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STR
Spellbinder Series (age 9-12)
by Helen Stringer
adventure ... fantasy ... school ... spooky
Publisher comments: Belladonna Johnson can see ghosts. It's a trait she's inherited from her mother's side of the family, like blue eyes or straight hair. And it's a trait she could do without, because what twelve-year-old wants to be caught talking to someone invisible? It is convenient, though, after Belladonna's parents are killed in a car accident. They can live with her the same as always, watching the same old TV shows in their same old house. Nothing has changed . . . until everything changes. One night, with no warning, they vanish into thin air—along with every other ghost in the world. It's what some people think ghosts are supposed to do, but Belladonna knows it's all wrong. They may not be living, but they're not supposed to be gone. With the help of her classmate Steve, a master of sneaking and spying, Belladonna is left to uncover what's become of the spirits and to navigate a whole world her parents have kept well-hidden. If she can't find her way, she’ll lose them again—this time for good.
title: Spellbinder
title: The Midnight Gate
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EXQ
The Exquisite Corpse Adventure (age 9-12)
by Exq
authorship ... humor ... adventure ... action ... fantasy
Publisher comments: Take twenty top kids' authors and illustrators. Give them free rein to take turns creating a zany progressive story. What could possibly happen next? It all starts with a train rushing through the night. . . . Well, actually, it starts when Jon Scieszka, former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, writes a cliff-hanger episode and passes it on to the next member of a cast of celebrated writers and illustrators, who continues the story and passes it on. And what happens between episodes one and twenty-seven? Think werewolves and mad scientists, a talking pig, plenty of explosions, a blue Star Wars lunchbox, two meatballs, a whole army of villains and varmints, and one just plain bad egg. Not to mention our heroes, eleven-year-old twins Nancy and Joe, raised in a circus, who must find the pieces of a Top-Secret Robot in order to rescue their parents before . . . tick, tick, tick!
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KIN
Luconeth (age 9-12)
by Naomi Kinsman
magic ... fantasy
Publisher comments: A young boy stares into a brilliant, blue sky, wondering if help is coming. Olivia May and Sara are certainly not what he's expecting. But when the girls stumble into Luconeth, he must decide. Can he trust them? Olivia May and Sara wonder what this mysterious place is like. To Sara, it's a dream come true, with brilliant blue skies, gleaming castles, and colorful butterflies. But Olivia May falls into the middle of her worst nightmare, a dark, rotting forest filled with horrifying monsters. Everywhere they turn, they uncover more questions. Who is the Inventor? What does his machine do? Who are the Magnificents and the Tillers? Most importantly, who sent the girls here, and why?
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CAS
Brass Monkeys (age 9-12)
by Terry Caszatt
fantasy ... school ... adventure ... action
Publisher comments: Bumbling, cowardly Eugene is forced to transfer to a new school in northern Michigan in the middle of the year, and in the middle of a blizzard. Eugene is used to weird things happening in his life, but this new place feels really bad. He has no idea how bad it s going to get until he meets his new English teacher, Ming the Merciless. To save his classmates from a fatal graduation from Ming's School of the Brass Monkeys, Eugene must deliver an unfinished book to a legendary teacher named McGinty, who is hiding in the underworld. With the help of some renegade teachers and his new friends, he begins an epic journey to find McGinty. Will Eugene survive the Cliffs of Notes and the Sea of Hot Lunches? Will he reach McGinty in time to expose Ming's plot?
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CAR
Floors Series (age 9-12)
by Patrick Carman
mystery ... adventure ... fantasy
Publisher comments: Charlie had his chocolate factory. Stanley Yelnats had his holes. Leo has the wacky, amazing Whippet Hotel. The Whippet Hotel is a strange place full of strange and mysterious people. Each floor has its own quirks and secrets. Leo should know most of them - he is the maintenance man's son, after all. But a whole lot more mystery gets thrown his way when a series of cryptic boxes are left for him . . . boxes that lead him to hidden floors, strange puzzles, and unexpected alliances. Leo had better be quick on his feet, because the fate of the building he loves is at stake . . . and so is Leo's own future!
title: Floors
title: Below
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BES
Arthur and the Minimoys (age 9-12)
by Luc Besson
adventure ... action ... fantasy
Publisher comments: Deep underground, the Minimoys are waiting...for a champion. Arthur's grandfather disappeared four years ago. All he left behind are his notebooks full of stories about little-known African tribes — including the Minimoys, a miniature people who are all less than one inch tall. But the Minimoys can't possibly be real...can they? Arthur is about to find out, as he uncovers a hidden message that catapults him on an adventure wilder than he had ever imagined. In just three days, he must find a way to the land of the Minimoys, recover a stolen treasure, battle an invading force of mosquito-riding warriors, defeat an evil wizard, win the heart of a very independent princess — and somehow get back home again. It seems like an impossible task, but as he'll discover along the way, sometimes the littlest heroes can make the biggest difference.
sequel: Arthur and the Forbidden City
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WES
The Books of Elsewhere Series (age 9-12)
by Jacqueline West
adventure ... spooky ... fantasy
Publisher comments: When eleven-year-old Olive moves into a crumbling Victorian mansion with her parents, she knows there's something strange about the house - especially the odd antique paintings covering the walls. And when she puts on a pair of old spectacles, she discovers the strangest thing yet: She can travel inside the paintings, to a spooky world that's full of dark shadows. Add to that three talking cats, who live in the house and seem to be keeping secrets of their own, and Olive soon finds herself confronting a dark and dangerous power that wants to get rid of her by any means necessary. It's up to Olive to save the house from the dark shadows, before the lights go out for good.
title: The Shadows
title: Spellbound
title: The Second Spy
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PAT
The Flint Heart: a Fairy Story (age 9-12)
by John Paterson
adventure ... magic ... fantasy
Publisher comments: An ambitious Stone Age man demands a talisman that will harden his heart, allowing him to take control of his tribe. Against his better judgment, the tribe's magic man creates the Flint Heart, but the cruelty of it causes the destruction of the tribe. Thousands of years later, the talisman reemerges to corrupt a kindly farmer, an innocent fairy creature, and a familial badger. Can Charles and his sister Unity, who have consulted with fairies such as the mysterious Zagabog, wisest creature in the universe, find a way to rescue humans, fairies, and animals alike from the dark influence of the Flint Heart?
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MCM
The Unwanteds Series (age 9-12)
by Lisa McMann
adventure ... science fiction ... fantasy
Publisher comments: Quill prevails when the strong survive. Using this notion as the core of their society, the people of Quill partake in a yearly ceremony, wherein children at the age of thirteen are divided into three categories--the Wanteds, the Necessaries, and the Unwanteds. Wanted children will move on to schooling and training to join the Quillitary and fufill their roles in maintaining an efficient life for all, while Necessaries will take on farm work and similar duties. Any child who has shown a propensity toward emotion or creativity is deemed Unwanted, and sent for elimination. Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret--behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime, where every Unwanted child has been welcomed by a man named Mr. Today. Artime is a special place full of art, music, theater, and magic, where each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation. But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.
title: The Unwanteds
title: Island of Silence
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MEL
Wildwood (age 9-12)
by Colin Meloy
adventure ... fantasy
Pubisher comments: Prue McKeel's life is ordinary. At least until her baby brother is abducted by a murder of crows. And then things get really weird. You see, on every map of Portland, Oregon, there is a big splotch of green on the edge of the city labeled "I.W." This stands for "Impassable Wilderness." No one's ever gone in — or at least returned to tell of it. And this is where the crows take her brother. So begins an adventure that will take Prue and her friend Curtis deep into the Impassable Wilderness. There they uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval, a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much bigger as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness. A wilderness the locals call Wildwood.
