Step Into the Pages of Magic…Magical Realism for All Ages

Magical realism is noted for its combination of realistic stories combined with fantastical elements. This narrative tool is widely popular and critically acclaimed through adult works such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s 100 Years of Solitude or Toni Morrison’s Beloved. However, magical realism in children’s literature breaks the barriers of what is “real” and creates an atmosphere of imagination that transcends our day-to-day life. It differs from the fantasy genre due to its grounding in magical elements infused with our everyday life.

The popularity of magical realism in children’s literature can be attested to how, as a literary device, it can guide the characters on emotional journeys with the help of magic, yet still maintain the nature of our reality. The non-existent explanation of said magic and fantastical elements separates magical realism from contemporary or urban fantasy. The magic in these stories is used to bring the character on a spiritual/emotional journey where, particularly for children, magical realism allows the characters to navigate difficult topics and ease readers as well into learning about complex topics such as death and divorce. In this list there is a combination of picture books, middle-grade fiction, and young adult fiction to guide any reader into the world of magical realism.

Bourne, Shakirah
Josephine Against the Sea. 2021 (Middle Grade Fiction).
Inspired by Caribbean mythology, Josephine Against the Sea takes place in a small village in Barbados where the main character, Josephine, discovers her father’s girlfriend, Mariss, is a vengeful sea creature planning on taking Josephine’s place as her father’s first love. With the help of her friends and her cricket skills, Josephine must find a way to save her father from Mariss. Josephine Against the Sea explores themes of grief, loss, healing, and familial bonds. With the atmosphere of Caribbean mythology filled with monsters and magic, it blends into a warm, enchanting story that will also give young readers a glimpse of the main characters making mistakes and overcoming obstacles.
S. B6678jo PZ7.1. B6826 Jo 2021

Jeffers, Oliver
How to Catch a Star. 2004 (Picture Book).
This beloved tale of How to Catch a Star tells the story of a boy on a quest to catch a star for himself and his imaginative plans to get one. Such as climbing to the top of the highest tree, later to find out it’s not tall enough! This heartwarming tale is about shooting for the stars and emerging with a friend.
SE. J355h

Kelkar, Supriya
That Thing About Bollywood. 2021 (Middle Grade Fiction).
Sonali, a Southern California tween, struggles with voicing her feelings until one day, she wakes up and breaks out into Bollywood-style dance and song stricken with “filmi magic.” Her genuine emotions and feelings are unleashed in personal Bollywood soundtracks. In this moving tale, Sonali learns to share her feelings, find her own identity, and learn how to cope during a time of parental separation.
S. K279th

Keller, Tae
When You Trap a Tiger. 2020 (Young Adult Fiction).
In this imaginative story, When You Trap a Tiger, Keller brings Korean folklore to life. When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, Lily discovers family secrets where a magical tiger comes for retribution for what was stolen from the tigers long ago. The magical tiger makes a deal to return what was stolen from them, and Lily’s grandmother Halmoni will be healed; however, Lily must find courage in herself to face the tigers, and with the help of her sister and a new friend, she’ll discover the power of stories and the magic of family.
S. K284wh

LaRocca, Rajani
Midsummer’s Mayhem. 2019 (Middle Grade Fiction).
Midsummer’s Mayhem is Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream middle-grade fantasy retelling, where Mimi, the main character, dreams of becoming a celebrity chef just like her idol, Puffy Fay. When a local café comes out with a baking competition, with the prize being an internship with Puffy Fay himself, Mimi sets her sights on trying to win. Meanwhile, Mimi encounters a boy named Vik when she ventures into the forest. Vik exposes her to the forest’s exotic ingredients, and she begins to make delicious and enchanting treats. However, once her father starts acting strangely, Mimi must discover the cause of the strange behavior lurking in her family. Although this retelling stays true to the spirit of Shakespeare, it also highlights familial dynamics and believing in oneself and explores children’s identity compared to a high-achieving family.
S. L3269mi

Love, Jessica
Julián Is a Mermaid. 2018 (Picture Book).
Julian is a Mermaid is Love’s debut picture book. It tells the story of Julian, who, riding the subway with his abuela, encounters three costumed mermaids that leave Julian dazzled by their magic. He begins to daydream of dressing up as the mermaids he had seen. Julian is a Mermaid is lauded for its exploration of identity and gender expression.
Q. SE. L9415ju

Ness, Patrick & Siobhan Dowd
Illustrated by: Jim Kay.
A Monster Calls: a Novel. 2011 (Young Adult Fiction).
Unlike the recurring monster that Colin had nightmares about when his mother was ill, Colin wakes up one night to find an ancient monster that has come into his life for a singular purpose, and that is to tell Colin three stories in exchange for Colin confronting his truth. A Monster Calls is a gripping tale of the realities of grief and coping with the loss of a loved one. It is an emotional tale that guides the reader through a commonly tender subject and evokes themes of catharsis and reflection.
S. N373mo

Ruby, Laura
Bone Gap. 2015 (Young Adult Fiction).
Outsider Finn, in his small town in Illinois, sees the abduction of his brother’s beautiful girlfriend, Roza, at the spring festival. When called in to view mug shots of potential suspects, Finn is unable to figure out who it was due to all faces looking similar. This story weaves together magical elements of secrecy and intrigue. The reader goes on a quest with Finn, trying to find out where Roza is and solve the mystery. Bone Gap is a unique tale on the emphasis we place on beauty in our society, the power of perspective, and how our views can impact others.
S. R8273bo

Ryan, Pam Muñoz
Echo. 2015 (Middle Grade Fiction).
Echo begins with the journey of Otto, who is lost in the forbidden forest and encounters three sisters. Otto becomes embroiled in a quest for prophecy, destiny, and a harmonica. It isn’t until decades later that three children, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California, find themselves on the same quest of prophecy and promise with a harmonica at the center.
S. R957ec

Schachner, Judith Byron
Sarabellas’s Thinking Cap. 2017 (Picture Book).
Sarabella’s Thinking Cap explores the main character, Sarabella, and her daydreaming habits that take over her focus and attention in school. Luckily, Sarabella has an understanding teacher who can encourage her by showcasing who she is. The reader is given a peek into Sarabella’s thoughts, where the author Schachner creates sprawling mixed-media collages of beautiful illustrations and imagination. This picture book tells the tale of individuality and acts as a tribute to the power of a child’s imagination.
SE. Sch11s

EVS

Fairy Tales Retold

Fairy tales have been retold through various cultures and mediums for generations. Contemporary retellers of fairy tales mix fantasy and realism, fleshing out characters and exposing new ideas. These tales build on traditional fairy tales to create new works of fantasy. This list is organized by tale, including stories with a variety of fairy tale references.

Retellings of Multiple Fairy Tales

Beck, Ian.
The Secret History of Tom Trueheart. 2007.
When young Tom Trueheart’s seven older brothers all go missing during their adventures in the Land of Stories, he embarks on a perilous mission to save them and to capture the rogue story-writer who wants to do away with the heroes. Their adventures involve Snow White, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and more.
[SSHEL S Collection S. B3884s]

Blubaugh, Penny.
Serendipity Market. 2009.
When the world begins to seem unbalanced, Mama Inez calls ten storytellers to the Serendipity Market and, through the power of their magical tales, the balance of the world is corrected once again. The tales include re-tellings of The Princess and the Pea, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and more.
[SSHEL S Collection S. B624s]

Buckley, Michael.
The Fairy-Tale Detectives. 2005.
Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother that they have always believed to be dead. They solve crimes involving the Everafters, the magical creatures and people of fairy tales and fantasy, who are trapped in their town. The Sisters Grimm appear in many sequels: book two is titled The Unusual Suspects.
[SSHEL S Collection S. B856s]

Durst, Sarah Beth.
Into the Wild. 2007.
Having escaped from the Wild and the preordained fairy tale plots it imposes, Rapunzel, along with her daughter Julie Marchen, tries to live a fairly normal life, but when the Wild breaks free and takes over their town, it is Julie who has to prevent everyone from being trapped in the events of a story. In sequel Out of the Wild, Julie again protects her world from a dark force using her naïve father for evil.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. D939i]

Gruber, Michael.
The Witch’s Boy. 2005.
Lump is a foundling, raised by a witch and her strange friends. But when he is cruelly treated by the people of the outside world, he turns against his mother. Only through tragedy and pain does he come to accept himself and learn his heart’s desire. Elements of fairy tales, including Rumpelstiltskin and Hansel and Gretel are incorporated throughout the story.
[SSHEL S Collection S. G921w]

Maguire, Gregory.
The Dream Stealer. 1983.
This fantasy combines elements from several Russian fairy tales, including the magical Firebird, Baba Yaga the witch, and the beautiful Vasilissa.
[SSHEL S Collection S. M276d]

