Okay, did you know that November is apparently Sci-Fi Month?

Because I did. Yep. Definitely.

Major publishers tend to use this time to push the same dozen blockbuster space franchises every fall. Which is fine. I love many of those books and worlds. That being said, some of the most inventive, thrilling world-building is quietly happening across the indie scene — especially in MG and YA.

So I’m looking at this as a fantastic opportunity to (surprise, surprise) introduce all of you to some great indie MG and YA science fiction. Five books. One, I already read and loved. Another’s been on my TBR for months. And the remaining ones? Well, they just caught my attention and seem to be well-respected.

You’ll find stories that run the gamut here, from jaunts across the lunar surface to alien ecological regimes and suburban UFO panic. Many use classic speculative tropes, but indie authors are infusing them with authentic heart, razor-sharp pacing, and brilliant young protagonists.

Ready?

With a Robot Army at My Back by R. A. Dines (2026)

Middle Grade (Ages 9–12)

The second book in Dines’ Moon Hackers series, this one picks up 47 days after the events of How I Hacked the Moon, and you should absolutely read that first. It’s not technically necessary, but you’ll gain a world of context that enriches this brisk, breakneck adventure. This is also the only book I’ve completely read out of the five, and I highly recommend the entire Moon Hackers series.

With a Robot Army at My Back follows 13-year-old Jo, whose best friend Jenny recently helped lead an uprising against the greedy corporate suits of Big Smile Corp, taking control of the Lunar Coding Complex where they and other kids had been living and working for years in a kind of indentured servitude.

But as Jo has already learned by the time this story starts, winning a revolution is nothing compared to managing daily life-support logistics. Especially when the atmospheric scrubbers start failing and rations dwindle. They don’t even have any Cheezios anymore! Plus, she hasn’t been able to send a message to her dad in over a month, she’s struggling with feeling like a third wheel now that Jenny is dating the (super boring) Mr. Perfect, Dovrin, and she has feelings of inadequacy over being left out of the uprising.

Can Jo prove that she has something to contribute to the LCC? Is there a place for her in Jenny’s life now that her bestie has a boyfriend? Will she ever find more Cheezios?!

I Know What UFO Did Last Summer by Kevin Garone (2025)

Middle Grade / Early YA (Ages 10–14)

This has been on my TBF for months, but something keeps getting in the way of me reading. It’s very annoying, because it sounds right up my alley. What’s it about?

Twelve-year-old Marv spends his time memorizing obscure survival handbooks and scanning the skies over suburban Delaware. Why? Because aliens — duh. In an infinite universe, discovering them is just a matter of time. Nobody believes him, though… until a glowing, erratic craft shatters the tree line directly behind his house.

What follows is a hilarious, eerie riff on X-Files and E.T., while also managing to be completely unique.

Eco Reign: Warning: The Barriers Burn by L. Galuppo (2025)

Young Adult (Ages 13–18)

I’ll admit it: initially the title turned me off from this one. Despite my use of one in the previous sentence, the last thing I want in a YA adventure is a colon or a subtitle. But the description sounds fascinating, and the book has one a slew of accolades, including receiving a coveted Kirkus Star Review, so I’m eager to try it.

What’s the premise? While most alien invasion stories assume extraterrestrials want to strip-mine Earth or harvest humans, the invaders here arrive to enforce conservation. That’s right: the aliens are essentially hardcore ecological warriors, enforcing their beliefs with a kind of cold authoritarianism.

And it works. Earth becomes a kind of eco-paradise where consumerism and waste are stamped out.

The question Galuppo explores is what this costs humanity, following a 14-year-old protagonist caught between the cold, structured safety the aliens have brought and an underground resistance movement to win back human self-determination — even if it risks environmental collapse.

It sounds intriguingly thought-provoking and morally gray, and I am so there for it.

The First Herald by Carol T. Luna (2024)

Young Adult (Ages 14–18)

Set in the Project Blue universe, The First Herald follows teenage Zacharias in his role as First Herald over his city. Essentially, he’s kind of a one-person Big Brother for the State, with the ability to digitally surveil anyone and anything, and an unwavering belief that keeping people from having any secrets is the best way to maintain the peace.

Naturally, the story has him go through experiences that call that belief — and his purpose — into question, threatening the very pillars of his society.

While this one sounds amazing to me, others have apparently found it quite dense and complicated, so it may be best for a certain type of reader.

Embers of Esper by Tyler Aston (2021)

Young Adult / Crossover (Ages 13+)

I’ve heard this described as a YA Firefly space opera… and that’s kind of enough for me. Full stop.

Click through here to read more, because quite honestly I didn’t want to know. I’m willing to just give it a try based on that.

What’s the best hidden-gem MG/YA sci-fi you’ve read lately? Let me know in the comments!