This is the thinking person's sci-fi. It’s not Star Wars; there are no laser sword fights or wisecracking droids. It’s a massive, often cold, look at how humanity would actually react to a cosmic threat.
It’s a masterpiece of ideas, but be warned: the characters are often just there to explain the physics to you. If your teen is into STEM or world history, they'll likely obsess over it. If they want a character-driven drama with a lot of 'heart,' they might fall asleep by page 50. It's a modern classic for a reason, but it demands your full attention.