Beauty and the Beast

Baratz-Logsted, Lauren.
Crazy Beautiful. 2009.
In this contemporary retelling of “Beauty and the Beast,” a teenaged boy whose hands were amputated in an explosion and a gorgeous girl whose mother has recently died form an instant connection when they meet on their first day as new students.
[SSHEL S Collection S. B2319c]

Jay, Stacey.
Of Beast and Beauty. 2013.
When nineteen-year-old Gem of the Desert People, called “Monstrous” by the Smooth Skins, becomes the prisoner of the seventeen-year-old Smooth Skin queen, Isra, age-old prejudices begin to fall aside as the two begin to understand each other.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. J333o]

McKinley, Robin.
Rose Daughter. 1997.
McKinley’s second retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with a very different ending from the traditional story.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. M2152r]

McKinley, Robin.
Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast. 1978.
This retelling follows the traditional plot while fleshing out the characters and bringing new life to the fairy tale.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.M2152B]

Napoli, Donna Jo.
Beast. 2000.
Set in Persia, this is the story of the Beast before Beauty arrives as well as the traditional plot of their tale.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. N162be]

Cinderella

Ensor, Barbara.
Cinderella (as if you didn’t already know the story). 2006.
In this updated version of the Cinderella story, Cinderella writes letters to her dead mother apologizing for not being more assertive, which she remedies soon after marrying the prince. Readers will delight in following Cinderella through all the usual happenings, presented in a most unusual way.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.398.2 En79c]

Farjeon, Eleanor.
The Glass Slipper. 1956.
This novel length retelling of Cinderella adds new elements while retaining the classic plot of a young girl who dreams of attending a ball.
[SSHEL S Collection S. F228G]

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.
Just Ella. 1999.
Ella has gotten her fairy tale ending and her prince; but is that truly what she wants? A continuation of the story of Cinderella.
[SSHEL S Collection S. H1172j]

Levine, Gail Carson.
Ella Enchanted. 1997.
Why was Cinderella so good and obedient? In Levine’s retelling, Ella is under a curse, forcing her to be obedient to everyone; even her wicked stepmother and her nasty stepsisters. Will the prince rescue her from her miserable family? Or will Ella rescue herself from the curse of obedience?
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. L5788E]

Lo, Malinda.
Ash. 2009.
In this variation on the Cinderella story, Ash grows up believing in the fairy realm that the king and his philosophers have sought to suppress, until one day she must choose between a handsome fairy cursed to love her and the King’s Huntress whom she loves.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. L7804a]

Marriott, Zoe.
Shadows on the Moon. 2012.
Trained in the magical art of shadow-weaving, sixteen-year-old Suzume, who is able to re-create herself in any form, is destined to use her skills to steal the heart of a prince in a revenge plot.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. M349sm]

Meyer, Marissa.
Cinder. 2012.
As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story. The Lunar Chronicles also include Scarlet, Cress, and Winter.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. M57572c]

Napoli, Donna Jo.
Bound. 2004.
This retelling is based on Chinese Cinderella stories. When Xing Xing’s stepmother binds only her own daughter’s feet, she cuts Xing Xing off from a suitable marriage. Bound to a life of servitude, Xing Xing must eventually break free of her stepmother’s power and make a new life for herself.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. N162b]

Pullman, Philip.
I Was a Rat! 2000.
When Cinderella flees from the castle, she leaves one of her transformed page boys behind. He and the princess must both adjust to their new worlds.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. N162b 2000]

East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Durst, Sarah Beth.
Ice. 2009.
A modern-day retelling of “East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon” in which eighteen-year-old Cassie learns that her grandmother’s fairy tale is true when a Polar Bear King comes to claim her for his bride and she must decide whether to go with him and save her long-lost mother, or continue helping her father with his research.
[SSHEL S Collection S. D939ic]

George, Jessica Day.
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. 2008.
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. G2935s]

Pattou, Edith.
East. 2003.
This retelling is based on the Norse tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon but also includes elements of the better-known Beauty and the Beast. Set in the Arctic lands, this is a fantastical epic with strong characters.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P2784e]

Little Red Riding Hood

Vande Velde, Vivian.
Cloaked in Red. 2010.
Presents eight twists on the traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood, exploring such issues as why most characters seem dim-witted and what, exactly, is the theme.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. V28cl]

Weston, Robert Paul.
Dust City. 2010.
Henry Whelp, son of the Big Bad Wolf, investigates what happened to the fairies that used to protect humans and animalia, and what role the corporation that manufactures synthetic fairy dust played in his father’s crime.
[SSHEL S Collection S. W5283d]

Sleeping Beauty

Baker, E.D.
The Wide-Awake Princess. 2010.
Annie, younger sister of the princess who would be known as Sleeping Beauty, is immune to magic and stays awake when the rest of the castle falls into an enchanted sleep, then sets out to find a way to break the spell.
[SSHEL S Collection S. B1712w]

Hale, Bruce.
Snoring Beauty. 2008.
An adaptation of the traditional tale, featuring a sleeping, snoring princess who is rescued by a prince after being cursed by a bad fairy.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. S. 398.2H13s]

Lowe, Helen.
Thornspell. 2008.
In this elaboration of “Sleeping Beauty,” Prince Sigismund, having grown up in a remote castle dreaming of going on knightly quests, has had only a passing interest in the forbidden wood lying beyond the castle gates until a brief encounter with a beautiful and mysterious lady changes his life forever.
[SSHEL S Collection S. L95142t]

McKinley, Robin.
Spindle’s End. 2000.
When Briar Rose is cursed by the evil Pernicia, a young fairy takes her away to be raised safely in the country. When she learns of her true heritage, she must not only defeat the evil fairy, but choose how she will live; as a princess or as simple Rosie.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. M2152sp]

Yolen, Jane.
Briar Rose. 2002.
Becca has always loved her grandmother, Gemma, and treasures her telling of Sleeping Beauty. When Becca begins to trace her grandmother’s history, Gemma’s constant retelling of Sleeping Beauty takes on a new, tragic significance.
[SSHEL S Collection S. Y78br2002]

Yolen, Jane.
Curse of the Thirteenth Fey: The True Tale of Sleeping Beauty. 2012.
Accident-prone, thirteen-year-old Gorse, the youngest fairy in her family, falls into a trap while on her way to the palace to bless the newborn princess, Talia, but arrives in time to give a gift which, although seemingly horrific, may prove to be a real blessing in this take-off on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. Y78cu]

Snow White

Harrison, Mette Ivie.
Mira, Mirror. 2004.
This is the story of the magic mirror used by Snow White’s stepmother. Trapped in the mirror by the woman she had thought her sister, Mira’s quest for freedom eventually leads her to true freedom and understanding of her sister.
[SSHEL S Collection S. H247m]

Levine, Gail Carson.
Fairest. 2006.
Aza has hair as black as ebony, lips as red as blood, and skin as white as snow; and everyone thinks she’s ugly. In a land where conventional beauty and singing are highly valued, her looks make her an outcast until she learns to control and accept her magical voice and her unique appearance.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. L5788fa]

Yolen, Jane.
Snow in Summer. 2011.
Recasts the tale of Snow White, setting it in West Virginia in the 1940s with a stepmother who is a snake-handler.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. Y78sn]

Anthropomorphic Animal Fantasy

These are stories of quests, battles, cultures, and journeys with animals as their protagonists. The animals have anthropomorphic (human-type) characteristics, relationships, dilemmas, and thoughts. Very few of these stories involve humans and in those that do, the animals remain the central characters.

