Middle Grade fantasy?

Exir · Aug 1, 2009

I would like some recommendations for good MG fantasy novels. I just realized my reading in that area is pitifully limited. I've read Harry Potter, The Giver, His Dark Material, and Percy Jackson... that's it.

Any recommendation would be appreciated. Doesn't matter, just throw them in, as long as you've enjoyed them. (If you can think of examples that isn't high-fantasy involving wars and elves and warriors and prophecies, and something more personal and closer to magical realism, that would be great.)

Thanks a lot.

Toothpaste · Aug 1, 2009

As ever . . . Toothpaste pops in for a little self promotion . . .

"Alex and the Ironic Gentleman", "Timothy and the Dragon's Gate" - magical realism

MsJudy · Aug 1, 2009

Suzanne Collins' GREGOR THE OVERLANDER series is really, really well-written, and takes on some deep themes by the end that relate to our "real" world.

My son is reading the first SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT book, SCEPTER OF THE ANCIENTS and loving it.

Older classic authors: Lloyd Alexander, Dianna Wynne Jones

I've only read one of Eva Ibbotson's books, but I enjoyed it

jjacobs · Aug 1, 2009

One of my favorite MG fantasy series is The Last Apprentice.

Eldritch · Aug 1, 2009

JSK beat me to it. I was going to recommend Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy. I really enjoyed this book. Loved the humor. I passed it on to my 14-year-old son and he loved it too.

Smish · Aug 1, 2009

Savvy, by Ingrid Law. It's an interesting mix of contemporary & "light" fantasy.

JoeEkaitis · Aug 1, 2009

You humble author's own. You can even read the first chapter free.

No wizards, no elf wars, not a single magic wand in sight. Just a griffin who ghostwrites novels and a dragon who paints murals.

And we thank you.

Canotila · Aug 1, 2009

The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer was awesome. It was the first book I ran out and bought in hard cover since Harry Potter. There is also the second one, The Land of Silver Apples. The third one comes out this October! (it's on my calender).

Garth Nix also wrote the Abhorsen trilogy, which is another favorite here. We also have all three in hard cover.

Keyan · Aug 1, 2009

As long as you're talking of Nancy Farmer - The Eye, The Ear and the Arm is brilliant.

MsJudy · Aug 2, 2009

Cornelia Funke's DRAGON RIDER is cute. Her INKHEART trilogy is great, but more YA.

Exir · Aug 2, 2009

Thanks for the really interesting replies! Looks like I have a long shopping list here...

That leads to the question: what makes a fantasy YA and not MG? For example, Inkheart, which I thought was MG. Was it because of the age of the protag, or the maturity involved?

Sorry for the elementary questions. I'm not very familiar with children's fantasy.

Tuuli · Aug 2, 2009

I also thought Inkheart and Inkspell were more MG than YA. Inkdeath seemed to lean more toward YA, and was promoted in the teen magazines like Seventeen.

Bufty · Aug 2, 2009

Brilliant, Joe. A beautifully written and entertaining read. Not a surplus word or sentence in sight. Wish I could do that.

JoeEkaitis said:
You humble author's own. You can even read the first chapter free.

No wizards, no elf wars, not a single magic wand in sight. Just a griffin who ghostwrites novels and a dragon who paints murals.

And we thank you.

mercs · Aug 2, 2009

That leads to the question: what makes a fantasy YA and not MG?

there's many cross over examples and debate over this, but it seems to be just the age of the main character. if they are under the age of 12, then it tends to be MG, if they are teen then it's probably YA...

JoeEkaitis · Aug 2, 2009

Bufty said:
Brilliant, Joe. A beautifully written and entertaining read. Not a surplus word or sentence in sight. Wish I could do that.

Why, thank 'e kindly, and I hope it made you want to read the other 17 chapters.

MsJudy · Aug 2, 2009

Exir said:
Thanks for the really interesting replies! Looks like I have a long shopping list here...

That leads to the question: what makes a fantasy YA and not MG? For example, Inkheart, which I thought was MG. Was it because of the age of the protag, or the maturity involved?

Sorry for the elementary questions. I'm not very familiar with children's fantasy.

Inkheart was sold as MG. The main character grows older and falls in love in the sequel, so that turns it into YA. (Lots of kissing.) The final book actually breaks the main rule of writing for kids: most of the chapters are from the POV of the adults! The girl who is the MC in the first book does almost nothing in the last one. If it had been a debut book, it probably wouldn't have been accepted. But once you've built the audience, you can get away with breaking the rules.

kdbeaar · Aug 3, 2009

My 11 year old son enjoyed Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, The Hungry City Chronicles (which may be more YA, I'm not sure), and the Dave Barry/Ridley Pearson series based on Peter Pan (one of these is called Peter and The Starcatchers, I'm not sure of the others).

Karen

RoccoMom · Aug 3, 2009

JoeEkaitis said:
You humble author's own. You can even read the first chapter free.

No wizards, no elf wars, not a single magic wand in sight. Just a griffin who ghostwrites novels and a dragon who paints murals.

And we thank you.

How absoutely excellent! I wish I could write a children's book like that!

TrickyFiction · Aug 3, 2009

Bartimaeus was pretty decent, although I didn't read past the first book, so I can't comment on the others. The footnotes bothered me a bit, but it was a good story.

jjacobs · Aug 3, 2009

All three books in the Bartimaeus Trilogy were excellent.

TrickyFiction · Aug 4, 2009

jjacobs said:
All three books in the Bartimaeus Trilogy were excellent.

Ooh. Perhaps I'll get back into 'em then.

Nakhlasmoke · Aug 4, 2009

I recommend Diana Wynne Jones.

I'm like, a Jones pusher.

*pushes*

No, really. Go forth and read her work.

TrickyFiction · Aug 4, 2009

Nakhlasmoke said:
I recommend Diana Wynne Jones.

I'm like, a Jones pusher.

*pushes*

No, really. Go forth and read her work.

I second this. And I can't believe I didn't think of her first. She is amazing.

Vincent · Aug 4, 2009

jjacobs said:
All three books in the Bartimaeus Trilogy were excellent.

Agreed, I entered this thread to recommend them.

bonitakale · Aug 5, 2009

Diane Duane: So You Want to Be a Wizard, Deep Wizardry, High Wizardry, and the rest of the Young Wizards books. But those three are superb.

Middle Grade fantasy?

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