The books I picked & why

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The Maze Runner

By James Dashner,

Book cover of The Maze Runner

Why this book?

“If you ain’t scared… you ain’t human.” This is a perfect example of the relatability of the characters in The Maze Runner, even in an unrelatable situation: teenagers trapped inside a limitless, ever-changing maze—without their memories! As they struggle to survive, they uncover the secrets of both the shadowy organization that put them there and the maze itself. It features a male protagonist, and the intriguing plot will keep you coming back for more. I highly recommend this series… and the prequel is worth a read too!

House of Stairs

By William Sleator,

Book cover of House of Stairs

Why this book?

This book was written in the mid-70s and “set in a dystopian America in the near future.” Fortunately, our present isn’t quite like this. Five 16-year-old orphans awaken to find themselves in a building with no ceiling, walls, or floor—only endless flights of stairs in every direction. It’s a story about human nature and the human condition, as well as a cautionary tale about government control. Supposedly written for young readers (what we’d consider “middle grade” today), I believe it’s better suited for teens and adults.

Frankenstein

By Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley,

Book cover of Frankenstein

Why this book?

“Life, although it may only be an accumulation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will defend it.” I love this quote, among many others, in a book that’s generally categorized as horror—and, to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of that genre. But I guess it’s also considered Sci-Fi, which I do love. Though not a YA novel, per se, did you know that the author began writing this classic tale of an “experiment gone wrong” at the tender age of eighteen? And published it at twenty! Oh, to be so accomplished so young. I particularly loved the author’s ability to provoke so many different feelings for the monster. Written in the early 1800s, it truly is a timeless work of art.

The Sound of Stars

By Alechia Dow,

Book cover of The Sound of Stars

Why this book?

This review perfectly summed up this book but neglected to mention it has a spectacular cover, which I’ll admit was the first thing that drew my eye. The story also features a bi-racial main character, and since my children are multi-racial, I love seeing this representation. Because I’m an unapologetic book nerd, I adored the many literary references. And I always love a good road trip! All in all, this is one character-driven YA novel you won’t want to miss.

The Amnesia Experiment: A Young Adult Dystopian Novel

By Caroline Wei,

Book cover of The Amnesia Experiment: A Young Adult Dystopian Novel

Why this book?

This YA dystopian novel is not only written by an indie author…but a high school student! For that reason alone, I think it’s worth giving the book a try. I love a good fairytale retelling, and this one is a sci-fi version of Cinderella. Also, I’ve always been fascinated by memory loss and its profound effects on someone’s life—this story explores that in spades. It’s obvious this young author has a bright future, and I’m excited to watch her writing evolve as she grows older.

5 book lists we think you will like!

The best dystopian books with watery issues

The best dystopian books to devour your soul

The best dystopian novels about the underdog

The best dystopian books to binge read

The best dystopian books where cities pulsate with life and death

Interested in dystopia, amnesia, and monsters?

5,309 authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about dystopia, amnesia, and monsters.

Dystopia Explore 221 books about dystopia

Amnesia Explore 20 books about amnesia

Monsters Explore 70 books about monsters

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like This Is How You Lose the Time War, Eight Minutes, Thirty-Two Seconds, and This Savage Song if you like this list.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

By Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone,

Recommended by Lance Hawvermale

From Lance's list on the best books for historical action...and some occasional kissing.

Almost defying description, this novella is both historical and science fiction. Written as a series of back-and-forth letters between two people falling in love from afar, it explores the themes of conflict, control, and hopeful defiance. It never explains itself, but invites the reader to realize that love is more powerful than war. It is beautifully written and surprisingly unique.

Eight Minutes, Thirty-Two Seconds

By Peter Adam Salomon,

Recommended by Marlena Frank

From Marlena's list on the best dark fantasy books with unique monsters.

A dystopian novella that seems confusing at first but makes sense as you continue along. It requires piecing together broken memories, broken friendships, and flashes of emotion that are rarely understood. Each glimpse lasts only eight minutes and thirty-two seconds. It’s quite an incredible feat of storytelling. I read this in one sitting with the sun setting outside and me barely even noticing that time existed. I was fortunate enough to know and work alongside Salomon before his recent passing and this was a book I was privileged to provide a blurb for. I was blown away by the story that unraveled before me. I promise you will be too.

This Savage Song

By Victoria Schwab,

Recommended by M.J. Kuhn

From M.J.'s list on the best SFF books where no one is the “good guy”.

I’m a fan of V. E. Schwab’s writing in general, but This Savage Song is my personal favorite story of theirs. I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered a main character as unlikeable as Kate Harker. The daughter of a kingpin who rules over a city where monsters are real, Kate is ruthless and rebellious. As the city threatens to burst into an all-out war, Kate has to team up with another main character—one of the monsters.

The writing in This Savage Song is lyrical and punchy at the same time, making it a quick and compelling read. If you’re looking for a story where everyone is a villain in their own way, set in a world with a fascinating magic system that turns violence into actual living, breathing monsters, you’ll want to give this one a read.