Adams, Richard.
Watership Down. 1972.
A group of rabbits embark on a tumultuous journey to find a new warren where they can live in peace.
[SSHEL S Collection S. AD191w1974]

Avi.
Poppy. 1995.
Poppy and her boyfriend Ragweed are mice of Dimwood Forest, bullied and controlled by the cruel owl Mr. Ocax. After Ragweed’s tragic death, Poppy begins to fight back against the owl’s control and discovers new hope for her family and herself. Poppy’s saga continues in the series Tales of Dimwood Forest.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. AV51PO]

Baldry, Cherith.
The Silver Horn. 2002.
Vair, a young pine marten, is excited to be attending his first challenge at the fair. But when his father is killed and he is taken captive by thieves, Vair must fight to regain his freedom and save Watersmeet. The Silver Horn begins the Eaglesmount Trilogy.
[SSHEL S Collection S. B1932s]

Bell, Clare.
Ratha’s Creature. 1983.
The Named, forerunners of the sabertooth, have an extensive culture and society. However, their primitive foes, the Un-Named, are slowly destroying them. When Ratha discovers the power of fire, both tragedy and a new hope result. The next book in The Named series is Clan Ground.
[SSHEL Oak Street S. B4135R]

Clement-Davies, David.
Fire Bringer. 2000.
A tyrannical lord of the herd has risen and has legions of bucks sharpening their antlers to take over the animal world. But there is a prophecy that a deer with the mark of the oak leaf will be born who will have a bond with all creatures and will free the herd of its tyrannical leader. Into this world the young buck Rannoch is born and sets out on an extraordinary journey.
[SSHEL S Collection S. C5915f]

Clement-Davies, David.
The Sight. 2002.
In Transylvania during the Middle Ages, a pack of wolves sets out on a perilous journey to prevent their enemy from calling upon a legendary evil — one that will give her the power to control all animals. The Sight is continued by Fell.
[SSHEL S Collection S. C591si]

DiCamillo, Kate.
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread. 2003.
The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess whom he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. D547t]

Epstein, Adam Jay.
The Familiars. 2010.
When a scrappy alley cat named Aldwyn passes himself off as a magical animal companion to Jack, a young wizard in training, Aldwyn and his fellow “familiars,” a know-it-all blue jay and bumbling tree frog, must save the kingdom after the evil queen of Vastia kidnaps Jack and two other wizards. Aldwyn and the familiars return in Secrets of the Crown.
[CCB S. Ep851f]

Fan, Nancy Yi.
Swordbird. 2007.
Warring factions of blue jays and cardinals call on Swordbird, the heroic bird of peace, to rescue them from the evil machinations of Turnatt, the tyrant hawk lord who plans to enslave them. Continue the adventures in Sword Quest.
[CCB S. F212s]

Hoeye, Michael.
Time Stops for No Mouse. 2002.
Hermux Tantamoq is a watchmaker; a quiet mouse who appreciates the simple things of life. But when he meets Ms. Linka Perflinger, adventuress and aviatrix, he is suddenly caught up in dangerous adventures. The Hermux Tantamoq Adventures continue in the next installment, Sands of Time.
[SSHEL S Collection S. H672t]

Hunter, Erin.
Into the Wild. 2003.
Four clans of wild cats have lived in the forest for generations. But now a mysterious danger is destroying ThunderClan. Rusty, an ordinary house cat, saves the clan and becomes Fireheart.
[SSHEL Oak Street S. H9169w]
Note: Erin Hunter is a pseudonym used by multiple authors. There are over 10 other Warriors series, such as Warriors: The New Prophecy. For a listing of series and the order of series books please see the website Fantastic Fiction.

Iserles, Inbali.
The Tygrine Cat. 2008.
Lost and alone, Mati seeks acceptance from a pack of feral cats at Cressida Lock, but in order to defeat the assassin on his trail, Mati must unlock the secret of his true identity and learn to harness an ancient and deadly feline power.
[SSHEL S Collection S. Is2t]

Jacques, Brian.
Redwall. 1986.
Matthias the mouse is the least of the novices at the great Redwall Abbey. But when the evil rat Cluny and his horde attack, Matthias’ dreams of becoming a warrior become a reality. Each of the stories in this series tells of the history of a place or event; Salamandastron, home of the badger lords and the fighting hares of the Long Patrol, the building of Redwall Abbey after the evil wildcats of Mossflower are destroyed, or the history of Redwall’s patron, Martin the Warrior.
[CCB S. J164R]

Jarvis, Robin.
Dark Portal. 2000.
The Deptford mice lead a quiet and peaceful life, except for the dark shadow of the Grill, the only thing separating them from the horrible sewer rats. Only with the help of the mystical bats will the mice be able to survive the evil of the rats and the secret horror of their god, Jupiter. The next book in the Deptford Histories is The Alchemist’s Cat.
[SSHEL S Collection S. J298d]

Jones, Allan.
Trundle’s Quest. 2011.
Trundle Boldoak’s simple life as the town lamplighter is turned upside-down the night he meets Esmeralda, a Roamany hedgehog, who whisks him away on a quest to find six fabled crowns and fulfill his role in an ancient prophecy. The quest continues in Fair Wind to Widdershins.
[CCB S. J7113tr]

Lasky, Kathryn.
Lone Wolf. 2010.
Abandoned by his pack, a baby wolf with a mysterious mark on his deformed paw survives and embarks on a journey that will change the world of the Wolves of the Beyond. Follow the characters in the sequel, Shadow Wolf.
[CCB S. L335l]

McAllister, M. I.
Urchin of the Riding Stars. 2005.
Urchin, an orphan squirrel, is raised by a kindly squirrel on the island of Mistmantle. Just when he thinks he will be spending the rest of his life unloading ships as one of the king’s work parties, he is given a wonderful opportunity. But on the first day of his new life, a terrible thing happens and Urchin finds himself the center of a dangerous plot. The Mistmantle Chronicles continues with Urchin and the Heartstone.
[SSHEL S Collection S. M117u]

Oppel, Kenneth.
Silverwing. 1997.
Shade is the runt of his Silverwing bat colony but he is determined to prove himself on the journey to Hibernaculum. When he is separated from the other bats, he must complete the long and dangerous journey alone. Two sequels, Sunwing and Firewing, as well as a prequel, Darkwing, follow the first installment.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCBH S. Op5s]

Sharp, Margery.
The Rescuers. 1959.
The Prisoners’ Aid Society has received news of a Norwegian poet, languishing in the fearsome Black Castle. Their only way to reach him is through Miss Bianca, pet of the diplomat’s son. Practical Bernard makes the journey and persuades Miss Bianca to help them. Against her will, the delicate lady mouse soon becomes entangled in a world of intrigue and danger — danger that continues in many sequels!
[SSHEL Oak Street and CCB S. SH228R]

Steig, William.
Abel’s Island. 1985.
Abel the mouse is torn from his comfortable life and stranded on an island by a storm. As he learns to survive in the wilderness, he discovers skills he never thought he had and finally gains the courage to find his way home.
[SSHEL S Collection S. St33A1985]

Stewart, Sharon.
Raven Quest. 2005.
Tok, the most nimble-winged of the young ravens, is banished for a crime he did not commit, and the only way he can restore his honor and his father’s name is to perform a brave and daring deed to benefit all ravenkind.
[SSHEL S Collection S. St498r]

Wagner, Hilary.
Nightshade City. 2010.
Eleven years after the cruel Killdeer took over the Catacombs far beneath the human’s Trillium City, Juniper Belancourt, assisted by Vincent and Victor Nightshade, leads a maverick band of rats to escape and establish their own city. The White Assassin is the next installment in the Nightshade Chronicles.
[SSHEL S Collection S. W1254n]

Award-Winning Fantasy

October is a magical month — a perfect time to read some high-quality fantasy novels. While browsing the shelves can be pleasant, there’s something to be said for a book that comes stamped with a seal of approval. Before trick-or-treaters dress up as monsters, unicorns, fairies, giants, elves, and other fantastical beings, read about them with the help of this list — every title given thumbs up by someone who knows good fantasy when they see it.

Andre Norton Award

Larbalestier, Justine.
Magic or Madness. 2005. Awarded 2007.
Reason Cansino walks out her grandmother’s back door in Sydney, Australia and finds herself in New York, where she learns not only that magic is real but that it comes at a high price.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. L321ma

Rowling, J. K.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 2007. Awarded 2008.
In the stunning conclusion to the Harry Potter series, Harry and friends search for Voldemort’s remaining horcruxes and come face to face with the strongest evil yet.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. R797hd

Sherman, Delia.
The Freedom Maze. 2011. Awarded 2012.
13-year old Sophie is not excited to spend the summer at her grandmother’s. Bored, she explores the grounds and wanders through a maze that transports her back to an 1860 sugar plantation, where Sophie is mistaken for a slave.
SSHEL S Collection S. Sh553f

Wilce, Ysabeau S.
Flora’s Dare. 2008. Awarded 2009.
Tentacles reaching out of the toilet, the transformation of her best friend into an outlaw, and her father’s newfound sobriety are only some of the challenges Flora must face in her daily life on her way to achieving her ultimate goal: becoming a Ranger.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. W642f

Blue Ribbon—Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books

Bunce, Elizabeth C.
A Curse Dark as Gold. 2008. Awarded 2008 (Fiction).
Charlotte Miller has never believed that her family’s wool mill is cursed, but a recent rash of unfortunate events has her second guessing. Now she must decide if she can trust Jack Spinner, a character who claims he can spin gold out of straw…
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. B881c