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KIM
Crossing Over (age 9-12)
by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
magic ... fantasy ... identity ... spooky
Catalog: Feeling more comfortable with her developing skills as a medium, eight-grader Kat looks forward to the class trip to Montreal but once there she finds herself confronted by a cast of all new ghosts and a host of other problems.
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SNY
Season of Ponies (age 9-12)
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
magic ... fantasy ... animals
Catalog: Pamela found living with two old aunts dreadful until the moment a boy moved out of the mist with a flute and a herd of weirdly beautiful ponies.
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VAN
A Hidden Magic (age 9-12)
by Vivian Vande Velde
humor ... fantasy ... adventure ... princesses
Publisher comments: Once upon a time there was a very nice but very plain princess named Jennifer, who, following proper fairy-tale protocol, fell for a very handsome but very conceited prince named Alexander. When Alexander offends a powerful witch, it falls to Jennifer to save him. In the course of doing so, she meets a wizard and soon wonders if shes such a proper fairy-tale princess after all--a good little princess would love Alexander, but does she?
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LEV
The Wish (age 9-12)
by Gail Carson Levine
friendship ... fantasy ... school
Publisher comments: Wilma Sturtz is invisible and miserable at school. So when an old lady on the subway offers her a wish, Wilma immediately asks for popularity — in fact, she asks to be the most popular kid at school. Suddenly, Wilma has more friends than she can keep track of, forty dates to the Grad Night Dance, and a secret admirer writing her love poems. Everything is great, until she realizes there's a loophole in her wish, and her time in the spotlight has almost run out.
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SNY
The Truth About Stone Hollow (age 9-12)
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
spooky ... fantasy
Catalog: The new boy at school introduces Amy to the secrets of Stone Hollow where the circles of time converge.
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WOO
Dear Napoleon, I Know You're Dead, But... (age 9-12)
by Elvira Woodruff
fantasy ... letters/journal ... spooky
Catalog: Marty receives a surprising reply when he writes a letter describing his spirited but sick grandfather to Napoleon Bonaparte.
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HIL
A Neckace of Fallen Stars (age 9-12)
by Beth Hilgartner
fantasy ... magic ... folklore ... authorship
When Kaela, youngest daughter of the King of Visin, defies her father and runs away, the king sends a Fytrian wizard to bring her home. Storytelling is Kaela's gift, and allows her to cling to her freedom even as she is pursued.
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ALC
The Monster Garden (age 9-12)
by Vivien Alcock
animals ... fantasy ... science fiction
Frankie isn't exactly sure what her scientist dad does in his top-secret laboratory, but her neighbors tease her that it must be something awful ... like developing germ warfare. So when Frankie's older brother steals a bit of mysterious goo from their father's lab, she makes sure she gets some to conduct her own experiment. But Frankie never could have anticipated the results...
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BAB
The Eyes of the Amaryllis (age 9-12)
by Natalie Babbitt
fantasy ... spooky ... adventure
When the brig Amaryllis was swallowed in a hurricane, the captain and all the crew were swallowed, too. For thirty years the captain's widow, Geneva Reade, has waited, certain that her husband will send her a message from the bottom of the sea. But someone else is waiting, too, and watching her, a man called Seward. Into this haunted situation comes Jenny, the widow's granddaughter. The three of them, Gran, Jenny, and Seward, are drawn into a kind of deadly game with one another and with the sea, a game that only the sea knows how to win.
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BAR
Peter Pan (age 9-12)
by J. M. Barrie
fantasy ... adventure
Welcome to Neverland! For three lucky children living in London, nothing could seem better than a faraway world where you were free to play all day. In this magical world, there would be no school. And no parents to tell you to brush your teeth. Or to sit up straight, or to eat your vegetables. Best of all, in this make-believe world no one would ever grow up. Children would remain children forever. As Wendy, John, and Michael and are about to discover, this faraway land is not so very far away after all. In fact, it is but a short dream away. On a world within a cloud called Neverland. It truly is a dream come true! But no dream lasts forever. Every child has to grow up eventually. Unless, of course, that child is named Peter Pan.
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WES
Zorgamazoo (age 9-12)
by Robert Paul Weston
adventure ... fantasy ... poetry
Publisher comments: Are You a Believer in Fanciful Things? In Pirates and Dragons and Creatures and Kings? Then sit yourself down in a comfortable seat, with maybe some cocoa and something to eat, and I'll spin you the tale of Katrina Katrell, a girl full of courage (and daring, as well ), who down in the subway, under the ground, saw something fantastical roaming around . . . What was it she saw? I'd rather not say. (Who's ever heard of a Zorgle, anyway?) But if you are curious, clever and brave, if intrepid adventure is something you crave, then open this book and I'll leave it to you to uncover the secret of ZORGAMAZOO.
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APP
The Poisons of Caux Series (age 9-12)
by Susannah Appelbaum
humor ... adventure ... action ... friendship ... fantasy
Publisher comments: There's little joy left in the kingdom of Caux: the evil King Nightshade rules with terrible tyranny and the law of the land is poison or be poisoned. Worse, eleven-year-old Ivy's uncle, a famous healer, has disappeared, and Ivy sets out to find him, joined by a young taster named Rowan. But these are corrupt times, and the children, enemies of the realm, are not alone. What exactly do Ivy and Rowan's pursuers want? Is it Ivy's prized red bettle, which, unlike any other gemstone in Caux, appears impossibly to be hollow? Is it the elixir she concocted, the one with the mysterious healing powers? Or could it be Ivy herself? Told with wry humor, The Hollow Bettle is the first installment in the Poisons of Caux trilogy, an astonishing tale of herbs and magic, tasters and poisoners.
title: The Hollow Bettle
title: The Tasters Guild
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SAN
The Ink Drinker (age 9-12)
by Eric Sanvoisin
fantasy ... spooky
Publisher comments: This young boy cannot think of a worse way to spend his summer: he has to help his Dad out with his bookstore, and he absolutely hates to read! His job is to watch the store for shoplifters, but things take a twisted turn when he spies a pale character who seems to float through the aisles of the store. But this stranger is not trying to steal books--he is drinking the words out of them with a straw! So the boy goes on a chase to find out what this fellow is all about and they both wind up in a cemetery, where the boy discovers a taste for something much more filling than ink!
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LES
Fern Verdant and the Silver Rose (age 9-12)
by Diana Leszczynski
family ... fantasy ... humor ... mystery
Publisher comments: Fern wishes she had normal parents and a normal name. Instead, she has eccentric botanist parents who named her Fern, after her father's favorite plant. Lily, Fern's mother, assures her one day she'll understand their love of plants, but Fern can't believe it. She hates plants and could do with less of them in her life. Then Lily disappears suddenly while attending to a mysterious and rare Silver Rose. Fern and her dad are heartbroken, but have no idea what could have happened, until one day, Fern learns she has a one-of-a-kind talent: she can communicate with plants, and so could her mother! Using her newfound skill, she learns that her mother is in terrible danger, and she is the only one who can save her. With a little help from her friends, the plants . . .
