I’m fascinated by parallel worlds, most likely a result of my early obsession with Pullman’s His Dark Materials. It’s the standard bearer for parallel worlds (or universes, whichever you prefer), but I like to read other books with this same feature when I can. Lately, I’ve noticed more than usual popping up within the last few years or so, and a lot of them have been YA.
I’ve listed a few of them below, with their descriptions from WorldCat and links to Goodreads. I know there are a lot more that are older, but I’m more interested in those that have published within the past five years. A few of these have been on my radar for a while, but some I hadn’t heard of until I started looking. Obviously, my to-read list has grown! I’d love more recommendations.
Note that I make a distinction between parallel worlds and alternate histories, though I think the two can have some overlap. Sometimes a parallel world is “created” when a moment in history happens a different way from ours, making this other world both parallel and alternate history. But while alternate histories intrigue me, they’re usually just stories about a single world. Because of that, they don’t fascinate me as much as parallel worlds existing side by side, where the story involves at least two of these worlds that impact each other in some way.
I’m also deliberately not including purely fantasy worlds in this post (which means stories like Narnia and Alice in Wonderland are out). While I certainly like those stories, what interests me most about parallel worlds is the idea that it could maybe actually happen. Because of science. Well, most stories it’s more like “science” than science, but you get what I mean.
Through to You by Emily Hainsworth: When a teen boy loses the love of his life in a car accident, he’ll do anything to get her back–even travel to another universe. That synopsis is slightly misleading, because Cam ends up in the other universe pretty much by accident. I just finished reading this one recently and enjoyed it. Hainsworth actually doesn’t delve much at all into how the parallel world exists, making it potentially magical or scientific. Kelly reviewed this book last week.
Fair Coin by E. C. Myers: When evil versions of himself and best friend Nate appear one day,
teenaged Ephraim embarks on a dangerous odyssey through parallel worlds
to make things right. Matthew Jackson reviewed this one for us in July. I read it soon after, and his review is spot-on. In Myers’ multiverse, there are innumerable worlds that his characters can travel to, and the possibilities are so exciting to think about. Its sequel, Quantum Coin, publishes October 23.
teenaged Ephraim embarks on a dangerous odyssey through parallel worlds
to make things right. Matthew Jackson reviewed this one for us in July. I read it soon after, and his review is spot-on. In Myers’ multiverse, there are innumerable worlds that his characters can travel to, and the possibilities are so exciting to think about. Its sequel, Quantum Coin, publishes October 23.
The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski: Sixteen-year-old Darcy Jones knows little about her past except that she
was abandoned outside a Chicago firehouse at age five, but when the
mysterious Conn arrives at her high school she begins to discover things
about her past that she is not sure she likes. The synopsis doesn’t tell you that the story involves parallel worlds, but the Goodreads reviews clued me in, and they made me want to read this one. It involves a parallel Chicago that sounds very interesting. I’m currently reading it, but haven’t gotten to the good stuff yet.
was abandoned outside a Chicago firehouse at age five, but when the
mysterious Conn arrives at her high school she begins to discover things
about her past that she is not sure she likes. The synopsis doesn’t tell you that the story involves parallel worlds, but the Goodreads reviews clued me in, and they made me want to read this one. It involves a parallel Chicago that sounds very interesting. I’m currently reading it, but haven’t gotten to the good stuff yet.
Planesrunner by Ian McDonald: When fourteen-year-old Everett Singh’s scientist father is kidnapped
from the streets of London, he leaves a mysterious app on Everett’s
computer giving him access to the Infundibulum–a map of parallel
earths–which is being sought by technologically advanced dark powers
that Everett must somehow elude while he tries to rescue his father. This is one I hadn’t even heard of until I started looking around. Despite the awful cover (in my opinion), this sounds right up my alley.
from the streets of London, he leaves a mysterious app on Everett’s
computer giving him access to the Infundibulum–a map of parallel
earths–which is being sought by technologically advanced dark powers
that Everett must somehow elude while he tries to rescue his father. This is one I hadn’t even heard of until I started looking around. Despite the awful cover (in my opinion), this sounds right up my alley.
Gateway by Sharon Shinn: While passing through the Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, a Chinese
American teenager is transported to a parallel world where she is given a
dangerous assignment. This is one I haven’t read, so I’m not sure if it’s more fantasy than science fiction. It seems like it might be. Still, the premise is intriguing, and I adored Sharon Shinn’s Samaria series as a teenager.
American teenager is transported to a parallel world where she is given a
dangerous assignment. This is one I haven’t read, so I’m not sure if it’s more fantasy than science fiction. It seems like it might be. Still, the premise is intriguing, and I adored Sharon Shinn’s Samaria series as a teenager.
Fringe (tv series): OK, so this isn’t a book, but more of you should be watching this show. The first season is a bit slow to get to the good stuff, and has an annoying bit with a misogynistic character in a position of power that made me stop watching it the first time, but oh, it is so worth it. It’s got parallel worlds and time travel and complex plotting and great characters. It tells small stories each episode, but also tells a huge, over-arching story with worlds at stake. And this season is set in a dystopian future. Be still, my heart. (By the way, Fringe’s dystopia clobbers Revolution’s.)
Are there any more books out there that fit my criteria? I’m also interested in hearing your recommendations for older books and adult books. I know about a lot of them, but you should tell me which ones I should tackle first.
I love Fringe, too!
Suggested reads:
Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone
Bridge of Time by Lewis Buzbee
Time Traveler's Quartet by Carolyn B Cooney
I dig time travel, but these don't seem like they're actually about parallel worlds.
Interesting, interesting, Fair Coin is on my list 🙂
It's a good one!
Juliet Immortal/Romeo Redeemed – Stacey Jay
I've heard about Juliet Immortal, but it doesn't seem like it features parallel worlds from any description I read.
My boyfriend and I are marathoning Fringe right now! Doctor Who also has parallel worlds, and I'm pretty sure I've read a book recently that had them, but I can't remember…
I'm a Doctor Who fan, but I can't remember which episode featured a parallel world. Which one was it?
I just read Through to You and Fair Coin, both fun reads. Other YA books with parallel worlds: The Last Universe, by William Sleator, and Choices, by Deborah Jacobs.
Those both sound great, thanks!!
The new anthology, Other Worlds Than These, ed by John Joseph Adams is really good. A wide range of authors and stories, many that would be great for teens and of interest to anyone who likes these stories
That looks fantastic, thanks!
Try Half World by Hiromi Goto
I just stumbled upon this thread and wanted to add a really great book called Here by Denise Swank. It doesn't list in the description about the parallel universe but its definitely in there! One on my favorite books