Colfer, Eoin.
Artemis Fowl. 2001. Awarded 2001 (Fiction).
A twelve-year old genius tries to restore his family’s fortune by holding a fairy for ransom, but faces trouble — and adventure — when the fairies fight back.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. C68a

Gaiman, Neil.
Coraline. 2002. Awarded 2002 (Fiction).
Coraline’s life is perfectly ordinary until she goes through the mysterious door in her family’s flat, which opens into a world where everything is magical and wonderful — until it’s not.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.G127c

Gaiman, Neil.
Odd and the Frost Giants. 2009. Awarded 2010 (Fiction).
Young Odd leads a trio of Norse gods as they battle the Frost Giants, who have taken over Asgard.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. G127o

Hardinge, Frances.
The Lost Conspiracy. 2009. Awarded 2009 (Fiction).
Oracle Arilou and her nobody sister Hathin are drawn into a mysterious, dangerous conspiracy on their island — and neither sister is exactly who she claims to be.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. H219l2009

Harris, Joanne.
Runemarks. 2008. Awarded 2008 (Fiction).
Maddy discovers that the strange mark on her hand is a rune — and that she is destined to play a role in the fate of the Norse gods.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. H2421r

Leavitt, Martine.
Keturah and Lord Death. 2006. Awarded 2007 (Fiction).
Keturah becomes hopelessly lost when she follows a legendary hare into the woods, but must charm Lord Death with a story when he comes to claim her.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.L489k

Madison, Bennett.
September Girls. 2013. Awarded 2013 (Fiction).
Sam is spending his summer in a strange coastal town where bevies of beautiful — albeit strange — blondes are inexplicably attracted to him. When he falls in love with one of them, he knows he must learn their secret.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. M265s

Pratchett, Terry.
Nation. 2008. Awarded 2008 (Fiction).
When a tsunami destroys their island, survivors Mau and Daphne work with a band of refugees to rebuild their society.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.P8887n

Schmidt, Gary D.
Straw into Gold. 2001. Awarded 2001 (Fiction).
Tousle and Innes must solve a riddle or be killed, by order of the king. In search of the answer, they hear the story of a strange little man who spun straw into gold for a banished queen — in exchange for her firstborn son, who may or may not be Tousle himself.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. Sch53st

Shinn, Sharon.
The Truth-Teller’s Tale. 2005. Awarded 2005 (Fiction).
Twins Eleda, who can only tell the truth, and Adele, who cannot tell other’s secrets, are challenged by new dancing instructors who are keeping something from them, sparking a plot full of mistaken identity.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. Sh637t

Tan, Shaun.
The Arrival. 2007. Awarded 2007 (Fiction).
This wordless graphic novel tells the strange tale of a man who leaves his home country for a new place, where he must build a life for his family.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB Q. S. 741.595 T153a

Ursu, Anne.
Breadcrumbs. 2011. Awarded 2011 (Fiction).
In this retelling of “The Snow Queen,” Hazel must rescue her ex-best friend Jack, who no longer speaks to her and who has vanished into the woods with a mysterious, icy woman.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. Ur7b

Westerfeld, Scott.
Peeps. 2005. Awarded 2005 (Fiction).
Cal Thompson has discovered that he’s a carrier of a virus that causes vampirism, and must track down any ex-girlfriends he may have infected.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. W523p

Boston-Horn Globe Book

Avi.
Poppy. 1995. Awarded 1996 (Fiction).
Poppy the mouse wants to move her family to a field of corn that could feed them indefinitely, but a frightening owl has other plans for them.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. AV51PO

Billingsley, Franny.
The Folk Keeper. 1999. Awarded 2000 (Fiction).
Corinna poses as a Folk Keeper — one who keeps the Evil Folk away — but soon discovers her identity as a Selkie, or seal-woman.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. 813 B496f

Cooper, Susan.
The Dark is Rising. 1973. Awarded 1973 (Fiction).
Will discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones and must seek the signs that will allow his kind to triumph over darkness.
SSHEL S Collection S. C787DA

DiCamillo, Kate.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. 2006. Awarded 2006 (Fiction).
Edward Tulane, a haughty toy rabbit, is quite selfish until he is separated from his adoring owner and makes a long journey, in which he hears many new stories.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. D547m

Le Guin, Ursula.
A Wizard of Earthsea. 1968. Awarded 1969 (Fiction).
A boy grows up as he attempts to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. L527W

Carnegie Medal

Ness, Patrick.
A Monster Calls. 2011. Awarded 2012.
Conor had dreams about a monster when his mother got sick. But the monster outside his window now isn’t the one from his nightmares — it’s older, wilder, and wants him to face a difficult truth.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. N373mo

Pratchett, Terry.
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. 2001. Awarded 2002.
Set in Discworld, this adaptation of the Pied Piper of Hamlin makes a team out of a clever cat, a strange boy, and a pack of rats who work together to pull the wool over the eyes of various towns.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. P887a

Reeve, Philip.
Here Lies Arthur. 2008. Awarded 2008.
Gwynna’s city is pillaged and burned, and while hiding in the woods, she is discovered by the bard Myrddin, who promises to protect her if she will be bound to him. Gwynna agrees and becomes part of the plan to turn the young, rough Arthur into Camelot’s hero of legend.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. R259h

Cybils

Deedy, Carmen Agra.
The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale. 2011. Awarded 2011.
A bunch of mice and a cheese-loving cat find a strange alliance in an inn that becomes the backdrop for visits from Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. D366c

Nielsen, Jennifer.
The False Prince. 2012. Awarded 2012.
Four orphans are forced into a brutal competition, the winner of which must impersonate the king’s son.
SSHEL S Collection S.N5544f

Stroud, Jonathan.
The Screaming Staircase. 2013. Awarded 2013.
Lucy and Anthony, young people with the ability to see — and deal with — the paranormal beings cropping up throughout London — team up to investigate some grisly events.
SSHEL S Collection S. St892s

Taylor, Laini.
Silksinger. 2009. Awarded 2009.
Warrior-faerie and last of her kind, Silksinger meets a young mercenary with a deadly weapon and more than a few secrets.
SSHEL S Collection S.T2158s

West, Jacqueline.
The Shadows. 2010. Awarded 2010.
Olive’s family moves into a creepy house with creepy paintings that harbor a magical world — Elsewhere.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. W5201s

Golden Kite Award
Durango, Julia.
Sea of the Dead. 2009. Awarded 2010 (Fiction).
Kehl, son of a warrior-prince, has always been told that pirates were responsible for his mother’s death. When he is kidnapped by pirates and forced to map the entire empire, he begins to ask some difficult questions about his past.
SSHEL S Collection S.D93s

McGraw, Eloise Jarvis.
The Moorchild. 1996. Awarded 1996 (Fiction).
Saaski is a changeling — a half-fairy child swapped for a human one after her mixed status made her an outcast with the Moor Folk. As Saaski grows, she realizes that the humans she considers her parents have been horribly wronged and is determined to return their biological child to them.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.M178MO

Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature

Chabon, Michael.
Summerland. 2002. Awarded 2003.
The weather is always perfect for baseball in Summerland — but the small creatures who keep it that way are in need of a baseball hero.
SSHEL S Collection S.C342s

Dickinson, Peter.
The Ropemaker. 2001. Awarded 2002.
Tilja, a girl with no extraordinary capabilities, learns that she may be the only thing protecting her peaceful Valley from the dangerous Empire.
SSHEL S Collection S. D56r

Dunkle, Clare.
The Hollow Kingdom. 2003. Awarded 2004.
When two orphan girls arrive at their ancestral home, Hallow Hall, the Goblin King and wizard decides to take the older for his bride.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. D921ho

Fisher, Catherine.
Corbenic. 2006. Awarded 2007.
A strange night inside a magical castle and a feast in his honor changes Cal’s life forever — what if he’s going crazy, like his mother?
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. F531c

Lin, Grace.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. 2009. Awarded 2010.
Minli, a girl from a poor village, joins a magical goldfish and a dragon who cannot fly in a quest to change her family’s fortune.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.L63w

Stroud, Jonathan.
The Bartimeus Trilogy. Awarded 2006.
The first book in this trilogy, The Amulet of Samarkand, follows a young wizard as he summons a powerful — and mischievous — djinni named Bartimaeus…but calling the djinni and controlling him are two different things.
SSHEL S Collection S. St892b

Newbery Medal

Alexander, Lloyd.
The High King. 1968. Awarded 1969.
In this final installment in The Prydian Chronicles, Taran must face his nemesis Arawan directly and decide whether to become High King.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. AL27H

Cooper, Susan.
The Grey King. 1975. Awarded 1976.
Will is reminded that he is an immortal and must prepare for the battle between light and dark by finding a lost harp.
SSHEL S Collection S. C787GR