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PRI
The Magic Thief (age 9-12)
by Sarah Prineas
adventure ... fantasy ... magic
Publisher comments: In a city that runs on a dwindling supply of magic, a young boy is drawn into a life of wizardry and adventure. Conn should have dropped dead the day he picked Nevery's pocket and touched the wizard's locus magicalicus, a stone used to focus magic and work spells. But for some reason he did not. Nevery finds that interesting, and he takes Conn as his apprentice on the provision that the boy find a locus stone of his own. But Conn has little time to search for his stone between wizard lessons and helping Nevery discover who--or what--is stealing the city of Wellmet's magic.
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IBB
Monster Mission (age 9-12)
by Eva Ibbotson
adventure ... fantasy
Catalog: As they get older, three sisters decide that they must kidnap children and bring them to their secluded island home to help with the work of caring for an assortment of unusual sea creatures.
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MOL
The Book of Lies (age 9-12)
by James Moloney
adventure ... fantasy ... identity
Publisher comments: The newest boy at Mrs. Timmins's Home for Orphans and Foundlings awakes at first light with no name and no memory. But a strange girl who hides among the shadows of the orphanage tells him that a mysterious wizard's creation, the Book of Lies, holds the answers, and then gives him one clue: "Your name is Marcel." With that knowledge, and the help of three new friends, Marcel begins a quest to find the truth about his real identity, a truth that is hidden in the Book of Lies. As Marcel learns more about his past, he realizes that truth can change at any moment and can be manipulated by anyone, and he begins to wonder if the old book's so-called magical truth might be the greatest lie of all.
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WRE
Book of Enchantments (age 9-12)
by Patricia Wrede
princesses ... magic ... fantasy ... short stories
Ten stories of wizards, princesses, unicorns, enchanted roses, and other people and things that exist in the realm of magic.
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BUR
Sara Crewe: Or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's (age 9-12)
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
growing up ... friendship ... fantasy
When she is orphaned, the star pupil of Miss Minchin's boarding school in London becomes a penniless, friendless ward of the cruel Miss Minchin.
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LEV
The Magic Hat of Mortimer Wintergreen (age 9-12)
by Myron Levoy
humor ... voyages/journeys ... magic ... fantasy ... adventure
In 1893, thirteen-year-old Joshua and his eleven-year-old sister, Amy, travel from South Dakota to New York City with the help of the mysterious Mortimer Wintergreen and his unpredictable magic hat.
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LOF
The Story of Doctor Dolittle: Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astonishing Adventures in Foreign Parts Never Before Printed (age 9-12)
by Hugh Lofting
fantasy ... animals
The adventures of a kind-hearted doctor, who is fond of animals and understands their language, as he travels to Africa with some of his favorite pets to cure the monkeys of a terrible sickness.
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MCG
The Magician's Apprentice Series (age 9-12)
by Tom McGowen
magic ... fantasy
A young pickpocket becomes apprenticed to a magician who opens a whole new world for the boy, not only of magic and healing, but of kindness and adventure. Together they seek knowledge lost since the Age of Magic thousands of years before.
title: The Magician's Apprentice
title: The Magician's Company
title: The Magician's Challenge
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DOW
Hatching Magic (age 9-12)
by Ann Downer
adventure ... fantasy
Poor Theodora Oglethorpe! Her biologist father has gone off to explore the jungles of Laos without her, her best friends are away on vacation, and a long, hot, lonely Boston summer is all she has to look forward to. Poor Gideon! Wycca, his pet wyvern, has disappeared through a magic hole in time in search of a place to lay her egg. Kobold, Gideon's wizard rival, wants nothing more than to get his hands on Wycca. In a desperate attempt to rescue Wycca from Kobold's evil clutches, Gideon follows her through the magic hole and finds himself transported from thirteenth-century England to the terrifyingly modern world of Boston, Massachusetts, in the twenty-first century. Soon Theodora's involved with a chocoholic baby wyvern, a mysterious wyvern playing card, a couple of desperate wizards, and the summer vacation of her life!
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RUB
Children of the Seventh Prophecy (age 9-12)
by Amy Kateman Rubin
adventure ... fantasy
Klig, the troll prince, enlists Alice and Bernard to help fight the dark forces which are attempting to bring about the fulfillment of the Seventh Prophecy.
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VEL
Isabel of the Whales (age 9-12)
by Hester Velmans
nature ... fantasy ... animals
Eleven-year-old Isabel is a "plain old" girl living in Provincetown, Massachusetts, who believes that she is destined to accomplish something special. When her fifth-grade class goes on a whale-watch field trip, something amazing happens: Dozens of different species of whales surround the boat, bumping the deck and sending Isabel flying into the ocean. Isabel is shocked to hear the whales speaking to her. She is a mermaid, they tell her, a "Chosen One" who has the ability to turn from a human into a whale and back again. She is destined to live among the whales long enough to learn their ways, and teach them about the human world. Living among her pod is fun, at first, but Isabel has an important mission. She will change the whales' future forever, and learn a lot about herself in the process.
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TAY
Faeries of Dreamdark (age 9-12)
by Laini Taylor
adventure ... action ... fantasy ... magic
When the ancient evil of the Blackbringer rises to unmake the world, only one determined faerie stands in its way. However, Magpie Windwitch, granddaughter of the West Wind, is not like other faeries. While her kind live in seclusion deep in the forests of Dreamdark, shes devoted her life to tracking down and recapturing devils escaped from their ancient bottles, just as her hero, the legendary Bellatrix, did 25,000 years ago. With her faithful gang of crows, she travels the world fighting where others would choose to flee. But when a devil escapes from a bottle sealed by the ancient Djinn King himself the creator of the worldshe may be in over her head. How can a single faerie, even with the help of her friends, hope to defeat the impenetrable darkness of the Blackbringer?
title: Blackbringer
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SNO
The Ratbridge Chronicles (age 9-12)
by Alan Snow
humor ... fantasy ... magic
Welcome to Ratbridge. But beware, for there is skulduggery afoot. Young Arthur has fallen foul of the appalling outlaw, Snatcher, and is trapped alone in the town with every way home sealed. Meanwhile Snatcher and his men are working tirelessly in secret on a fiendish and dastardly plan to take over, and destroy, the entire town. With the help of Willbury Nibble, QC; some friendly boxtrolls and cabbageheads; Marjorie the frustrated inventor; and the rats and pirates from the Ratbridge Nautical Laundry, can Arthur thwart Snatcher's evil plans, and find his way home?
title: Here Be Monsters! An Adventure Involving Magic Trolls and Other Creatures
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POT
Olivia Kidney Series (age 9-12)
by Ellen Potter
growing up ... fantasy ... humor
Olivia Kidney's new apartment building is crazy! Talking lizards crawling everywhere. A tropical rainforest growing in 7B. Even an apartment made entirely of glass! Maybe her father will get fired from his job as the building super, and they can leave. But Olivia is tired of moving from place to place, from school to school. What she wouldn't give for a little slice of sanity. And maybe a friend to share it with. This remarkable debut novel is quirky, magical, and completely genuine. Ellen Potter offers us a world where even the oddest of characters feel right at home. Olivia Kidney has all the makings of a classic.
