High adventure, gears and gadgets, fantastical inventions, Victorian-era atmosphere (or not)… the rise of steampunk gives authors of young-adult fiction rich new ground to tread.

Two years ago, one of our expert YA librarians wrote a great introduction for teen readers; now, we’re offering up six of our relatively recent favorites.

 

The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Cremer
“Would you offer your life for your freedom?” the cover asks, inviting readers into an alternate universe in which America lost its fight for independence and is still controlled by Britain.

 

 

 

 

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
The indomitable Shadowhunters in the Infernal Devices trilogy made a major splash when the first book, Clockwork Angel, was published in 2010. Now, in the third and final installment, they must face down the mammoth automaton army.

 

 

 

 

The Red Plague Affair and The Ripper Affair by Lilith Saintcrow
In these follow-ups to Saintcrow’s The Iron Wyrm Affair, the alternative universe of Britannia is threatened by a terrifying weapon and a serial killer.

 

 

 

 

 

Take Back the Skies by Lucy Saxon
This page-turner adventure stars Cat Hunter, who escapes her arranged marriage, dresses as a boy, and stows away on a galaxy-hopping airship.

 

 

 

 

 

The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason
Sherlock Holmes meets vampires meets turn-of-the-century London in this tale of two detective heroines.

 

 

 

 

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your picks, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend.

And check out our brand-new Staff Picks browse tool for 100 new recommendations every month!