DiCamillo, Kate.
The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread. 2003. Awarded 2004.
A courageous mouse, his beloved princess, a devious rat, and an ambitious servant girl intertwine in fairy tale-esque adventures.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.D547t

Gaiman, Neil.
The Graveyard Book. 2008. Awarded 2009.
When his family is murdered, a toddler wanders into a cemetery where the ghosts and spirits agree to care for him.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.G127g

L’Engle, Madeleine.
A Wrinkle in Time. 1962. Awarded 1963.
In this fantasy classic, Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin embark on a strange journey to rescue their father, who has been mysteriously missing for years.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.L547W

McKinley, Robin.
The Hero and the Crown. 1985. Awarded 1985.
Aerin, as the only child of the king, should be the heir to the throne. Because of her mother’s unusual circumstances, her people feel they cannot trust her and Aerin embraces a new destiny.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.M2152H

O’Brien, Robert C.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. 1971. Awarded 1972.
Mrs. Frisby, a mouse with small children, faces a dilemma when one of them falls deathly ill just when they must move homes to survive the winter. She encounters the Rats of NIMH, preternaturally intelligent creatures who may have a solution.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S.Ob61m

Stead, Rebecca.
When You Reach Me. 2009. Awarded 2010.
Miranda’s life is turned upside down by the arrival of mysterious letters, written by someone who knows more about her than they should — even things that haven’t happened yet.
SSHEL S Collection and CCB S. St311w

Magic and Math: Schools for Sorcerers

These fantasies are about magical schools, where the everyday becomes fantastic. Many of these fantasies pre-date the wildly popular Harry Potter series, but all contain similar elements, including magical teachers, and magic as part of the curriculum. Some of these stories portray schools in a magical world, where students must deal with magic as well as normal school issues such as bullying or self-esteem.

To find more books like the titles below, begin with a subject search of “schools — juvenile fiction” and a keyword search of “magic.”

Alexander, Alma.
Gift of the Unmage. 2007.
As the seventh child born of the union of two seventh children, fourteen-year-old Thea has not fulfilled her parents’ hope of having special magical powers, and they try a last, desperate measure before sending her to a school for those with no magical ability. However, the students can’ escape magic, and it finds its way into the Wandless Academy. Begins the Worldweavers series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. Al262g]

Chainani, Soman.
The School for Good and Evil. 2013.
With her pink dresses, glass slippers, and devotion to good deeds, Sophie knows she’ll earn top marks at the School for Good and graduate a storybook princess. Meanwhile, her best friend Agatha, with her shapeless black frocks, wicked pet cat, and dislike of nearly everyone, seems a natural fit for the School for Evil. When the girls’ fortunes are reversed and Sophie is at the School for Evil and Agatha at the School for Good, the girls are convinced that a mistake has been made, but in trying to remedy it they learn more about themselves and fairy tale conventions than they bargained for.
[SSHEL S Collection S. C3491s]

Duey, Kathleen.
Skin Hunger. 2007.
In alternate chapters, Sadima travels from her farm home to the city and becomes assistant to a heartless man who is trying to restore knowledge of magic to the world, and a group of boys fights to survive in the academy that has resulted from his efforts. A sequel, Sacred Scars, was published in 2009.
[SSHEL S Collection S. D869sk]

Horowitz, Anthony.
Groosham Grange. 2008.
After being expelled from school, thirteen-year-old David Eliot is sent to Groosham Grange, a spooky and sinister boarding school where ghosts and ghouls rule the school and the students study witchcraft. Originally published in 1988 it is followed by Returned to Groosham Grange: The Unholy Grail.
[SSHEL S Collection S. H785g]

Jones, Diana Wynne.
The Lives of Christopher Chant. 1988.
Chronologically, this is the first Chrestomanci story. Chrestomancis are nine-lived wizards, each of whom live at Chrestomanci Castle. Their children are joined by other magically-talented children to form a kind of boarding school where the students learn about themselves and their powers. Some members of the school venture to other worlds or the current Chrestomanci travels to other worlds to deal with problems.
[SSHEL S Collection S. J713L]

Jones, Diana Wynne.
Year of the Griffin. 2000.
This is the sequel to Dark Lord of Derkholm. In this tale, younger siblings and new characters come together at the University to study magic and encounter all kinds of trouble and adventure.
[SSHEL S Collection S. J713y]

Lackey, Mercedes and Rosemary Edghill.
Legacies. 2010.
After her family is killed, Spirit White is taken to Oakhurst Academy, a combination orphanage and school for those with magical powers, where she and her new friends investigate when students start mysteriously disappearing. Sequels Conspiracies, Sacrifices, and Victories continue the Shadow Grail series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. L118le]

Laybourn, Emma.
Missing Magic. 2007.
Thanks to his influential uncle Kelver, Ned’s gotten into an elite new school. But there’s a problem — everyone there can do magic. And Ned? Not a lick. Amid whispers of the terrifying Necromancers, Ned struggles to adjust to his new situation. Then, just as he’s getting accustomed to having his hair turned into snakes and his books into bricks, the Necromancers strike! Ned and his classmates are kidnapped. But without magic, how can he possibly help them escape?
[SSHEL S Collection S. L451m]

Lidell, Alex.
The Cadet of Tildor. 2013.
At the Academy of Tildor, the training ground for elite soldiers, Cadet Renee de Winter struggles to keep up with her male peers, but when her mentor is kidnapped to fight in illegal gladiator games, Renee and best friend Alec struggle to do what is right in a world of crime and political intrigue.
[SSHEL S Collection S.L6196c]

Murphy, Jill.
The Worst Witch. 1981.
It’s Mildred’s first year at Miss Cackle’s Academy for witches; but already she knows she’s the worst at everything. When she makes a particularly disastrous mistake, Mildred decides to run away. On her way she makes a shocking discovery and must overcome her problems to save the school. The Worst Witch returns in several sequels.
[SSHEL S Collection S. M954W]

Neff, Henry.
The Hound of Rowan. 2007.
After glimpsing a hint of his destiny in a mysterious tapestry, twelve-year-old Max McDaniels becomes a student at Rowan Academy, where he trains in “mystics and combat” in preparation for war with an ancient enemy that has been kidnapping children like him. Begins the Tapestry series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. N298h]

Nimmo, Jenny.
Midnight for Charlie Bone. 2002.
Charlie is reasonably happy, living with his impoverished mother and paternal grandmother. But when his father’s strange family observes his uncanny talent, he is sent to a strange school with a sinister headmaster. Soon Charlie and his new friends become part of an ancient battle that continues in the other books in the Children of the Red King series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. N617m]

Pierce, Tamora.
Alanna: The First Adventure. 1983.
Alanna’s dream is to be a knight; so she takes her brother’s place and travels to the palace of Tortall as a page. But she must learn to accept herself and her magic before she can defeat her enemies and become a lady knight. Alanna continues her journey in the Song of the Lioness series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P611A]

Pierce, Tamora.
First Test. 1999.
Keladry of Mindelan is determined to be a lady knight, like her heroine Sir Alanna. She must prove herself to the other boys and her instructors as well as overcoming physical and magical challenges before she can become a page. Read more about Keladry in the Protector of the Small series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P611f]

Pierce, Tamora.
Sandry’s Book. 1997.
Four children, outcast and misfit among their families and peoples, are brought to Winding Circle to learn a new way of life and discover their hidden talents. Tris, Daja, and Briar’s books follow in the Circle of Magic series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P611sa]

Rowling, J. K.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. 1998.
Harry Potter has a miserable life with his relatives until magical things begin to happen and he finds himself at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. In his first year, he makes new friends and enemies and faces a terrifying challenge. Harry Potter continues his studies and faces greater evils in six sequels.
[SSHEL S Collection S. R797h]

Sherman, Delia.
The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen. 2009
In New York Between, a parallel Manhattan that is home to various creatures of folklore, Neef meets her counterparts at Miss Van Loon’s school for human changelings, where Neef learns the basics of diplomacy and soon gets into trouble.
[SSHEL S Collection S. Sh553m]

Stevermer, Caroline.
A College of Magics. 2002.
Teenager Faris Nallaneen, heir to the small northern dukedom of Galazon, is still too young to claim her title, so her despotic Uncle Brinker insists she be sent to Greenlaw College, where all students major in magic. Sequel A Scholar of Magics continues the tale.
[SSHEL S Collection S. St488c]

Yolen, Jane.
Wizard’s Hall. 1991.
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. Now, when Wizard’s Hall is threatened by a cruel sorcerer’s fearsome beast, it is up to Henry — er, Thornmallow — to figure out how to save not only his new friends but also the entire school for wizards.
[SSHEL S Collection S. Y78W]

Here There be Dragons

Dragons are enduring figures in fantasy for all ages. They represent our fears and our imagination, embody heroism and inspire quests. The titles in this collection portray dragons in a wide variety of roles and endow them with many different abilities. Their stories range from the humorous to the tragic, reliving traditional tales of dragons or reinventing popular conceptions of the species.
The selections have been divided into several categories. “Anthropomorphic Dragons” includes dragons who speak and reason, and either live in a complete culture of their own or coexist in human society. “Raising Dragons” includes those stories of finding or hatching a dragon, often including a psychic bond between the dragon and human. There are traditional Western tales of “Dragons as Monsters” and stories of “Not-So-Monstrous Dragons” as well as stories based on “Asian Dragons.”
To find books about dragons, start with a subject search of “juvenile” — probably “juvenile fiction,” since most titles about dragons will be fiction. Add a keyword or subject search of “dragon*.”

