Neal Shusterman Reading Order

10 books (1997–2025)

Neal Shusterman's Anthologies series comprises ten collections published between 1997 and 2025, with new volumes still being added to the ongoing series. These young adult and non-fiction anthologies explore diverse themes ranging from urban youth experiences and speculative fiction to horror and contemporary social issues. Readers should follow the publication order to experience how Shusterman's editorial vision and curated stories evolve across the collections, beginning with From One Experience to Another and continuing through the most recent addition, Future Hopes.

Start with From One Experience to Another, the first of 10 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	From One Experience to Another 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Big City Cool: Short Stories About Urban Youth 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Dreams and Visions 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Twice Told 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Bites: Scary Stories to Sink Your Teeth Into / Bones: Terrifying Tales to Haunt Your Dreams 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Other Worlds 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Violent Ends 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Scary Out There 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Nights of the Living Dead Anthology 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Future Hopes 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2004–2013)

Neal Shusterman's Antsy Bonano series comprises three complete young adult novels published between 2004 and 2013. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Schwa Was Here, followed by Antsy Does Time, and concluding with Ship Out of Luck. This finished series follows the adventures and misadventures of its protagonist across interconnected stories that span nearly a decade of releases.

Start with The Schwa Was Here and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Schwa Was Here 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Antsy Does Time 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Ship Out of Luck 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2016–2022)

The Arc of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman consists of four books published between 2016 and 2022, with the status appearing to be complete. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with Scythe, followed by Thunderhead, The Toll, and the collection Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe, which was co-written with multiple contributors. This young adult series explores a future world where death has been conquered and a select group called Scythes are tasked with controlling the population.

Start with Scythe, the first of 4 books in the Arc of a Scythe series.

#	Title
1	Scythe 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Thunderhead 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Toll 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe(With: Michael H. Payne,Michelle Knowlden,Jarrod Shusterman,David Yoon,Joelle Shusterman,Sofía Lapuente) 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (1994–1994)

#	Title
1	Piggyback Ninja 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2005–2006)

Neal Shusterman's Dark Fusion trilogy consists of three complete books published between 2005 and 2006, all intended for young adult readers. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Dread Locks, followed by Red Rider's Hood, and concluding with Duckling Ugly. Each standalone entry reimagines familiar fairy tales and folklore through a contemporary, darker lens.

Start with Dread Locks and read in order.

#	Title
1	Dread Locks 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Red Rider's Hood 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Duckling Ugly 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1993–1995)

Darkness Creeping is a complete two-book series by Neal Shusterman published between 1993 and 1995. Both volumes should be read in publication order, beginning with Darkness Creeping followed by Darkness Creeping II. The series is designed to be read sequentially rather than as standalone entries.

Start with Darkness Creeping and read in order.

#	Title
1	Darkness Creeping 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Darkness Creeping II 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2026–2026)

1 book (2022–2022)

#	Title
1	Courage to Dream 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1996–2000)

Neal Shusterman's Mindquakes series consists of four complete books published between 1996 and 2000. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Mindquakes and continuing through Mindstorms, Mindtwisters, and Mindbenders. This young adult series offers a mix of fiction and non-fiction content across its volumes.

Start with Mindquakes, the first of 4 books in the Mindquakes series.

#	Title
1	Mindquakes 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Mindstorms 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Mindtwisters 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Mindbenders 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1988–1991)

Neal Shusterman's two-book non-fiction series for young adults addresses substance abuse awareness and inspirational real-life stories. Published between 1988 and 1991, the complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with It's Ok to Say No to Cigarettes and Alcohol, followed by Kid Heroes.

Start with It's Ok to Say No to Cigarettes and Alcohol and read in order.

#	Title
1	It's Ok to Say No to Cigarettes and Alcohol 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Kid Heroes 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1988–2002)

The Shadow Club is a complete young adult series by Neal Shusterman consisting of two books published between 1988 and 2002. Both installments should be read in publication order, beginning with The Shadow Club followed by The Shadow Club Rising. The series explores themes relevant to young adult audiences through its interconnected narrative structure.

Start with The Shadow Club and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Shadow Club 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Shadow Club Rising 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2013–2013)

Neal Shusterman's two-book collection of short stories and novellas was completed in 2013, with Resurrection Bay followed by The Dirt on Our Shoes. Read these works in publication order to experience Shusterman's young adult storytelling across multiple shorter narratives.

Start with Resurrection Bay and read in order.

