Books for Middle School Readers: Fantasy

This West-African inspired fantasy-adventure series is set in the magical land of Orisha. When the magic disappears, Zelie must fight to bring it back.

A classic fantasy novel is set in Tolkien's imaginary Middle-Earth and features wonderful magical creatures and a spectacular adventure.

This is book one of the series. One of TIME Magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. The book that inspired a legend--the first novel in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga. Perfect for fans of T. A. Barron's Merlin saga, John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, and J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. "The medieval world of Redwall Abbey--where gallant mouse warriors triumph over evil invaders--has truly become the stuff of legend."

In this fantasy series, Ged is a young sorcerer just embarking on his wizard education. But young wizards make mistakes, and when you are as powerful as Ged your mistakes can have enormous consequences. This is often seen as the first, best book about a child learning to be a wizard. A lot of critics think Harry Potter couldn't exist without this book having been written first.

This is book one of the series. Kwame Mbalia's epic fantasy, a middle grade American Gods set in a richly-imagined world populated with African American folk heroes and West African gods. *"Mbalia expertly weaves a meaningful portrayal of family and community with folklore, myth, and history--including the legacy of the slave trade--creating a fast-paced, heroic series starter."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

In this fantasy series, Eragon is just a 15-year-old boy living on a farm until he finds out that he is actually a "Dragon Rider" and must try to save the Empire. The author himself was just 15 when he wrote the first draft of Eragon.

This is book one of the series. "In her middle-grade debut, Chokshi spins a fantastical narrative that seamlessly intertwines Hindu cosmology and folklore, feminism, and witty dialogue for an uproarious novel for young readers. Chokshi comes into her own in this novel, reminding readers of the power of language and of stories."―Kirkus (starred review)

This fantasy novel was inspried by a strange collection of curious photographs, which now serve as illustrations for the book. It's a suspenseful adventure filled with danger and impossibilities.

"Fun, imaginative, and deeply immersive, this story will be long in the minds of readers."--Publishers Weekly (starred) "Magical, stunning, and wholly original."--Booklist (starred) "A highly descriptive story which absorbs the audience into its world, readers will become invested in reading until the very end."--School Library Connection A Snake Falls to Earth is a breathtaking work of Indigenous futurism. Darcie Little Badger draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed.

This is book one of the series. "With Every Heart a Doorway, McGuire has created her own mini-masterpiece of portal fantasy -- a jewel of a book that deserves to be shelved with Lewis Carroll's and C. S. Lewis' classics, even as it carves its own precocious space between them." -- NPR