ANTHROPOMORPHIC DRAGONS

Baker, E.D.
Dragon Kiss. 2009.
Audun, a dragon from the Icy North, encounters obstacles as he pursues the love of his life — a human girl who can transform into a dragon using magic.
[SSHEL S Collection S. B1712dk]

Funke, Cornelia.
Dragon Rider. 2004.
With the help of his friends, Firedrake goes on a quest to find the mythical Rim of Heaven and save the dragons from the encroaching humans. This book is also available online through the Online Library Catalog as a downloadable audiobook.
[SSHEL S Collection S. F964d]

George, Jessica Day.
Dragon Slippers. 2007.
Orphaned after a fever epidemic, Creel befriends a dragon and unknowingly inherits an object that can either save or destroy her kingdom. Read on in sequels Dragon Flight and Dragon Spear.
[SSHEL S Collection S. G2935drs]

Levine, Gail Carson.
A Tale of Two Castles. 2011.
Twelve-year-old Elodie journeys to Two Castles in hopes of studying acting but instead becomes apprentice to a dragon, who teaches her to be observant and use reasoning, thus helping her to uncover who is poisoning the king.
[SSHEL S Collection S. L5788ta]

Pierce, Tamora.
Wild Magic. 1992.
In the first adventure of Daine, the wild-mage, she rescues Kit, a baby dragon. Although it is not apparent until the final book that dragons are capable of human speech and have a separate civilization, Kit is obviously intelligent and responds to human behavior as she accompanies Daine on her adventures. Follow Daine’s journey in sequels Wolf-Speaker, The Emperor Mage, and The Realms of the Gods.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P611wi]

Sutherland, Tui.
The Dragonet Prophecy. 2012.
A secret movement is determined to bring an end to the long years of war between the seven dragon tribes, with the help of a prophecy — a foretelling that calls for great sacrifice. Five dragonets are collected to fulfill the prophecy, raised in a hidden cave and enlisted, against their will, to end the terrible war. But not every dragonet wants a destiny. And when the select five escape their underground captors to look for their original homes, they find that what has been unleashed on the dragon world may be far more than the planners had intended. The Dragonet Prophecy is the first book in the Wings of Fire series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. Su848d]

Vaughn, Carrie.
Voices of Dragons. 2010.
In a parallel world where humans and dragons live in a state of cold war, seventeen-year-old Kay and her dragon friend, Artegal, struggle to find a way to show that dragons and humans can co-exist.
[SSHEL S Collection S. V4658v]

Wrede, Patricia.
Dealing with Dragons. 1990.
Cimorene is tired of her life as a princess and discovers she much prefers being captured by a dragon – permanently — no matter how many knights try to rescue her! Her friend Kazul becomes king of the dragons and is an important figure in the sequels as the pair encounter many mythical beasts and characters.
[SSHEL S Collection S. W925D]

Yep, Laurence.
City of Fire. 2009.
Twelve-year-old Scirye and her companions travel to Houlani, a new Hawaiian island created by magic, where they enlist the help of volcano goddess Pele in an attempt to stop an evil dragon and a mysterious man from altering the universe. Begins the City Trilogy.
[SSHEL S Collection S. Y43ci]

RAISING DRAGONS

Broach, Elise.
Hiding Hoover. 2005.
Daddy always says, “no pets,” but when his two children find a marvelous new pet, they find ingenious ways to hide him.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. B781h]

McKinley, Robin.
Dragonhaven. 2007.
When Jake Mendoza, who lives in the Smokehill National Park where his father runs the Makepeace Institute of Integrated Dragon Studies, goes on his first solo overnight in the park, he finds an infant dragon whose mother has been killed by a poacher.
[SSHEL S Collection S. M2153d]

Paolini, Christopher.
Eragon. 2003.
When farm-hand Eragon finds a strange stone that hatches into a dragon, his life is changed forever as he becomes involved in exciting, dangerous, and magical adventures and develops new powers. Eragon begins the Inheritance series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P196e]

Thomas, Shelley Moore.
Good Night, Good Knight. 2000.
Three lonely dragons are going to bed. Who will bring them a drink of water? And tuck them in? And read them a story? The Good Knight, of course! The Good Knight and friends appear in several silly sequels.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. T367g]

Yolen, Jane.
Dragon’s Blood. 1982.
Jakkin, a Keeper in a dragon nursery, steals and trains a fighting dragon in the hope of winning his freedom. Dragon’s Blood begins the Pit Dragons series.
[SSHEL S Collection S. Y78D]

DRAGONS AS MONSTERS

Donaldson, Julia.
Room on the Broom. 2001.
One by one, a witch invites the animals who find her missing belongings to join her on her broom. When the broom breaks and a dragon appears, the animals come to her rescue and then help the witch make a new broomstick with room for all her friends.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. D714r 2001]

Haskell, Merrie.
Handbook for Dragon Slayers. 2013.
Yearning for life in a cloistered scriptorium, thirteen-year-old Princess Matilda, whose lame foot brings fear of the evil eye, escapes her scheming cousin Ivo and joins her servant Judith and an old friend, Parz, in hunting dragons and writing about them.
[SSHEL S Collection S. H2735h]

Hodges, Margaret.
Saint George and the Dragon. Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. 1984.
Classic tale of St. George and the monstrous dragon he defeats through courage and perseverance. Adapted from Spenser’s Faerie Queene.
[SSHEL S Collection S. H666S]

Krause, Ute.
Oscar and the Very Hungry Dragon. 2010.
No princess is around to be fed to the dragon so Little Oscar’s name is pulled from the hat. Learn how the boy’s cleverness comes to his rescue!
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. K868o:E]

NOT-SO-MONSTROUS DRAGONS

Axelsson, Carina.
Nigel of Hyde Park. 2004.
It is time for Nigel, dragon and crown prince, to be crowned king of Hyde Park. But how can he rule his subjects when he can’t rule his own imagination? Zany illustrations show Nigel learning to conquer his imagination and his arch-enemy, Lord Black.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. S. Ax22n]

Bar-el, Dan.
Not Your Typical Dragon. 2013.
When Crispin Blaze turns seven, he’s expected to breathe fire like all the other dragons. But instead of fire, he breathes a host of unusual things.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. B23n]

DiTerlizzi, Tony.
Kenny & the Dragon. 2008.
Book-loving Kenny the rabbit has few friends in his farming community, so when one, bookstore owner George, is sent to kill another, gentle dragon Grahame, Kenny must find a way to prevent their battle while satisfying the dragon-crazed townspeople.
[SSHEL S Collection S. D634k]

Grahame, Kenneth.
The Reluctant Dragon. Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. 1938.
This is the classic pacifist dragon tale, taken from Kenneth Grahame’s Dream Days (1898). Dragon, built up by the fears and prejudices of the villagers into a monster, is really a kind and rather ineffectual creature. However, when St. George comes to save the village from their “monster” only the shepherd boy can reconcile the frightened villagers, militant St. George, and helpless dragon.
[SSHEL Oak Street S. G76R1953]

Gravett, Emily.
Again! 2013.
At bedtime, Cedric the dragon wants his mother to read his favorite book again, and again, and again.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. G788a]

Keller, Beverly.
A Small, Elderly Dragon. 1984.
The old dragon of Minervia can no longer terrorize the countryside – but he still causes quite a lot of trouble when a wicked sorcerer takes Minervia in exchange for getting rid of the dragon. It takes Princess Dorma and all her friends to defeat the sorcerer and find a happy ending for everyone – even the dragon.
[SSHEL Oak Street S. K281sm]

Polacco, Patricia.
The Graves Family Goes Camping. 2005.
The Graves family is having a wonderful time camping at Lake Bleakmire and collecting creepy, slimy, and unusual specimens when they discover a species thought to be extinct – a dragon!
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. P756grc]

