FANTASY READING SUGGESTIONS
Inkheart, Inkspell, Ink Death (Inkworld Series 1-3)- Cornelia Funke
One cruel night, Meggie's father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART-- and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of
fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read
about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the
course of the story that has changed her life forever.
This is INKHEART--a timeless tale about books, about imagination, about life. Dare to read it aloud
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ( Harry Potter #1) - JK Rowling
The series, named after the titular character, chronicles the adventures of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends
Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The
main story arc concerns Harry's quest to overcome the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who aims to become immortal,
conquer the wizarding world, subjugate non-magical people, and destroy all those who stand in his way, especially Harry
Potter.
Lone Wolf (Wolves of Beyond Series, #1)- Kathryn Lasky
In the harsh wilderness beyond the owl world of GaHoole, a wolf mother hides in hear. Her newborn pup, otherwise
healthy has a twisted paw. The mother knows the rigid rules of her kind. The pack cannot have weakness. Her pup
must be abandoned on the desolate hill- condemned to die. But alone in the forest, the pup, Faolan, does the
unthinkable. He survives. This is Faolan's story, the story of a courageous wolf pup who rose up to change forever the
wolves of the Beyond.
The Hobbit- JR Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely traveling any farther than his pantry or
cellar. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves arrive on his doorstep one
day to whisk him away on an adventure. They have launched a plot to raid the treasure hoard guarded by Smaug the
Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. Bilbo reluctantly joins their quest, unaware that on his journey to the
Lonely Mountain he will encounter both a magic ring and a frightening creature known as Gollum.
The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride #1) - James Patterson
Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the
members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can
fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when
Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were
experimented on by a crew of whack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but
soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf
"Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system,
Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and fatherfigure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?
Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle #1)- Christopher Paolini
Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy—until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed.
Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a
dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire.
Into the Wild (Warriors #1)- Erin Hunter
For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But
the warrior code is threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger
every day. Noble warriors are dying—and some deaths are more mysterious than others.
In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named Rusty . . . who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of
them all.
Dragon Rider- Cornelia Funke
Once again, master storyteller Cornelia Funke casts an enchanting spell, creating an exciting, heartwarming, and
ultimately triumphant tale about the power of belief and the true meaning of home. Firedrake, a young dragon, receives
a frightening warning one night: Humans are planning to destroy the valley in which he lives! All the dragons must flee
to the Rim of Heaven -- which may not even exist. Firedrake boldly volunteers to go ahead first. As he embarks on his
journey, he meets Ben, a runaway boy. Together, they make their way toward the Rim of Heaven, all the while running a
step ahead of Nettlebrand, an evil dragon hunter.
The City of Ember (Book of Ember #1) Jeanne DuPrau
The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the
city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she's sure it holds a secret that will save the
city. She and her friend Doon must decipher the message before the lights go out on Ember forever!
100 Cupboards Series Book 1- ND Wilson
Twelve-year-old Henry York wakes up one night to find bits of plaster in his hair. Two knobs have broken through the
wall above his bed and one of them is slowly turning….
Henry scrapes the plaster off the wall and discovers cupboards of all different sizes and shapes. Through one he can hear
the sound of falling rain. Through another he sees a glowing room — with a man pacing back and forth! Henry soon
understands that these are not just cupboards, but portals to other worlds.
Dragon Keeper Series- Caroline Wilkinson
When a slave girl named Ping helps the dragon, Danzi, to find his way to the Ocean they have many dangerous and
exciting adventures. Because there are evil people that want the dragon and his dragon stone, the pair must be careful
not to be trapped and killed. Will Ping and Danzi be able to find the freedom they are searching for?
Fablehaven- Brandon Mull
For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their
extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting?
Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite ...
Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated
woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and
jealous fairies.
However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge
of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears
most.
Gregor the Overlander- Susan Collins
When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland,
where spiders, rats, cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is
no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no
part of it until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor
embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.
Lightening Thief (Percy Jackson #1)- Rick Riordan
Classic Greek mythology is mixed with modern adventure in this brand-new, action-packed series. Twelve-year-old Percy
is always in trouble, and it doesn't help that he's started seeing monsters everywhere! Things become clearer when
Percy discovers he is the son of Poseidon, God of the Sea. Percy is sent to a summer camp on Long Island, but trouble
starts all over again when Percy is sent on a quest to prevent war on Mount Olympus.
The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1)- Rick Riordan
Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in
London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. One night, Dr.
Kane brings the siblings together for a research experiment at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right
for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee
for their lives.
Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them — Set — has his sights on the
Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe — a quest that brings them ever closer
to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.
