The Bartimaeus Trilogy, by Jonathan Stroud
Nathaniel, magician-in-training, summons a djinni who can not only match his magical skills, but surpass him in cleverness. The djinni Bartimaeus is 5,000 years old and reluctantly helps Nathaniel on his quest for magician-hood and revenge against all sorts of unsavory characters.
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis
Four children travel repeatedly to a world in which they are far more than mere children and everything is far more than it seems.
Earthsea Series, by Ursala K Le Guin
The windswept isles of Earthsea are famous for wizards, and the greatest of all was Ged, called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth. Follow Sparrowhawk on his quest, meet Arha, Ged, and Arren--and Orm Embar, the greatest of the world's dragons! If the balance of magic is not restored, darkness will overtake the world.
Harry Potter Series, by JK Rowling
Join Harry Potter in his quest to be a magician of the greatest sort, fulfilling his destiny and challenging evil forces along the way.
Inheritance Series, by Christopher Paolini
Written by the author starting at age 15, this wonderful series introduces us to Eragon, a young farm boy, who becomes a Dragon Rider--the last of the Dragon Riders, in fact. His sapphire-blue dragon, Saphira, endure perilous travels and sudden battles, dire wounds, capture and escape.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
The gospel of the genre, J.R.R. Tolkien's definitive three-book epic, the Lord of the Rings, follows the Fellowship as they seek to destroy The One Ring, the source of the evil Lord Sauron's power.
The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
This retelling of the Arthurian tales from the point of view of the women behind the throne is a fantasy classic. Morgaine
(more commonly known as Morgan Le Fay) and Gwenhwyfar (a Welsh spelling of Guinevere) struggle for power, using
Arthur as a way to score points and promote their respective worldviews.
Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
Richard Mayhew learns the hard way that no good deed goes unpunished. He ceases to exist in the ordinary world of London Above, and joins a quest through the dark and dangerous London Below, a shadow city of lost and forgotten people, places, and times.
Oz Series, by L. Frank Baum
Follow the inhabitants of Oz on their many adventures--and not just Dorothy and the Scarecrow! The entire series introduces us to many more creatures and beings, great and small.
The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
Westley risks death and much, much worse for the woman he loves--the beautiful Buttercup. His friends Inigo (the Spanish swordsman) and Fezzik (a gentle giant) help him do battle against the evil Count Rugen and Prince Humperdinck.
The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Silmarillion tells a tale of the Elder Days of Middle Earth, when Elves and Men became estranged by the Dark Lord
Morgoth's lust for the Silmarils, pure and powerful magic jewels. The War of Wrath finally brings down the Dark Lord.
Peace reigns until the evil Sauron recovers the Rings of Power and sets the stage for the events told in the Lord of the Rings saga.
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle
Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack on a dark and stormy night when
an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course, and goes on to tell them that there is
such a thing as a "tesseract," or a wrinkle in time.