ASIAN DRAGONS

Berkeley, Jon.
Chopsticks. 2006.
Chopsticks the mouse frees the wooden dragon and together they fly across the sky every night, returning to the wooden dragon’s restaurant in the morning.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. B455c]

Chang, Grace.
Jin Jin the Dragon. 2007.
Jin Jin the dragon does not know what kind of creature he is, so he embarks on a journey, assisted by other animals he meets along the way, to find Old Turtle and Crane, who will help him learn his identity. Includes information about Chinese writing and the place of the dragon in Chinese lore. Jin Jin returns in Jin Jin and the Rain Wizard.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. C36231j]

Davol, Marguerite W.
The Paper Dragon. Illustrated by Robert Sabuda. 1997.
A dragon has awoken and is destroying the village and its land. Mi Fei is only an artist, but when the people ask him for help he cannot refuse. He finds his talents are of use against the dragon and eventually puts him back to sleep.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. D311p]

Demi.
The Boy Who Painted Dragons. 2007.
Ping, a painter of dragons — of which he is secretly afraid — is challenged to seek the truth, find the truth, and dare to be true.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. D3952b]

Lin, Grace.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. 2009.
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.
[SSHEL S Collection S. L63w]

Young, Ed.
The Sons of the Dragon King: A Chinese Legend. 2004.
The dragon king’s nine sons each seem to be lazy or useless at first, but the king guides them into positions which use their strengths for the good of the people.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. S. 398.2 Y848s]

Young, Russell.
Dragonsong: A Fable for the New Millennium. 2000.
Chiang-An lives in China near an unnamed village. When the dragons gather to bring gifts which will decide who becomes the village’s guardian, Chiang-An goes out into the world to search for the perfect gift.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. S. 398.2 Y86d]

Zhang, Song Nan and Hao Yu Zhang.
A Time of Golden Dragons. 2000.
Written to celebrate the alignment of the Chinese Golden Dragon year and the Western millennium, an event which occurs every 3,000 years, this book explains the significance of dragons in Chinese culture and history.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. S. 398.2 Z61t]

Funny Fairy Tales: Not Your Typical Tale

It’s January, and depending on how you feel about winter weather, the sun setting at 4 p.m., and going back to work or school after having some time off with family and friends, it can be a tough month. All the more reason why we (young and old) should be discovering and sharing stories that make us laugh, are entertaining, and are enjoyably familiar. The following list of resources seeks to provide just that: these funny fairy tales take the traditional stories we know and turn them on their heads or poke fun at them. To find more titles like these, try searching the subject phrase “juvenile fiction” along with phrases like “fairy tales,” “humor,” and any other distinguishing characters or topics you’d like, such as princes, princesses, fairies, witches, trolls, goblins, etc.

Picture Books

Bar-el, Dan.
Such a Prince. 2007.
Libby Gaborchik, a highly unusual fairy, helps Marvin, a poor peasant, win the hand of the beautiful but love-starved Princess Vera.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. B23s]

Codell, Esme Raji.
Fairly Fairy Tales. 2011.
Offers a different look at some classic stories, as a parent and child read before bedtime.
[SSHEL S Collection and the Center for Children’s Books SE. C648f]

Conway, David.
The Great Fairy Tale Disaster. 2012.
When an old Big Bad Wolf, who no longer has enough huff and puff to blow down a house, tries to find a nice relaxing fairy tale for a change, he winds up making a big mess for Cinderella, Rapunzel, and other well-known characters.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. C7697gr]

Hodgkinson, Leigh.
Goldilocks and Just One Bear. 2012.
Little Bear, all grown up, finds himself lost in a noisy, busy city where he happens to bump into someone with golden hair who remembers exactly how he likes his porridge.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. H6678g2012]

Holub, Joan.
Knuckleheads. 2008.
From Handsel and Gretel nibbling on a house made of finger food to Handerella trying to win over the handsome Finger Prints, Knuckleheads is hands down fun! Earburt and Toeper give it two thumbs up! The combination of Joan Holub’s pun-filled humor and Michael Slack’s on-the-nose pictures make this a must-read for all ages.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. H7472k]

Lendler, Ian.
An Undone Fairy Tale. 2005.
“Now, Ned and I admire how well you read. But the story will be ruined if you turn the page right now. So please don’t.” A beautiful pie-making princess is trapped in a tower. Can Sir Wilbur rescue her? And more importantly, can he do it while wearing a tutu? He’s going to try! But if you read the story too quickly, Ned won’t be able to make the pictures or costumes in time. And happily-ever-after may start to go a bit haywire.
[SSHEL S Collection SE. L546a]

O’Malley, Kevin.
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude. 2005.
Cooperatively writing a fairy tale for school, a girl imagines a beautiful princess whose beloved ponies are being stolen by a giant, and a boy conjures up the muscular biker who will guard the last pony in exchange for gold.
[SSHEL S Collection and the Center for Children’s Books S. Om13o]

Scieszka, Jon.
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. 1992.
Madcap revisions of familiar fairy tales.
[SSHEL S Collection and the Center for Children’s Books SE.SCI27S]

Intermediate and Young Adult Fiction

Ferris, Jean.
Once Upon a Marigold. 2002.
A young man with a mysterious past and a penchant for inventing things leaves the troll who raised him, meets an unhappy princess he has loved from afar, and discovers a plot against her and her father.
[SSHEL S Collection and the Center for Children’s Books S.F417o]
Twice Upon a Marigold. 2008.
After a quiet, happy year in a small town, Queen Olympia regains her memory and initiates new plots and manipulations, as the residents of Zandelphia and Beaurivage, now ruled by Christian, Marigold, and Swithbert, feel the effects of her bad energy.
[The Center for Children’s Books S. F417t]
Thrice Upon a Marigold. 2013.
When Princess Poppy, the daughter of Queen Marigold and King Christian of Zandelphia-Beaurivage, is kidnapped by the kingdom’s former torturer-in-chief and poisoner-in-chief, a ragtag group sets out to rescue her.
[SSHEL S Collection S. F417th]

French, Vivian.
The Robe of Skulls. 2008
The sorceress Lady Lamorna has her heart set on a very expensive new robe, and she will stop at nothing–including kidnapping and black magic–to get the money to pay for it.
[The Center for Children’s Books S. F889r]
The Bag of Bones. 2009.
When the quill writes “Go Go Go” frantically on the wall, and the House of the Ancient Crones heaves Gracie Gillypot outside onto the path, it can mean only one thing: there’s Trouble in the Five Kingdoms. This time it’s in the form of a beady-eyed, green-tongued witch named Truda Hangnail.
[SSHEL S Collection S. F889b]
The Heart of Glass. 2010.
Gracie Gillypott and Prince Marcus embark on a dwarf-watching outing, not knowing that the dwarves are working frantically making crowns for a royal wedding and that they have enlisted some unreliable trolls to help them, thus putting the humans’ expedition in peril.
[SSHEL S Collection S. F889he]
The Flight of Dragons: The Fourth Tales from the Five Kingdoms. 2011.
On Gracie Gillypot’s birthday, greedy, chocolate-hungry twins awaken the banished Old Malignant One, and unless Gracie can find a powerful, long-forgotten dragon’s egg, the Five Kingdoms may succumb to evil magic and Total Oblivion.
[SSHEL S Collection S. F889f]
The Music of Zombies. 2013.
Prince Albion expects a unique occasion when he starts planning Cockenzie Rood Day to celebrate his kingdom — and himself. What he doesn’t expect is boppings on the head and kidnapping, all because a zombie wants to play his fiddle in the talent contest. With a misbehaving path, a romantic bat, and a greedy butler to set them on their way, Gracie Gillypot and Prince Marcus are off on their fifth adventure.
[SSHEL S Collection S. F889m]

Gidwitz, Adam.
A Tale Dark & Grimm. 2010.
Follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering such wicked creatures as witches, along with kindly strangers and other helpful folk. Based in part on the Grimms’ fairy tales Faithful Johannes, Hansel and Gretel, The seven ravens, Brother and sister, The robber bridegroom, and The devil and his three golden hairs.
[The Center for Children’s Books S. G3611t]
In a Glass Grimmly. 2012.
Frog joins cousins Jack and Jill in leaving their own stories to seek a magic mirror, encountering such creatures as giants, mermaids, and goblins along the way. Based in part on fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.
[SSHEL S Collection S. G3611i]
The Grimm Conclusion. 2013.
Sister and brother Jorinda and Joringel fight to keep their promise to stay together throughout a new series of gruesome, twisted, Grimm-inspired stories
[SSHEL S Collection S. G3611g]

