Where to Start Reading Cory McCarthy
Navigating Cory McCarthy's diverse bibliography is best approached by identifying your preferred genre. Because McCarthy (who has also published under the name Cori McCarthy) writes across genres—ranging from high-concept science fiction to intimate, contemporary coming-of-age stories—there is no single "correct" entry point. Instead, your best starting point depends on your age group and reading tastes:
- For Fans of Queer Space Opera: Start with Once & Future (2019). Co-authored with their spouse A.R. Capetta, this duology is a brilliant, gender-bent, sci-fi retelling of the King Arthur legend.
- For Fans of Contemporary Realism: Start with Man o' War (2022). This Stonewall Honor book is a raw, deeply personal, and humorous look at a trans teen swimmer's journey of self-discovery in small-town Ohio.
- For Middle-Grade Readers: Start with Ace Takes Flight (2021), the first book in the high-energy B.E.S.T. World sci-fi trilogy.
- For Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Seekers: Start with Postscript (2026), a poignant, low-fi exploration of survival, grief, and building chosen family on a Cape Cod archipelago.
The B.E.S.T. World Trilogy
The B.E.S.T. World books are middle-grade sci-fi novels set in the year 2048, where children undergo bionic augmentations as a standard rite of passage. The series centers on a diverse cast of tweens who must band together to challenge massive corporate control. These books build on top of one another and should be read in chronological/publication order:
- Ace Takes Flight (2021) – Follows Ace Wells as he joins the B.E.S.T. academy hoping to fly, despite his bionic augmentations not going exactly as planned.
- Under Pressure (2022) – Continues the adventure as the team faces escalating corporate threats and personal challenges.
- Some Assembly Required (2023) – The final book in the trilogy, wrapping up the crew's stand against the systemic bionic program.
The Once & Future Duology (Co-Authored with A.R. Capetta)
This duology is a collaborative space opera retelling of Arthurian lore. It features Ari Helix, a teenage girl who pulls a legendary sword from a space-age anvil and finds herself designated as the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. The series combines futuristic technology, magic, and heavy queer themes. Because the second book features complex time travel that loops back into the past, reading them in order is mandatory to understand the plot:
- Once & Future (2019) – Introduces Ari Helix, Merlin (who is aging backward), and their fight against the oppressive Mercer Corporation.
- Sword in the Stars (2020) – Ari and her knights travel back in time to the Middle Ages of Earth to steal the original Excalibur, leading to a high-stakes heist.
Standalone Novels
If you prefer standalone stories, McCarthy has published several young adult novels that can be read in any order. The following list is organized by publication date:
- The Color of Rain (2013) – McCarthy's debut novel is a gritty, lyrical dystopian sci-fi story centering on a girl trying to survive in a rain-drowned world.
- Breaking Sky (2015) – A high-flying, near-future military sci-fi thriller following elite teenage jet pilots navigating a new Cold War.
- You Were Here (2016) – A multi-perspective contemporary YA novel focusing on five teenagers dealing with grief, memory, and the legacy of a deceased friend. It features unique formatting, combining prose, graphic novel elements, and poetry.
- Now a Major Motion Picture (2018) – A contemporary YA novel that follows Iris Kelly, who is dragged onto the movie set of a popular fantasy adaptation based on her famous grandmother's novels. It offers a funny and critical look at Hollywood, fandoms, and family expectations.
- Man o' War (2022) – A coming-of-age story about River McIntyre, an Arab American trans teen swimmer navigating identity, transition, and self-acceptance while working at a cheesy local marine park in Ohio.
- Postscript (2026) – A post-apocalyptic YA novel set on Cape Cod following an apocalypse. The book integrates McCarthy's own block print illustrations, telling a low-fi, affectionate story about chosen family and survival.
Children's Books & Anthologies
For younger readers, McCarthy wrote Hope Is an Arrow (2022), a picture book biography of the famous Lebanese-American poet and artist Kahlil Gibran. It highlights Gibran's immigrant experience, his artistic struggles, and how his writing bridged cultural divides.
McCarthy has also contributed short stories to multiple anthologies, including That Way Madness Lies: Fifteen of Shakespeare's Most Notable Works Reimagined (2021) and the Michael L. Printz Honor-winning anthology The Collectors: Stories (2024).
What to Know Before You Start
Cory McCarthy is an Arab American trans author who writes under he/they pronouns. Their works are widely praised for their authentic queer, trans, and bicultural representation. While they write highly imaginative science fiction, their stories are always grounded in deep, personal emotional realities. Readers should be prepared for themes of identity exploration, resisting oppressive systems (both corporate and societal), and finding strength in chosen families and community.