Ella Enchanted (Gail Carson Levine)
At birth, Ella of Frell was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse,
for how can she truly be herself if at any time anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray
her kingdom — and she'll have to obey? Spunky Ella does not tamely accept her fate and embarks on a quest to break
this curse once and for all.
Ella's quest to break the curse and discover who she really is, is both funny and poignant.
Merchant of Death Pendragon Series (DJ MacHale)
Bobby Pendragon is a seemingly normal and somewhat reluctant fourteen-year-old boy who is swept into an amazing
five-year quest. He is pulled away from the comfort of his family and suburban home and catapulted into the middle of
an immense, interdimensional conflict. It's a journey of danger and discovery for Bobby. His success or failure will do
nothing less than decide the course of human existence.
Bobby will be continually launched into new and dangerous conflicts that he must help resolve with the support of his
fellow adventurers. Each unique mission is part of an overall quest, which will be revealed and resolved in the
breathtaking final chapter of the series.
Watership Down- Richard Adams
A phenomenal worldwide bestseller for over thirty years, Richard Adams's Watership Down is a timeless classic and one
of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of
adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and
the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native
Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and
a more perfect society.
Redwall- Brian Jaques
When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes,
Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will
help redwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy.
The Whipping Boy- Fleishcman
Jemmy, who once made a meager living catching rats in the sewers, is now living in the king's castle as the whipping boy
for Prince Horace, commonly known to the citizens of the kingdom as Prince Brat. Whenever the young prince
misbehaves or fails his lessons, Jemmy is punished in his place, for it is illegal to spank the heir to the throne.
When the prince decides to run away, he demands that Jemmy accompany him, so the two boys with nothing in
common run away together. Once in the woods, Jemmy and Prince Brat are captured by two scoundrels, Hold-YourNose Billy and Cutwater. The scoundrels plot to use Jemmy, whom they assume is royalty because he can write, as a
hostage to obtain ransom money and jewels from the king.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh- Robert O'Brein
When mouse widow Mrs. Frisby needs advice on how to move her children safely, she consults the rats who live under
the rosebush. Not only do they help her, they tell her of their escape from a laboratory where experimentation had
made them literate, and of the brave death of her husband.
Lion Witch and the Wardrobe- CS Lewis
Air-raids over London during WWII compel four siblings — Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy — to be sent away from the
city to the house of a kindly, but remote Professor "who lived in the heart of the country." There is much to discover in
the country: woods, mountains, owls, eagles, maybe even hawks and snakes. But the children will soon discover that the
Professor's large house, staffed by three servants, holds even more mystery. It is a house filled with unexpected places,
including a room which holds nothing but a large wardrobe, which Lucy opens one rainy day, never dreaming that the
wardrobe is a passageway into Narnia.
Dragon Song- Anne McCaffrey
Tuck Everlasting- Natalie Babbitt
Time drags by for Winnie Foster, an eleven-year-old girl who lives in a house bordering the woods owned by her family.
Winnie spends her summer days under the watchful eye of her grandmother. Most of the time it's too hot to be out in
the sun, and when Winnie does actually venture outside, she never goes beyond the fence of the yard. But one morning
she sneaks away into the woods and there she sees a young man drinking from a mysterious spring of water he uncovers
at the base of tree. The young man, Jesse Tuck, discovers Winnie watching him. So he kidnaps her.
Actually, the entire Tuck family Mae and Pa and Jesse's brother Miles kidnap Winnie. They have to keep the spring that
Winnie has seen a secret, because the strange water there makes anyone who drinks from it live forever. Long ago the
Tucks unknowingly drank from the spring, and now the four of them are over 500 years old. They have come to learn
that immortality is not a blessing but a curse.
The Golden Compass- Phillip Pullman
In a landmark epic of fantasy and storytelling, Philip Pullman invites readers into a world as convincing and thoroughly
realized as Narnia, Earthsea, or Redwall. Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among
the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle,
Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious
celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part
of an alternate universe.
He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her
uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, "nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of
the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title.
All around her children are disappearing — victims of so-called "Gobblers" — and being used as subjects in terrible
experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow,
both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.
Over Sea, Under Stone (Dark is Rising Series #1)- Susan Cooper
Barney, Simon and Jane find themselves beset by deadly dangers as they embark on a great quest. Having found a
crumbling parchment map, they begin their search for ancient treasure linked to King Arthur.
More precious than life itself, the treasure, found by the right people, would help keep at bay the ancient forces of evil
that were once again powerful in the world. They turn for help to their Great-Uncle Merry, who draws on his vast
knowledge of ancient lore to protect them.
Sabriel- Garth Nix
Ever since she was a tiny child, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the random power of
Free Magic, and away from the Dead who won't stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorsen, is missing, and to
find him Sabriel must cross back into the world.