title: Olivia Kidney
title: Olivia Kidney and the Exit Academy
title: Olivia Kidney and the Secret Beneath the City
title: Olivia Kidney Stops for No One
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PEC
The Drift House Chronicles (age 9-12)
by Dale Peck
adventure ... fantasy
In the tradition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and A Wrinkle in Time comes the first book in an exciting fantasy series about three siblings' adventures on the high sea: the Sea of Time, that is. After 9/11, Susan and her younger brothers, Charles and Murray, are sent to live with their uncle Farley in Canada. Uncle Farley's house looks like a ship perched at the edge of the sea, but it's not until a great flood comes that the house's name, Drift House, starts to make sense. Floating aimlessly on the Sea of Time, the ship-like house begins to yield its many secrets, including a mural that seems to predict the future, a dumbwaiter that enables Murray to travel into the future and back again, and a parrot historian who's also a gifted translator. But when a clan of diabolical mermaids trick the children and their uncle into helping them carry out a plan that will stop time forever, it will take all of Susan's ingenuity, along with some help from a great whale, a band of pirates, and a magic carpet, to set things straight.
title: Drift House: the First Voyage
title: The Lost Cities: a Drift House Voyage
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BAC
The Ulysses Moore Series (age 9-12)
by Pierdomenico Baccalario
action ... fantasy ... mystery
Eleven-year-old twins Jason and Julia have just moved from London to an old mansion on the English coast. Their new home is filled with twisting tunnels and strange artifacts from around the world, and the twins can't wait to discover all its secrets. Before long, Jason, Julia, and their friend Rick stumble upon a mysterious-looking door hidden behind an old wardrobe. But none of the keys in the house will open it. What lies behind the door? And why has someone tried to conceal it? Jason, Julia, and Rick are determined to find out, no matter what it takes....
title: The Door to Time
title: The House of Mirrors
title: The Isle of Masks
title: The Long-Lost Map
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MOO
The Ulysses Moore Series (age 9-12)
by Ulysses Moore
action ... fantasy ... mystery
Eleven-year-old twins Jason and Julia have just moved from London to an old mansion on the English coast. Their new home is filled with twisting tunnels and strange artifacts from around the world, and the twins can't wait to discover all its secrets. Before long, Jason, Julia, and their friend Rick stumble upon a mysterious-looking door hidden behind an old wardrobe. But none of the keys in the house will open it. What lies behind the door? And why has someone tried to conceal it? Jason, Julia, and Rick are determined to find out, no matter what it takes....
title: The Door to Time
title: The House of Mirrors
title: The Long-Lost Map
title: The Isle of Masks
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LAF
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos (age 9-12)
by R. L. LaFevers
mystery ... magic ... fantasy ... adventure
Theodosia Throckmorton has her hands full at the Museum of Legends and Antiquities in London. Her father may be head curator, but it is Theo (and only Theo) who is able to see all the black magic and ancient curses that still cling to the artifacts in the museum. When Theo's mother returns from her latest archaeological dig bearing the Heart of Egypt (a legendary amulet belonging to an ancient tomb) Theo learns that it comes inscribed with a curse so black and vile that it threatens to crumble the British Empire from within and start a war too terrible to imagine. Intent on returning the malevolent artifact to its rightful place, Theo devises a daring plan to put things right. But even with the help of her younger brother, a wily street urchin, and the secret society known as the Brotherhood of the Chosen Keepers, it won't be easy . . . she quickly finds herself pursued down dark alleys, across an ocean, through the bustling crowds of Cairo, and straight into the heart of an ancient mystery. Theo will have to call upon everything she's ever learned in order to prevent the rising chaos from destroying her country, and herself!
sequel: Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris
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HEL
Horns and Wrinkles (age 9-12)
by Joseph Helgerson
adventure ... humor ... fantasy
How can you tell if a river's under a spell? River trolls, rock trolls, blue-wing fairies--the usual suspects--the stretch of the Mississippi where Claire lives has rumors of them all, not that she's ever spotted any. But then Claire's cousin Duke takes a swim and sprouts a horn--a long, pointy, handsome thing. After that, Claire doesn't have much choice but to believe that something rivery is going on, especially since she's the only one who can help Duke lose his new addition. In the tradition of grand river adventures, Joseph Helgerson's tale is as twisty and unpredictable as the Mississippi River itself, while an unusual cast of characters adds pepper to the pot. Readers of all ages will enjoy getting in--and out of--trouble with Claire and Duke in this nimble, sharp, and funny fantasy.
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FUN
Igrain La Valiente (age 9-12)
by Cornelia Funke
princesses ... knights/castles/dragons ... adventure ... fantasy ... magic
Princess Igraine dreams of becoming a famous knight just like her great grandfather, but the truth is, life at the family castle is rather boring. Until the nephew of the baroness-next-door shows up. He's got a dastardly plan to capture the castle and claim as his own the wonderful singing spell books that belong to Igraine's magician parents. To make matters worse, at the very moment of the siege, her mom and dad botch a spell, turning themselves into pigs! Aided by a Gentle Giant and a Sorrowful Knight, it's up to Igraine to be brave and save the day--and the books!
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FUN
Igraine the Brave (age 9-12)
by Cornelia Funke
princesses ... knights/castles/dragons ... adventure ... fantasy ... magic
Princess Igraine dreams of becoming a famous knight just like her great grandfather, but the truth is, life at the family castle is rather boring. Until the nephew of the baroness-next-door shows up. He's got a dastardly plan to capture the castle and claim as his own the wonderful singing spell books that belong to Igraine's magician parents. To make matters worse, at the very moment of the siege, her mom and dad botch a spell, turning themselves into pigs! Aided by a Gentle Giant and a Sorrowful Knight, it's up to Igraine to be brave and save the day--and the books!
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FLA
The Ranger's Apprentice Series (age 9-12)
by John Flanagan
fantasy ... adventure ... action
He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't realize yet is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied....
title: The Ruins of Gorlan
title: The Burning Bridge
title: The Icebound Land
title: The Battle For Skandia
title: The Sorcerer of the North
title: The Siege of Macindaw
title: Erak's Ransom
title: The Kings of Clonmel
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CAR
Witch-cat (age 9-12)
by Joan Davenport Carris
fantasy ... identity ... magic
A down-to-earth girl is made to see that she is a witch through the efforts of a magical cat.
