Dani Hoots150+ YA Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books Set in the United States
YA SFF blog is putting together massive lists of books with settings all around the world! To start off, we put together 150+ books set in the United States (the territories will be included in upcoming Americas post). Check them out below, and if you don't see your favorites, feel free to comment!
Alabama
Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith
Set amid the swamps, red soil, and sweltering heat of small town Alabama in the 1930s, Hoodoo is infused with a big dose of creepiness leavened with gentle humor.
The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Can love last beyond the grave? Find out in this YA Fantasy that is full of romance, tension, and mystery.
Alaska
The Wild Lands by Paul Greci
The Wild Lands is a pulse-pounding YA thriller full of shocking plot twists. It’s the ultimate survival tale of humanity’s fight against society’s collapse.
Hostile Territory by Paul Greci
In Paul Greci’s Hostile Territory, a catastrophic earthquake strands four teens in the Alaskan wilderness—and leaves them without a civilization to return to.
Our Last Echoes by Kate Alice Marshall
Melissa Albert meets Twin Peaks in this supernatural thriller about one girl's hunt for the truth about her mother's disappearance.
Crave by Tracy Wolff
A YA Fantasy full of romance, vampires, and fun. Reviewers rave that it is the next Twilight.
Arizona
Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets Roswell by way of Laurie Halse Anderson in this astonishing, genre-bending novel about a Mexican American teen who discovers profound connections between immigration, folklore, and alien life.
Dragon Magic by Ashley McLeo & Kelly N. Jane
Dragon Magic is an upper YA/NA dragon shifter contemporary fantasy adventure novel. If you like loads of action, a slow-burn romance, and characters who will steal your heart, you’ll love Dragon Magic.
Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos
Shaun of the Dead meets Dumplin' in this bitingly funny YA thriller about a kickass group of teens battling a ravenous group of zombies.
Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco
Gripping, fantastical, and delightfully funny, Wicked As You Wish is perfect for readers looking for:
• young adult magic, mythology, and folklore
• LGBTQ representation
• diverse characters
• creative new takes on classic stories
• fresh and dazzling world building
Arkansas
Eventide by Sarah Goodman
Eventide is an evocative YA historical fantasy thriller by debut author Sarah Goodman, for fans of Jennifer Donnelly and Libba Bray.
Unleashed by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié
Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie, the New York Times bestselling authors of the Wicked series, have created an entirely new trilogy with the passion of Twilight and the grandeur of Fallen. The Wolf Springs Chronicles introduces readers to a town of secrets and the new girl who's about to start believing in werewolves.
California
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
A trans boy determined to prove he's a brujo to his Latinx family summons a ghost who refuses to leave in Aiden Thomas's paranormal YA debut.
The Reluctant Witch by Kristen S. Walker
A young witch who just wants to be invisible. A beautiful mermaid who doesn’t belong. A secret relationship that threatens the entire academy.
The Lost Coast by A.R. Capetta
The spellbinding tale of six queer witches forging their own paths, shrouded in the mist, magic, and secrets of the ancient California redwoods.
Future Shock by Elizabeth Briggs
Don't miss this unforgettable trilogy combining time travel, mystery, and romance with a tough heroine who will do whatever it takes to save the ones she loves.
The future is inevitable...or is it?
Colorado
Haven Fall by Sara Holland
A safe haven between four realms. The girl sworn to protect it--at any cost. New York Times bestselling author Sara Holland crafts a breathtaking new contemporary fantasy perfect for fans of Melissa Albert and Holly Black.
Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young
From New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young comes the start of a thrilling, subversive new series about a girls-only boarding school with a terrifying secret and the friends who will stop at nothing to protect each other.
Elleson by Misha McCorkle
Daisy's father raised her to think differently, to think beyond life in their small town. Maybe that’s why she never fit in, why people keep her at arm’s length. Or maybe it's her scarred face and broken body.
Spartan Heart by Jennifer Estep
At Mythos Academy, everyone knows exactly who I am: Rory Forseti, Spartan girl and the daughter of Reapers.
New school year, same old problems...
Connecticut
Sear by Nina Malkin
A promise broken. A bond betrayed. What do you do when an oath of devotion threatens to destroy the one you love? “The drama is high” (Booklist) in this paranormal sequel to Swoon.
Specter by Katie Jane Gallagher
Stranger Things with a ghostly twist! This gripping, genre-bending debut is a book not to miss.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Elizabeth George Speare won the 1959 Newbery Medal for this portrayal of a heroine whom readers will admire for her unwavering sense of truth as well as her infinite capacity to love.
Reverie by Ryan La Sala
A "joyously, riotously queer" (Kirkus) young adult fantasy from debut author Ryan La Sala, Reverie is a wildly imaginative story about dreams becoming reality, perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Laini Taylor.
Delaware
I couldn't find any Delaware books that were YA sci-fi or fantasy. If you find/or know of a YA sci-fi or fantasy set in Delaware, please comment below and I will add it!
Florida
The Kindred by Alechia Dow
To save a galactic kingdom from revolution, Kindred mind-pairings were created to ensure each and every person would be seen and heard, no matter how rich or poor…
Breathe and Count Back from Ten by Natalia Sylvester
In this gorgeously written and authentic novel, Verónica, a Peruvian-American teen with hip dysplasia, auditions to become a mermaid at a Central Florida theme park in the summer before her senior year, all while figuring out her first real boyfriend and how to feel safe in her own body.
Howl by Shaun David Hutchinson
From critically acclaimed Shaun David Hutchinson comes a gritty and raw portrayal of the oftentimes traumatic experience of growing up.
Lobizona by Romina Garber
"Garber’s gorgeous novel combines the wonder of a Hogwarts-style magic school with the Twilight-esque dynamics of a hidden magical species that has strict rules about interacting with the human world." - BOOKLIST (Starred Review)