Though her journey begins alone, she soon finds companions: Mogget, whose seemingly harmless feline form hides a
powerful-and perhaps malevolent-spirit, and Touchstone, a younger Charter Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free
in body but still trapped by painful memories.
With threats on all sides and only each other to trust, the three must travel deep into the Old Kingdom, toward a battle
that will pit them against the true forces of life and death-and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own hiddden destiny.
A tale of dark secrets, deep love, and dangerous magic, Sabriel introduces Garth Nix an exceptional new talent.
Since childhood, Sabriel has lived outside the walls of the Old Kingdom, away from the power of Free Magic, and away
from the Dead who refuse to stay dead. But now her father, the Mage Abhorson, is missing, and Sabriel must cross into
that world to find him. With Mogget, whose feline form hides a powerful, perhaps malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a
young Charter Mage, Sabriel travels deep into the Old Kingdom. There she confronts an evil that threatens much more
than her life -- and comes face to face with her own hidden destiny. . .
Cinder- Marissa Meyer
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a
ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. Cinder, a
gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed
for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds
herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty
and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
Leven Thumps- Obert Skye
Fourteen-year-old Leven Thumps (a.k.a. "Lev") lives a wretched life in Burnt Culvert, Oklahoma. But his life is about to
change and his destiny be fulfilled as he learns about a secret gateway that bridges two worlds: the real world and Foo, a
place created at the at the beginning of time in the folds of the mind that makes it possible for mankind to dream and
hope, aspire and imagine. But Foo is in chaos, and three transplants from that dreamworld have been sent to retrieve
Lev, who alone has the power to save Foo.
Enter Clover, a wisecracking, foot-high sidekick; winter, a girl with a special power of her own; and Geth, the rightful heir
to Foo. Their mission: to convince Lev that he has the power to save Foo. Can this unique band of travelers help Lev
overcome his doubt? Will Lev find the gateway in time? Or will Sabine and his dark shadows find the gateway first and
destroy mankind?
Magyk- Angie Sage
The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who
pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a
new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as
their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?
On her tenth birthday, Jenna Heap is taken from her family and hidden from DomDaniel, the evil soon-to-be Extra
Ordinary Wizard who wants to kill her. While in hiding, Jenna becomes friends with Boy 412, a former member of the
Youth Army. Together, they begin to uncover some long-hidden secrets that lead to a wonderful discovery — Septimus
Heap, the seventh son of a seventh son, lives!
Leviathan- Scott Westerfeld
It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have
their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated
animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.
Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His
title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.
Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in
constant danger of being discovered.
With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the
Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.
The Alchemyst- Michael Scott
The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the
greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in
1418.
But his tomb is empty.
The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of
eternal life is hidden within the book he protects— the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has
ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals
it. Humankind won't know what's happening until its too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are
the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.
Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest
legend of all time.
Gifts- Ursula LeGuin
Scattered among poor, desolate farms, the clans of the Uplands possess gifts. Wondrous gifts: the ability--with a glance,
a gesture, a word--to summon animals, bring forth fire, move the land. Fearsome gifts: They can twist a limb, chain a
mind, and inflict a wasting illness. The Uplanders live in constant fear that one family might unleash its gift against
another. Two young people, friends since childhood, decide "not" to use their gifts. One, a girl, refuses to bring animals
to their death in the hunt. The other, a boy, wears a blindfold lest his eyes and his anger kill.
In this beautifully crafted story, Ursula K. LeGuin writes of the proud cruelty of power, of how hard it is to grow up, and
of how much harder still it is to find, in the world's darkness, gifts of light.
Trickster's Choice (Daughter of the Lioness #1)- Tamora Pierce
A fast-paced and often humorous high-fantasy tale of a girl who runs away and winds up as the leader of a rebellion.
The True Meaning of Smekday- Adam Rex
If your Mom was abducted by aliens named Boov during a worldwide invasion what would you do? Twelve year old
Gratuity (Tip) Tucci, takes her cat named Pig, teams up with a rogue Boov named J. Lo (who by the way turns her car into
a hovercraft named Slushious )and together they travel to the Happy Mouse Kingdom in Florida to search for her Mom
and then on to Arizona to fight the invasion of the Gorg. Can Tip find her Mom and save the world? Can you read this
book without laughing out loud?
The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus Trilogy #1)- Jonathan Stroud
Nathaniel is a young magician's apprentice, taking his first lessons in the arts of magic. But when a devious hotshot
wizard named Simon Lovelace ruthlessly humiliates Nathaniel in front of everyone he knows, Nathaniel decides to kick
up his education a few notches and show Lovelace whose boss.
With revenge on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all: summoning the all-powerful djinni, Bartimaeus.
But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni
out to steal the powerful Amulet of Samarkand, Nathaniel finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage,
murder, blackmail, and revolt.