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BUC
The Sisters Grimm Series (age 9-12)
by Michael Buckley
fantasy ... folklore ... humor ... mystery
In the tradition of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events and The Spiderwick Chronicles comes a new humorous mystery of fantastic circumstances. The Sisters Grimm Book One: The Fairy Tale Detectives introduces us to two orphaned sisters, Sabrina and Daphne, who are sent to live with their mysterious grandmother, Relda Grimm. Grandmother Grimm lives in a strange town in New York State, known for it's extraordinary number of unexplained and unusual crimes. As soon as the sisters arrive, they begin to unravel a mystery that leads to their ancestors' magical beginnings. Sabrina and Daphne learn they are descendants of the Brothers Grimm, who were actually detectives of the magical phenomenon perpetrated by the Everafters, a parallel race of magical beings. They soon discover it is the Grimm family's legacy to keep the Everafters in line and the two sisters are the sole heirs to this challenge!
title: The Fairy-Tale Detectives
title: The Unusual Suspects
title: The Problem Child
title: Once Upon a Crime
title: Magic and Other Misdemeanors
title: Tales From the Hood
title: The Everafter War
title: The Inside Story
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BAC
Ulysses Moore Series (age 9-12)
by Pierdome Baccalario
action ... adventure ... fantasy ... mystery
Eleven-year-old twins Jason and Julia have just moved from London to an old mansion on the English coast. Their new home is filled with twisting tunnels and strange artifacts from around the world, and the twins can't wait to discover all its secrets. Before long, Jason, Julia, and their friend Rick stumble upon a mysterious-looking door hidden behind an old wardrobe. But none of the keys in the house will open it. What lies behind the door? And why has someone tried to conceal it? Jason, Julia, and Rick are determined to find out, no matter what it takes....
title: The Door To Time
title: The Long-Lost Map
title: The House of Mirrors
title: The Isle of Masks
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PEC
The Dreadful Future of Blossom Culp (age 9-12)
by Richard Peck
fantasy ... school ... friendship ... spooky
Blossom, not the most popular member of her freshman class in 1914, travels ahead seventy years, and returns in time to make Halloween a memorable night for her classmates and teachers.
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PEC
Ghosts I Have Been (age 9-12)
by Richard Peck
school ... fantasy ... friendship ... spooky
Blossom Culp is the outspoken outcast of Bluff City, always getting into trouble. No one wants to cross her, especially now that she's revealed that she can see the Unseen. Then Blossom herself is stunned, because her lie turns out to be truth. She actually does have second sight . . . and she is "on board" the sinking Titanic.
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LOF
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle (age 9-12)
by Hugh Lofting
animals ... adventure ... fantasy
When his colleague Long Arrow disappears, Dr. Dolittle sets off with his assistant, Tommy Stubbins, his dog, Jip, and Polynesia the parrot on an adventurous voyage over tropical seas to floating Spidermonkey Island.
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LIS
Afternoon of the Elves (age 9-12)
by Janet Taylor Lisle
fantasy ... friendship
As Hillary works in the miniature village, allegedly built by elves, in Sara-Kate's backyard, she becomes more and more curious about Sara-Kate's real life inside her big, gloomy house with her mysterious, silent mother.
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KIR
The Pagemaster (age 9-12)
by David Kirschner
authorship ... fantasy
A young boy finds shelter in a library, where to his peril, stories in the books come alive.
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GLO
Outside the Gates (age 9-12)
by Molly Gloss
fantasy
Vren, exiled into the dark forest outside the Gates, finds a new life with a friendly weather-worker, until their gentle existence is disrupted by a spellbinder misusing his power.
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DEM
The Last Dragon (age 9-12)
by Silvana DeMari
knights/castles/dragons ... humor ... fantasy
In a postapocalyptic world, shrouded in darkness and continually lashed by rain, a young elf named Yorsh struggles to survive. When his village is destroyed by the torrential waters, Yorsh finds himself suddenly orphaned and alone ... the earth's last elf. But soon Yorsh discovers he is part of a powerful prophecy: When the last dragon and the last elf break the circle, the past and the future will meet, and the sun of a new summer will shine in the sky. Now Yorsh must decipher the prophecy and find the last dragon ... it is the only way to end the rains and to save the world from the Dark Age that has begun. Full of great tenderness and humor, this magical journey tells the story of a world now plagued by intolerance and wickedness, and the elf and the dragon who will fight for its redemption.
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DUN
Gullivers Travels (age 9-12)
by James Dunbar
adventure ... fantasy
The voyages of an eighteenth-century Englishman carry him to such strange places as Lilliput, where people are six inches tall, and Brobdingnag, a land peopled by giants. Special adaptation of Jonathan Swift's classic novel for elementary school students
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JOH
Thora and the Green Sea-Unicorn: a Half-Mermaid Tale (age 9-12)
by Jillian Johnson
fantasy ... adventure ... humor
When an attempt to steal Shirley, a rare sea-unicorn, results in the sinking of their houseboat, ten-year-old Thora, her mermaid mother, and Mr. Walters stay at the estate of old friends and find a solution to the friends' financial troubles, but the would-be thief is still on their trail.
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JOH
Thora (age 9-12)
by Gillian Johnson
fantasy ... adventure ... humor
Ten-year-old Thora, daughter of a mermaid mother and a human father, has many adventures at sea until she must return to the English seaside town of Grimli and save her mother who has been captured by the greedy real estate developer, Frooty de Mare.
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LAN
The Diamond in the Window (age 9-12)
by Jane Langton
mystery ... fantasy
Eleanor and Eddy are searching for the lost children, Ned and Nora, who vanished from the old room at the top of the house without a trace. In the room, they find verses scratched on the window by Prince Krishna before he, too, disappeared. Now the verses become clues to guide them, but the search is long and mysterious, leading the children deep into dreams that turn into real-life nightmares.
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MCC
Peter Pan in Scarlet (age 9-12)
by Geraldine McCaughrean
fantasy ... adventure ... action
Peter Pan in Scarlet takes readers flying back to Neverland in an adventure filled with tension, danger, and swashbuckling derring-do!
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MCA
Mistmantle Chronicles (age 9-12)
by M.I. McAllister
fantasy ... adventure
The start of an exciting new trilogy, Urchin of the Riding Stars is an epic, Shakespearian story of murder, treachery and revenge set on the island of Mistmantle, a world of squirrels, otters, and moles.
title: Urchin of the Riding Stars
title: Urchin and the Heartstone
title: The Heir of Mistmantle
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NIM
The Magician Trilogy (age 9-12)
by Jenny Nimmo
family ... fantasy ... magic
On his ninth birthday Gwyn is given a brooch and told to cast it to the wind. What returns to him as a result is an amazing fantasy story about the fight between good and evil, sorrow and joy, friendship and betrayal.
title: The Snow Spider
title: Emlyn's Moon
title: The Chestnut Soldier
title: The Snow Spider Trilogy
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MAC
The Light Princess (age 9-12)
by George MacDonald
princesses ... magic ... fantasy ... folklore
The princess at her christening is cursed by a wicked witch with lightness. She floats blissfully about the castle all day long and, as one can imagine, gets into all sorts of adventures. Gravity, weight, sorrow, suffering ... all of this the princess misses, but with all of these she misses love, for what is love without weight, without falling?
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MCG
The Moorchild (age 9-12)
by Eloise McGraw
family ... identity ... fantasy
Half Moorfolk and half human, and unable to shape-shift or disappear at will, Moql threatens the safety of the Band. So the Folk banish her and send her to live among humans as a changeling. Named Saaski by the couple for whose real baby she was swapped, she grows up taunted and feared by the villagers for being different, and is comfortable only on the moor, playing strange music on her bagpipes. As Saaski grows up, memories from her forgotten past with the Folk slowly emerge. But so do emotions from her human side, and she begins to realize the terrible wrong the Folk have done to the humans she calls Da and Mumma. She is determined to restore their child to them, even if it means a dangerous return to the world that has already rejected her once.
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GRA
The Wind in the Willows (age 9-12)
by Kenneth Grahame
adventure ... fantasy
When Mole goes boating with the Water Rat instead of spring-cleaning, he discovers a new world. As well as the river and the Wild Wood, there is Toad's craze for fast travel, which leads him and his friends on a whirl of trains, barges, gipsy caravans and motor cars, and into a lot of trouble.
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COV
The Unicorn Chronicles (age 9-12)
by Bruce Coville
magic ... fantasy
This is the magical story of Cara, a girl sent on a mission by her grandmother to the land of the unicorns. Only Cara can protect the unicorns and their world from invasion.
title: Into the Land of the Unicorns
title: Song of the Wanderer
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SAG
Septimus Heap Series (age 9-12)
by Angie Sage
magic ... fantasy ... humor ... action
Septimus Heap, the seventh son of the seventh son, disappears the night he is born, pronounced dead by the midwife. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across an abandoned child in the snow ... a newborn girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take her 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?
title: Magyk
title: Flyte
title: Physik
title: Queste
title: Syren
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SPR
Tales of Rowan Hood Series (age 9-12)
by Nancy Springer
folklore ... adventure ... fantasy ... identity
Rosemary has nowhere to go when her beloved mother dies. She has never met her father--the outlaw Robin Hood. So she changes her name to Rowan, disguises herself as a boy, and make a perilous journey to Sherwood Forest in search of her lost father.
title: Rowan Hood: Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest
title: Lionclaw: a Tale of Rowan Hood
title: Outlaw Princess of Sherwood: a Tale of Rowan Hood
title: Rowan Hood Returns: the Final Chapter
title: Wild Boy: a Tale of Rowan Hood
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BRI
The Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree (age 9-12)
by Bill Brittain
enterprise ... fantasy ... magic
When a strange little man comes to the Coven Tree Church Social promising he can give people exactly what they ask for, three young believers-in-magic each make a wish that comes true in the most unexpected way.
sequel: Dr. Dredd's Wagon of Wonders
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VOR
The Troll King (age 9-12)
by John Vornholt
folklore ... fantasy ... magic
When a power-hungry sorcerer decides to bridge the Great Chasm and conquer the elves and fairies who live on the other side, he inadvertently enables a gentle troll to reach for a much nobler dream.
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TOL
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (age 9-12)
by J. R. R. Tolkien
fantasy ... voyages/journeys
Bilbo Baggins, a respectable, well-to-do hobbit, lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until the day the wandering wizard Gandalf chooses him to take part in an adventure from which he may never return.
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SHE
Thor's Hammer (age 9-12)
by Will Shetterly
adventure ... fantasy ... folklore
In 1876 San Francisco, three boys from very different backgrounds are rescued from drowning by a magical ship which takes them on a quest to Asgard, home of the Norse gods.
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SAI
The Little Prince (age 9-12)
by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
folklore ... voyages/journeys ... fantasy ... science fiction
A flier is forced to make a landing in the Sahara Desert where he meets a little prince from a distant asteroid, who describes for the pilot his strange adventures on various planets.
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HUT
The Prince of Tarn (age 9-12)
by Hazel Hutchins
authorship ... fantasy ... adventure
Fred can't believe the Prince is actually standing in his bedroom. Are his mom's stories becoming real? He tries to send the Prince back home to his magical kingdom of Tarn, but in the meantime the Prince barks orders at everyone, including Fred's teacher. It is only when Tarn is being destroyed that they find a way to get there--and in the process each boy finds that the other isn't so bad after all.
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COV
The Dragonslayers (age 9-12)
by Bruce Coville
princesses ... adventure ... fantasy ... knights/castles/dragons
A brave squire, an earnest page, and a strong-willed princess set out, each for individual reasons, to try to slay the dragon created to carry out a witch's revenge.
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CAR
The Land of Elyon Series (age 9-12)
by Patrick Carman
adventure ... magic ... voyages/journeys ... fantasy
Inquisitive twelve-year-old Alexa Daley is spending another summer in the walled town of Bridewell. This year, she is set on solving the mystery of what lies beyond the walls. Legend says the walls were built to keep out an unnamed evil that lurks in the forests and The Dark Hills. But what exactly is it that the townspeople are so afraid of? As Alexa begins to unravel the truth, pushing beyond the protective barrier she's lived behind all her life, she discovers a strange and ancient enchantment, and exposes a danger that could destroy everything she holds dear.
title: The Dark Hills Divide
title: Beyond the Valley of Thorns
title: The Tenth City
title: Into the Mist
title: Stargazer
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DAL
Whispering to Witches (age 9-12)
by Anna Dale
fantasy ... mystery
Joe is on a train to visit his mother for Christmas when he gets off at the wrong stop, and his life takes a very unexpected turn. With the help of a bewitched broomstick, he is whisked to the home of the Dead-nettle Coven of witches, where he befriends Twiggy, a young witch-in-training. Joe is quickly caught up in a dramatic plan to find a famous missing page from the greatest magic book in history. The witches of England are convinced that the page has fallen into the wrong hands and that if they don't find it soon, a terrible and destructive spell may be cast over the world. With a dash of adventure, a dollop of fun, and a pinch of magic, this book is a timeless charmer.
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ARM
Whittington (age 9-12)
by Alan Armstrong
authorship ... folklore ... family ... fantasy
Abby and Ben come to the barn every day to help feed the animals. Abby shares her worry that Ben can't really read yet and that he refuses to go to Special Ed. Whittington the cat and the Lady, the leader of the barnyard animals, decide that Abby should give Ben reading lessons in the barn. It is a balm for Ben when, having toughed out the daily lesson, Whittington comes to tell, in tantalizing installments, the story handed down to him from his nameless forebearer, Dick Whittington's cat: the legend of the lad born into poverty in rural England during the Black Death, who runs away to London to seek his fortune. This is an unforgettable tale about how learning to read saves one little boy. It is about the healing, transcendent power of storytelling and how, if you have loved ones surrounding you and good stories to tell, to listen to, and to read, you have just about everything of value in this world.
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COD
Diary of a Fairy Godmother (age 9-12)
by Esme Raji Codell
folklore ... fantasy
This sassy twist on fairy tales follows the story of Hunky Dory, whose interest in wishcraft instead of witchcraft gets her kicked out of charm school. Now she's determined to follow her heart and become a fairy godmother.
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KER
Children of the Lamp Series (age 9-12)
by P. B. Kerr
magic ... adventure ... fantasy
Meet John and Philippa Gaunt, twelve-year-old twins who one day discover themselves to be descended from a long line of djinn. All of a sudden, they have the power to grant wishes, travel to extraordinary places, and make people and objects disappear. Luckily, the twins are introduced to their eccentric djinn-uncle Nimrod, who will teach them how to harness their newfound power. And not a moment too soon, since John and Philippa are about to embark on a search to locate a monstrous pharaoh named Akhenaten and his eerie tomb.
title: The Akhenaten Adventure (Children of the Lamp)
title: The Blue Djinn of Babylon
title: The Cobra King of Kathmandu
title: The Day of the Djinn Warriors
title: The Eye of the Forest
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WYN
Some of the Kinder Planets (age 9-12)
by Tim Wynne-Jones
friendship ... science fiction ... fantasy ... humor ... short stories
Eight beautifully written short stories about a wide range of topics from contemporary life to ghosts and space aliens.