1 book (2025–2025)

#	Title
1	MindWorks: An Uncanny Compendium of Short Fiction 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2006–2011)

Neal Shusterman's Skinjacker trilogy follows three complete novels published between 2006 and 2011. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Everlost, followed by Everwild, and concluding with Everfound. This young adult fantasy series is now complete, making it ideal for readers seeking a finished narrative arc.

Start with Everlost and read in order.

#	Title
1	Everlost 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Everwild 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Everfound 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

15 books (1989–2025)

Neal Shusterman has written 15 standalone novels for young adults spanning from 1989 to 2025, with the series still ongoing. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with Dissidents and continuing through the most recent release, All Better Now. While each novel stands independently with its own story and characters, reading them in the order they were published provides insight into the author's evolving style and themes across more than three decades of writing.

Start with Dissidents, the first of 15 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	Dissidents 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Chasing Forgiveness / What Daddy Did 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Speeding Bullet 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Eyes of Kid Midas 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Dark Side of Nowhere 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Downsiders 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Full Tilt 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Bruiser 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Challenger Deep 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Chasing Forgiveness 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Dry 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Game Changer 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Roxy(With: Jarrod Shusterman) 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Break to You(With: Michelle Knowlden,DebraYoung) 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	All Better Now 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1995–2002)

The Star Shards Chronicles is a completed three-book young adult science fiction series by Neal Shusterman, published between 1995 and 2002. The trilogy should be read in publication order, beginning with Scorpion Shards, followed by Thief of Souls, and concluding with Shattered Sky. This series offers a continuous narrative that unfolds across all three installments.

Start with Scorpion Shards and read in order.

#	Title
1	Scorpion Shards 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Thief of Souls 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Shattered Sky 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2014–2016)

The Accelerati Trilogy is a complete young adult science fiction series by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman, consisting of three books published between 2014 and 2016. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Tesla's Attic, followed by Edison's Alley, and concluding with Hawking's Hallway. Each book builds on the events of the previous installment, making sequential reading essential to following the story's progression.

Start with Tesla's Attic(With: Eric Elfman) and read in order.

#	Title
1	Tesla's Attic(With: Eric Elfman) 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Edison's Alley(With: Eric Elfman) 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Hawking's Hallway(With: Eric Elfman) 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2023–2024)

The N.O.A.H. Files is an ongoing young adult series by Neal Shusterman and Eric Elfman, with two books published between 2023 and 2024. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with I Am the Walrus followed by Shock the Monkey.

Start with I Am the Walrus(With: Eric Elfman) and read in order.

#	Title
1	I Am the Walrus(With: Eric Elfman) 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Shock the Monkey(With: Eric Elfman) 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

16 books (1996–2000)

The X-Files: Young Adult is a complete 16-book series published between 1996 and 2000, featuring stories adapted from the popular television franchise. Written by various authors including Neal Shusterman, Ellen Steiber, and Les Martin, these books should be read in publication order starting with Bad Sign. The series concludes with its sixteenth entry and offers young adult readers standalone adventures connected to the X-Files universe.

Start with Bad Sign, the first of 16 books in the The X-Files: Young Adult series.

#	Title
1	Bad Sign 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Control(By: Cliff Nielsen,Everett Owens) 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Empathy(By: Ellen Steiber) 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Eve(By: Ellen Steiber) 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Fresh Bones(By: Les Martin) 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Our Town(By: Eric Elfman) 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Calusari(By: Garth Nix) 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Host(By: Les Martin) 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Howlers(By: Everett Owens) 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Hungry Ghosts(By: Ellen Steiber) 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Dark Matter(By: Easton Royce) 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Grotesque(By: Ellen Steiber) 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Quarantine(By: Les Martin) 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Regeneration(By: Everett Owens) 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Haunted(By: Ellen Steiber) 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Miracle Man(By: Terry Bisson) 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (2007–2015)

The Unwind Dystology is a complete six-book young adult series by Neal Shusterman, published between 2007 and 2015. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Unwind, followed by UnStrung (co-written with Michelle Knowlden), UnWholly, UnSouled, UnDivided, and UnBound. This dystopian series explores a dark future society through interconnected narratives that build across the installments, making sequential reading essential for understanding the full scope of the story.

Start with Unwind, the first of 6 books in the Unwind Dystology series.

#	Title
1	Unwind 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	UnStrung(With: Michelle Knowlden) 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	UnWholly 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	UnSouled 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	UnDivided 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	UnBound 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible