Castles, Wands, and Unicorns: 15+ Fantasy Titles for Ages 8-12

Summer is here! And that means loads of time for kids to experience books in all their glory. This is also a great time to encourage kids to read the books they choose (without having to worry about school assignments) and to try out new genres that they might be interested in learning more about. This series will offer titles for toddlers to teens and include a variety of formats. Each week will focus on a different genre and will follow the same format:

• Mondays – Titles for Ages 3-7
• Tuesdays – Middle Grade Titles for Ages 8-12
• Wednesdays – Young Adult Titles for Ages 13+
• Thursdays – Nonfiction pairings
• Friday – Recap of the Week

Middle Grade
Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Maddie can’t wait to spend her summer in the bayou, but when a disaster in the way of an oil spill happens within the bayou, will Maddie’s family’s magic help her save the bayou?

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
Micah’s grandfather is very sick and is due a miracle by the Lightbender, so Micah’s plan is to find the mysterious and magical Circus Mirandus to get his grandfather’s miracle in time.

The Evil Wizard Smallbone by Delia Sherman
Runaway Nick stumbles across the self-proclaimed Evil Wizard Smallbone and begins his apprentice, but isn’t allowed to leave the small town and is definitely not taught any magic in this eccentric story filled with dueling wizards and enchanted animals.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Luna is filled with a powerful magic that her adoptive grandmother, Xan, locks away inside her to keep her safe. When Luna turns thirteen her magic starts to emerge and is more powerful than anyone would have expected, but with Xan away and her home at risk, Luna must do everything in her power to keep her family, friends, and home safe.

Hoodoo by Ronald L. Smith
Hoodoo lives in a small town in Alabama drenched in magic. Unfortunately, Hoodoo can’t cast a simple spell, but when a stranger comes to town looking for a boy named Hoodoo, he realizes he needs to learn magic, and fast.

Jinx by Sage Blackwood
“Jinx is joined by friends, battles enemies, and discovers life beyond—and even within—the forest is more complex than he can imagine, and that the Urwald itself needs him more than he could ever guess.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Loki’s Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr
In Matt’s hometown many of the residents are direct descendants of the mythological, Norse Gods. Ragnarok is coming and it’s up to Matt and his friends to stand in for the gods in the attempt to save the world from destruction.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee
Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard loves science and answers that are black-and-white, so when she meets a boy locked in the museum by the mysterious and magical Snow Queen, she is shocked. Soon she is asked to help free him, everything she knows to be true will be tested.

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
Oscar spends his days grinding herbs for most powerful magician in the Barrow and likes what he does and feels safe doing it, but his world is changing and he must choose to remain safe or choose to make a difference.

Savvy by Ingrid Law
Every member of Mibs’ family has a savvy – a supernatural power, but on Mibs’ the eve of Mibs’ birthday her father has an accident and Mibs goes on an adventure to reach the hospital where he’s staying in time for Mibs’ soon-to-be savvy to save his life.

The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse by Brian Farrey
“A princess and a peasant girl must embark on a dangerous quest to outwit a centuries-old warning foretelling the fall of the Monarchy in this modern fairytale.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
Serafina lives with her Pa, in the basement of the Biltmore Estate, but when the children at the estate begin to disappear, Serafina learns of the magic surrounding the estate, how she fits into the history of the magic and what she must do to catch the terrifying man in a black cloak and save more children from being taken.

Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly
Emmeline has the power to control shadows, which has made her family hide her away from the public, but when they plan to send her away to “cure” her magic, she runs away with the help of her own shadow, “Dar.” Dar promises to save Emmeline if she does one last ritual to bring Dar back to life, but can Emmeline trust a shadow?

The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers
Brine Seaborne can’t remember her past and spends her days with a cranky magician and his apprentice, Peter. Brine and Peter end up in trouble when they find themselves aboard a pirate ship headed for the fantastical Magical North where Brine might learn more about her parents or might get eaten by monsters!

The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag
In Aster’s community – girls are raised as witches and boys are raised as shapeshifters, but Aster has always felt that he’d be a better witch than shapeshifter and when danger comes to his community, he must make a choice whether to keep to the confines of his community or use his own power for good.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Minli spends her days working hard in her family’s fields, but soon chooses to journey to find the Old Man of the Moon and ask him how her family can change their fortune as she meets the characters of Chinese folklore that her father shared with her each night.