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WAU
The Mennyms Series (age 9-12)
by Sylvia Waugh
fantasy ... family
The Mennyms, a family of life-size rag dolls living in a house in England and pretending to be human, see their peaceful existence threatened when the house's owner announces he is coming from Australia for a visit.
title: The Mennyms
title: Mennyms Alone
title: Mennyms Under Siege
title: Mennyms in the Wilderness
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ROW
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (age 9-12)
by J. K. Rowling
fantasy ... animals ... magic
The definitive guide to the care and handling of mythical beasts, for all Harry Potter fans.
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ROW
Quidditch Through the Ages (age 9-12)
by J. K. Rowling
fantasy ... sports ... magic
The definitive guide to Quidditch, for all Harry Potter fans.
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ROW
The Harry Potter Series (age 9-12)
by J. K. Rowling
fantasy ... adventure ... family ... school ... magic
As the first book, Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal, opens, all Harry Potter knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley, a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry (and anyone who reads about him) will find unforgettable. Spanish translations.
title: Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal
title: Harry Potter y la Camara Secreta
title: Harry Potter y el Prisionero de Azkaban
title: Harry Potter y el Caliz de Fuego
title: Harry Potter y la Orden del Fenix
title: Harry Potter y el Misterio del Principe
title: Harry Potter y las Reliquias de la Muerte
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ROW
The Harry Potter Series (age 9-12)
by J. K. Rowling
fantasy ... adventure ... family ... school ... magic
As the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone opens, all Harry Potter knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley, a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry (and anyone who reads about him) will find unforgettable.
title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
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ROD
Dragons of Deltora Series (age 9-12)
by Emily Rodda
adventure ... fantasy ... knights/castles/dragons
In the first book of this series, Dragon's Nest, the evil Shadow Lord has been banished, but famine still stalks Deltora, and only monsters thrive. As the starving people weaken, Lief, Jasmine and Barda discover a terrible secret. The Enemy left the seeds of death behind him. Four vile creations of sorcery called the Four Sisters are hidden in the land. They are slowly killing it while the Shadow Lord gloats, awaiting his triumphant return. The companions must find the deadly Sisters and destroy them. Their only clue is a fragment of an ancient map. Their only hope of help lies with 7 unlikely allies - the last of Deltora's dragons.
title: Dragons Nest
title: Shadowgate
title: The Sister of the South
title: Isle of the Dead
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ROD
Deltora Shadowlands Series (age 9-12)
by Emily Rodda
adventure ... fantasy ... magic
In the first book of this series, Cavern of Fear, the Shadow Lord's evil tyranny over Deltora has ended. He and the creatures of his sorcery have been driven back across the mountains. But thousands of Deltorans are still enslaved in the Shadowlands, the Enemy's own terrifying and mysterious domain. To rescue them, Lief, Barda and Jasmine, heroes of the quest for the Belt of Deltora, must find a weapon powerful enough to combat the Shadow Lord's magic on his own ground. According to legend, the only thing the Shadow Lord fears is the fabled Pirran Pipe. But does the mysterious Pipe still exist?
title: Cavern of the Fear
title: The Isle of Illusion
title: The Shadowlands
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BAU
The Wizard of Oz Series (age 9-12)
by L. Frank Baum
princesses ... voyages/journeys ... friendship ... fantasy
They're off to read the Wizard--the original, imaginative American tale written by Frank L. Baum just over a century ago. All the beloved characters are here, along with the splendid Emerald City and the shoes with unparalleled power.
title: The Wizard of Oz
title: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
title: The Marvelous Land of Oz
title: Ozma of Oz
title: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
title: The Road to Oz
title: The Emerald City of Oz
title: The Patchwork Girl of Oz
title: Tik-tok of Oz
title: The Scarecrow of Oz
title: Rinkitink in Oz
title: The Lost Princess of Oz
title: The Tin Woodsman of Oz
title: The Magic of Oz
title: Glinda of Oz
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LAS
Legends of the Ga'hoole (age 9-12)
by Kathryn Lasky
action ... adventure ... fantasy
It is a time of Legends and a time of chaos. Warlords vie for power and marauding outlaws roam the land. Good King Hrath and his queen, Siv, noble Spotted Owls struggle to keep peace in their kingdom. Grank, noble Spotted Owl, friend and supporter of King Hrath, has exiled himself to Beyond the Beyond, where he has developed his firesight and learns how to work with embers, fire and how to forge metals. He is the First Collier. Deep in a volcano in the farthest reaches of Beyond the Beyond, he discovers a magical Ember but fears its awful powers will be misused and hides it again.
title: The First Collier
title: The Coming of Hoole
title: To Be a King
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LAS
Guardians of the Ga'hoole Series (age 9-12)
by Kathryn Lasky
adventure ... fantasy
In the first book in the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series The Capture, readers meet Soren, a barn owl who discovers a great evil in the owl kingdom which he must work to vanquish.
title: The Capture
title: The Journey
title: The Rescue
title: The Siege
title: The Shattering
title: The Burning
title: The Hatchling
title: The Outcast
title: The Golden Tree
title: The River of Wind
title: Exile
title: The War of Ember
title: A Guide Book to the Great Tree
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PEA
Tom's Midnight Garden (age 9-12)
by Philippa Pearce
magic ... fantasy
Tom is furious. His brother, Peter, has measles, so now Tom is being shipped off to stay with Aunt Gwen and Uncle Alan in their boring old apartment. There'll be nothing to do there and no one to play with. Tom just counts the days till he can return home to Peter. Then one night the landlady's antique grandfather clock strikes thirteen times leading Tom to a wonderful, magical discovery and marking the beginning of a secret that's almost too amazing to be true.
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YOL
Wizard's Hall (age 9-12)
by Jane Yolen
fantasy ... magic ... school
Poor Henry. It's not enough that his mother has sent him away from home to learn magic. It's not enough that everyone at his new school calls him Thornmallow because he's ``prickly on the outside, squishy within''. It's not enough that the only talent he shows at Wizard's Hall is an ability to make messes of even the simplest spells. He finds himself with more responsibility than he knows how to bear.
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WIN
The Castle in the Attic (age 9-12)
by Elizabeth Winthrop
magic ... knights/castles/dragons ... fantasy
A gift of a toy castle, complete with silver knight, introduces William to an adventure involving magic and a personal quest.
sequel: The Battle For the Castle
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NOR
The Borrowers Series (age 9-12)
by Mary Norton
fantasy ... adventure ... family
A family of tiny people live underneath the boards of an English home and ``borrow'' what they need.
title: The Borrowers
title: The Borrowers Afield
title: The Borrowers Afloat
title: The Borrowers Aloft
title: The Borrowers Avenged
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NOR
Bed-Knob and Broomstick (age 9-12)
by Mary Norton
magic ... fantasy
The Magic Bed-Knob and Bonfires and Broomsticks in one volume. These are the exploits of the three Wilson children; Miss Price, the apprentice witch; and the flying bed. A tale of a witch-in-training and trouble of the most unforgettable kind.
