6 cli-fi, eco-dystopian and eco-thriller novels for 12, 13 and 14-year-olds

Cli-fi (climate fiction) and eco-dystopian stories are a growing genre of literature that not only entertain but raise awareness about the importance of protecting our planet. From harrowing tales of survival in a world ravaged by climate change to stories that shed light on the consequences of human actions on the environment, these books offer a unique and imaginative perspective on the challenges our planet faces.

Cli-fi books can provide students with a deeper understanding of complex environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, while also encouraging critical thinking and reflection on their own actions and choices.

Eco-dystopian novels explore dark and cautionary visions of potential environmental futures. These eco-thrillers can challenge tweens and teens to think critically about the ethical implications of our current environmental practices and the potential repercussions for future generations.

These exciting and thought-provoking books, picked from both the middle grade and young adult categories, combine elements of fantasy with pressing environmental themes and would be an excellent choice for any 12, 13 or 14 year olds that are looking for their next read.

 

 

War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson

On a remote Scottish island, fourteen-year-old Max’s life changes forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. Struggling to make sense of his new life and finding it hard to adapt in school, he begins to notice other - even stranger - changes taking place when a new wind farm appears off the island’s coast.

We sent this gripping eco-thriller to our Macaw subscribers in March 2023 and shared an interview with Victoria about environmental books for kids on our blog.

 

Reek by Alastair Chisholm

We are huge fans of Alastair's sci-fi adventures and were very excited to discover that he's written this super accessible, dyslexia-friendly thriller for older readers told over just 150 pages. 

Sparrow lives in the world after the Reek. The atmosphere is toxically polluted, and Axel Brodie, the tech billionaire behind Zephyr Industries, is cashing in as the only supplier of clean air. Sparrow is struggling to help her family survive until her brilliant inventor friend, Miriam Fenn, comes up with a new form of technology that could break Zephyr’s stranglehold on the air supply. Who will triumph in this battle to breathe?

 

Augmented by Kenechi Udogu

In a near future London, where extreme weather has depleted plant life, sixteen-year-olds must surgically augment an ability to contribute to the new utopian society. Akaego moves to a prestigious academy after the late discovery of her rare ability - she can project a vocal frequency that accelerates plant growth.

As Akaego learns to use her new skill and is chosen for an internship with the mayor she begins to feel like she can change society for the better . . . but then the Freestakers, an anti-enhancement group, warn Akaego not to get Augmented. Can she discover the truth of her ability, find the courage to rebel and keep her power out of the hands of those wishing to control it?

This exhilarating eco-thriller was sent to our Macaw subscribers in June 2025 and we still have a handful of book & activity pack bundles available. We were also thrilled to interview Kenechi about the book and sci-fi thrillers for our blog. 

 

Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North by Antonia Maxwell

Though technically a middle grade novel, this is a fantastic story that wouldn't be out of place in any secondary school library. 

The last ice cap has melted, and the world is on the brink of collapse. A deadly force―Terra Electrica―has been unleashed. It feeds on electricity. It is infecting civilization.

In this chaotic, rapidly changing reality, 12-year-old Mani has lost her family and community to the Terra Electrica. Armed only with some ancestral wisdom and a powerful, ancient wooden mask she was never meant to inherit so soon, she suddenly finds herself responsible for the fate of the world.

 

 

The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros

Dylan was six when The End came, when the electricity went off for good, and the ‘normal’ 21st-century world he knew disappeared. It's not entirely clear whether this was an environmental or technological disaster, but we felt this novel was far too good to exclude from this list on a technicality!

Dylan is now and he and his mam have survived in their isolated hilltop house above the Welsh village of Nebo, learning new skills, and returning to old ways of living. But they each have their own secrets, which emerge as, in turn, they jot down their thoughts and memories in the Blue Book of Nebo.

Back in 2022 we interviewed Manon about dystopian fiction for teens

 

Wildlands by Brogen Murphy

Twenty-five years into the future, no humans are allowed in the Wildlands – a vast area in Britain where wolves, lynx and bison roam free. The only exception is a high-speed train line between London and Glasgow that crosses right through the heart of the project. Thirteen-year-old Astrid and her little sister, Indie, are onboard when their train slows to a brief, unexpected stop … and they find themselves accidentally left behind. Stranded in this place of astonishing natural wonders and terrible dangers, they have only a rucksack, a phone without signal – and each other. As every wrong turn takes them deeper into the Wildlands, do they have the ingenuity and determination to survive?

We chose this book for our Macaw subscribers in May 2025 and were thrilled to interview Brogen about the book and thoughts on eco-fiction for early teens.