Best known for his coming-of-age stories in surreal settings, Scott Westerfeld’s novels are ones of free thinking, finding oneself, and courage. To celebrate his 58th birthday on May 6, 2021, we’ve rounded up some SparkPress books that this YA titan could have written himself. These books have plucky, sometimes rebellious protagonists and surreal settings.

If you liked the Midnighters Trilogy, read. . .

. . . Caley Cross and the Hadeon Drop by Jeff Rosen

Mistreated and abused by her caretaker, Caley decides to believe the jumpsuit-wearing mole who promises to take her away to where she belongs. She finds herself in Erinath, where she is Crown Princess. Everyone in Erinath have “baests” that live inside them, giving them animal-like powers. With the help of her new friends, she discovers that hers is an ancient monster with the power to swallow planets. Only one person has ever had this baest before: Olphiest, the man who killed her mother.

. . . Gatekeeper by Alison Levy

Rachel’s job is to collect malfunctioning daemons—creatures meant to tempt us to do good or evil—but she missed the assignment meeting. As a result, she ends up with two unusual assignments. She must find the person trying to break down interdimensional barriers and track down a missing line of gatekeepers (a human placeholder for a daemon too damaged to repair). With the help of a homeless oracle, she finds herself on the right path—and in a life-threatening situation.

If you like Peeps and the sequel The Last Days, read. . .

. . . Resistant by Rachael Sparks

Rory and her father survived the antibacterial crisis that wiped out millions. When a young military veteran, nicknamed Navy, enters their lives, he reveals long-hidden secrets, including that Rory’s own blood might be the key to creating a cure. This makes Rory a target. She and Navy are soon on the run from the government, who want to sell her blood to the highest bidder.

. . . Gobbledy by Lis Anna-Langston

Just before Christmas, eleven-year-old Dexter finds a golden rock that hatches into an adorable alien, who he dubs Gobbledy. Together, Dexter and Gobbledy must stay out of trouble, avoid the Planetary Society, and prepare for the Winter Extravaganza Play. Soon they are the closest of friends, along with Dexter’s brother Dougal, and their best friend Fi, and they go on an adventure of family, friendship, and loss.

If you liked the Uglies series, read. . .

. . . A Place Called Zamora by L B Gshwandtner

Niko and El live in a world where brutality rules. When Niko wins a race to the death and the chance to join the city’s corrupt inner circle, he chooses El as his prize, upsetting the ruling order and placing them in mortal danger. They must unite to create a guerrilla revolt and attempt a daring escape to the mythical Zamora, but the stirrings of romance between them has morphed into distrust and fear.

If you liked the Leviathan series, read. . .

. . . Sarah’s War by Eugenia Lovett West

It’s 1777, and the United States is fighting for its independence. A young Patriot, Sarah Champion, is grieving her brother, killed in battle. She is then sent to live with her Loyalist aunt. But her aunt is not a Loyalist—she’s a spy for Washington, and she sets about training Sarah to observe and flirt information out of British officers at festivities in the Winter Gardens, when their guards are down.

If you liked the Zeros series, read. . .

. . .The Goddess Twins by Yodassa Williams

Just before their eighteenth birthday, black identical twins Aurora and Arden develop telekinetic and telepathic powers. The same day, their mother disappears. In their attempt to rescue her, they unearth secrets that threaten their close relationship and destroy their individual strengths. How can they move forward and decide what to do when they can barely trust each other?