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NIM
Children of the Red King (Charlie Bone) Series (age 9-12)
by Jenny Nimmo
adventure ... fantasy ... school
This series chronicles Charlie's mysterious adventures at Bloor's Academy.
title: Midnight for Charlie Bone
title: Charlie Bone and the Beast
title: Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors
title: Charlie Bone and the Hidden King
title: Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy
title: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister
title: Charlie Bone and the Shadow
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NES
The Enchanted Castle (age 9-12)
by E. Nesbit
magic ... fantasy
Four English children find a wonderful world of magic through an enchanted wishing ring.
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MAZ
The Accidental Witch (age 9-12)
by Anne Mazer
magic ... fantasy ... friendship
Ten-year-old Phoebe is thrilled when she accidentally becomes a novice witch but soon wonders if she will ever develop and control her powers.
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LEW
The Chronicles of Narnia (age 9-12)
by C. S. Lewis
war ... family ... fantasy ... adventure
In the first book of this series, ``The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe'', Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. At first, no one believes her when she tells of her adventures in the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund and then Peter and Susan discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves. In the blink of an eye, their lives are changed forever.
title: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
title: The Magician's Nephew
title: The Horse and His Boy
title: Prince Caspian
title: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
title: The Silver Chair
title: The Last Battle
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LEV
Ella Enchanted (age 9-12)
by Gail Carson Levine
folklore ... fantasy
In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
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JAN
The Moomintroll Stories (age 9-12)
by Tove Jansson
humor ... fantasy ... adventure ... family
Adventures of the members of this family center around the Hobgoblin's tall black top hat and the Valley of the Moomins.
title: Finn Family Moomintroll
title: Tales From Moominvalley
title: Comet in Moominland
title: Moominland Midwinter
title: Moominpappa at Sea
title: Moominpapa's Memoirs
title: Moominsummer Madness
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IBB
Which Witch? (age 9-12)
by Eva Ibbotson
humor ... fantasy
When handsome Arriman the Awful announces a contest to choose his bride, every witch in town is a flutter because only the meanest witch in town will wed Arriman. Belladonna is dismayed because all she can conjure up are begonias and baby birds.
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IBB
The Secret of Platform 13 (age 9-12)
by Eva Ibbotson
adventure ... fantasy
A forgotten door on an abandoned railway platform is the entrance to a magical kingdom--an island where humans live happily with mermaids, ogres, and other wonderful creatures--and is only accessible for nine days every nine years. When the island's prince is captured, it's up to a strange band of rescuers to save him. But can they do it before the door closes for another nine years?
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IBB
Island of the Aunts (age 9-12)
by Eva Ibbotson
adventure ... fantasy
When the kindly old aunts decide that they need help caring for creatures who live on their hidden island, they know that adults can't be trusted. What they need are a few special children who can keep a secret; a secret as big as a magical island. And what better way to get children who can keep really big secrets, than to kidnap them! (After all, some children just plain need to be kidnapped.)
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FUN
Dragon Rider (age 9-12)
by Cornelia Funke
knights/castles/dragons ... fantasy
After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, Firedrake, a silver dragon, is joined by a brownie and an orphan boy in a quest to find the legendary valley known as the Rim of Heaven, encountering friendly and unfriendly creatures along the way, and struggling to evade the relentless pursuit of an old enemy.
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DEX
The Doll Who Knew the Future (age 9-12)
by Catherine Dexter
adventure ... fantasy
When they become the guardians of a talking doll that is actually the reincarnated Oracle of Delphi, three youngsters soon discover how difficult their task will be.
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CRE
The Watchers: a Mystery at Alton Towers (age 9-12)
by Helen Cresswell
mystery ... fantasy
Two runaway children hide out in a theme park and become enmeshed in an unearthly battle between the forces of good and evil.
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COL
Serie Infinita (age 9-12)
by Eoin Colfer
math/science/technology ... mystery ... adventure ... science fiction ... brilliant protagonist ... fantasy
Artemis Fowl, a charming but villainous twelve-year-old, takes on the dangerous world of the Fairy People in this unforgettable story. Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl opens up a riveting world of fantasy and mystery where anything, literally, is possible.
title: Artemis Fowl: El Cubo B
title: Artemis Fowl: Encuentro en el Artico
title: Artemis Fowl: La Venganza de Opal
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COL
Artemis Fowl Series (age 9-12)
by Eoin Colfer
math/science/technology ... mystery ... adventure ... science fiction ... brilliant protagonist ... adventure ... action ... fantasy
Artemis Fowl, a charming but villainous twelve-year-old, takes on the dangerous world of the Fairy People in this unforgettable story. Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl opens up a riveting world of fantasy and mystery where anything, literally, is possible.
title: Artemis Fowl
title: Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code
title: Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident
title: Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception
title: Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony
title: Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox
title: The Artemis Fowl Files
Dinotopia Series (age 9-12)
friendship ... fantasy
In the lush fantastical world of Dinotopia, dinosaurs and humans live harmoniously in a unique society with a culture, philosophy, and written language all its own. A storm at sea washes a young pickpocket and a surgeon's son overboard and they land in Dinotopia, where they learn the real meaning of courage and friendship.
title: Windchaser by Scott Ciencin F CIE
title: River Quest by John Vornholt F VOR
title: Hatchling by Midori Snyder F SNY
title: Lost City by Scott Ciencin F CIE
title: Sabertooth Mountain by John Vornholt F VOR
title: Thunder Falls by Scott Ciencin F CIE
title: Dolphin Watch by John Vornholt F VOR
title: The Maze by Peter David F DAV
title: Rescue Party by Mark Garland F GAR
title: Sky Dance by Scott Ciencin F CIE
title: Chomper by Donald Glut F GLU
title: Return to Lost City by Scott Ciencin F CIE
title: Survive! by Brad Strickland F STR
title: The Explorers by Scott Ciencin F CIE
title: Oasis by Catherine Hapka F HAP
title: Dinotopia: a Land Apart From Time by James Gurney F GUR
title: Dinotopia: the World Beneath by James Gurney F GUR
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BUR
The Secret Garden (age 9-12)
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
fantasy ... friendship
When Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire moors, she finds it full of secrets. At night, she hears the sound of crying down one of the long corridors. Outside, she meets a magical boy who can charm and talk to animals. Then, one day, Mary discovers the most mysterious wonder of all--a secret garden, walled and locked, which has been completely forgotten for years and years. Is everything in the garden dead, or can Mary bring it back to life?
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BUR
A Little Princess (age 9-12)
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
growing up ... friendship ... fantasy
A Little Princess tells the story of Ann, whose comfortable life as the daughter of a wealthy and loving father is destroyed when he goes missing. Though she faces many challenges, we find that her strength of character makes her special indeed.
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BOS
The Children of Green Knowe (age 9-12)
by L. M. Boston
spooky ... adventure ... fantasy
This is the first thrilling and chilling tale of Green Knowe, a haunted manor deep in an overgrown garden in the English countryside.
sequel: The River at Green Knowe
sequel: A Stranger at Green Knowe
sequel: An Enemy at Green Knowe
sequel: Treasure of Green Knowe
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BAB
Tuck Everlasting (age 9-12)
by Natalie Babbitt
adventure ... fantasy
The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older.

Sat Aug 25 11:55:25 2012
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