Healy, Christopher.
The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. 2012.
The four princes erroneously dubbed Prince Charming and rudely marginalized in their respective fairy tales form an unlikely team when a witch threatens the whole kingdom.
[The Center for Children’s Books S. H3498h]
The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle. 2013.
The four princes erroneously dubbed Prince Charming and rudely marginalized in their respective fairy tales have to once again save the kingdom from a great threat.
[SSHEL S Collection S. H3498he]
The Hero’s Guide to Being an Outlaw. 2014.
Posters plastered across the thirteen kingdoms are saying that Briar Rose has been murdered — and the four Princes Charming (Prince Liam, Prince Frederic, Prince Duncan, and Prince Gustav) are the prime suspects. In a desperate attempt to clear their names, they discover that Briar’s murder is just one part of a nefarious plot to take control of all thirteen kingdoms — a plot that will lead to the doorstep of an eerily familiar fortress for a final showdown with an eerily familiar enemy.
[SSHEL S Collection S. H3498her]

Jones, Noah.
Moldylocks and the Three Beards. 2014.
After falling through the refrigerator into the Land of Fake Believe, Princess meets a girl named Moldylocks who takes her to the home of the Three Beards for chili — but when the Beards capture her friend, Princess must come up with a plan to save her.
[SSHEL S Collection and the Center for Children’s Books S. J722m]

Petty, J. T.
Clemency Pogue: Fairy Killer. 2005.
Clever and resourceful Clemency must travel the world to reanimate fairies she has accidentally killed.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P456c]
Clemency Pogue: The Hobgoblin Proxy. 2006.
Clemency Pogue and the hobgoblin Chaphesmeeso begin a quest to rescue lost fairies, find a boy-goblin’s changeling, and restore equilibrium to the Make-Believe.
[SSHEL Oak Street S. P456ch]
The Scrivener Bees. 2007.
When the rogue changeling Inky Mess tries to take over the Make Believe using the Forgetting Book, feisty fairy-killer Clemency Pogue must put aside worries about her parents and learn to communicate with some frightening bees in order to stop him.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P456sc]

Riley, James.
Half Upon a Time. 2010.
In the village of Giant’s Hand Jack’s grandfather has been pushing him to find a princess and get married, so when a young lady falls out of the sky wearing a shirt that says “Punk Princess,” and she tells Jack that her grandmother, who looks suspiciously like the long-missing Snow White, has been kidnapped, Jack decides to help her.
[SSHEL S Collection S. R4534h]
Twice Upon a Time. 2012.
Jack, of the village of Giant’s Hand, is now accompanied by a prince as he continues trying to help a reluctant princess find her family, while also attempting to save a city full of fairies from a nameless curse.
[SSHEL S Collection S. R4534t]
Once Upon the End. 2013.
Knights, fairy godmothers, giants and beanstalks — all of these and more fill the pages of the conclusion to the Half Upon a Time trilogy
[SSHEL S Collection S. R4534o]

Anywhere but Now: Time Travel in Children’s Literature

As finals approach and the lure of summer vacation beckons, just about everyone wants to be somewhere–anywhere–else. It’s the perfect time of year to celebrate a children’s classic and explore some times and places other than our own. Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery Award-winning novel, A Wrinkle in Time, was published 50 years ago in 1962. Her works have influenced subsequent children’s authors in subtle and–in the case of the 2010 Newbery winner When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead–not so subtle ways.

This post contains a list of fiction and nonfiction children’s books about time travel. To find additional books on this topic in the catalog, try using the subject words “time travel” or “space and time” with “juvenile fiction” or “juvenile Literature.”

Angliss, Sarah. Cosmic Journeys: A Beginner’s Guide to Space and Time Travel. 1998.
This book looks at the future of space travel including nuclear fission-powered spacecraft, teleporting, and time travel. Age 8-12.
[Education Storage Q. S.629.41 An46c]

Asher, Jay and Carolyn Mackler. The Future of Us. 2011.
It’s 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just got her first computer and Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on–and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out. Age 12+
[Center for Children’s Books, Uni High Fiction S. As353f]

Brennan, Herbie. Doomsday Box. 2011.
Working on a highly-classified espionage project, four English teenagers go back in time to the Cold War in 1962 to prevent a global outbreak of the bubonic plague in the twenty-first century. Age 12+
[Center for Children’s Books S. B755d]

Buckley-Archer, Linda. Gideon the Cutpurse: Being the First Part of the Gideon Trilogy. 2006.
Ignored by his father and sent to Derbyshire for the weekend, twelve-year-old Peter and his new friend, Kate, are accidentally transported back in time to 1763 England where they are befriended by a reformed cutpurse. Age 10+
[Center for Children’s Books S. B856g]

Cross, Julie. Tempest. 2011.
After his girlfriend Holly is fatally shot during a violent struggle, nineteen-year-old Jackson uses his supernatural abilities and travels back in time two years, where he falls in love with Holly all over again, learns that his father is a spy, and discovers powerful enemies of time who will stop at nothing to recruit him for their own purposes. Age 14+
[Uni High Fiction C88t]

Davis, Terry. H. G. Wells’ The Time Machine. 2008.
This is a graphic novel adaptation of H.G. Wells’ story, in which a scientist invents a machine that carries him into the future. While there, he meets a race of gentle humans and evil underground creatures. Even worse, his time machine, his only chance to escape, is trapped deep inside the Morlock caverns. Age 10+
[Education S Collection S.741.5973 D298h]

Douglis, Carole. Ting and the Possible Futures. 2008.
Ting and her friends travel to two different futures using a time machine. The first future Ting explores is one of drought, submerged coastal cities, and refugee shantytowns. In the second possible future, Ting sees a huge change in attitude as well as landscape because people acted in time and averted the worst effects of climate change. Age 8-12.
[Available online at www.unep.org/pdf/Ting_Book_Layout.pdf]

Elliott, Zeta. A Wish After Midnight. 2010.
Genna Colon desperately wants to escape from a drug-infested world of poverty, and every day she wishes for a different life. One day Genna’s wish is granted and she is instantly transported back to Civil War-era Brooklyn. Age 12+
[Education S Collection S. El589w]

Gier, Kerstin. Ruby Red. 2011.
Sixteen-year-old Gwyneth discovers that she, rather than her well-prepared cousin, carries a time-travel gene, and soon she is journeying with Gideon, who shares the gift, through historical London trying to discover whom they can trust. Age 12+
[Center for Children’s Books, Uni High Fiction S. G362r:E]

Guibord, Marissa. Warped. 2011.
When seventeen-year-old Tessa Brody comes into possession of an ancient unicorn tapestry, she is plummeted into sixteenth-century England, where her life is intertwined with that of a handsome nobleman who is desperately trying to escape a terrible fate. Age 12+
[Education S Collection, Center for Children’s Books S. G94111w]

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Found. 2008.
When thirteen-year-olds Jonah and Chip, who are both adopted, learn they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies with no adults on board, they realize that they have uncovered a mystery involving time travel and two opposing forces, each trying to repair the fabric of time. Age 10-14.
[Center for Children’s Books S. H117f]

Jones, Diana Wynne. A Tale of Time City. 1987.
In 1939, an eleven-year-old London girl is kidnapped to Time City, a place existing outside the stream of time and manipulating the history of humanity, where she finds the inhabitants facing their worst hour of crisis. Age 10+
[Center for Children’s Books S.J713T]

L’Engle, Madeleine. Wrinkle in Time. 1962.
Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg’s father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government. Using a tesseract, or a wrinkle in time, they travel across time and space to find him. Age 10+
[Education S Collection, Center for Children’s Books S. L547W]

Morton, Alan Q. Einstein’s Theories of Relativity. 2006.
This book covers the discovery and development of Einstein’s Theories of Relativity, which changed the way science thought of time and space. Age 12+
[Education Storage SB. E357m]

Osborne, Mary Pope. Magic Tree House [Series]
Eight-year-old Jack and his younger sister Annie find a magic treehouse that allows them to travel back in time. Over the course of the series, they have gone on nearly 50 adventures in places such as ancient Egypt and the Titanic. Age 5-10.
[Education S Collection and Education Storage]

Rogers, Gregory. The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard. 2004.
A boy playing among the warehouses of London kicks a soccer ball into an abandoned theater. There he finds an enchanted cape that transports him back in time right onto the stage of one of William Shakespeare’s plays! Age 5-10.
[Education Storage, Center for Children’s Books Q. SE. R631b]

Scarrow, Alex. Time Riders. 2010.
Rescued from imminent death, teens Maddy, Liam, and Sal join forces in 2001 Manhattan to correct changes in history made by other time travelers, using a “time bubble” surrounding the attack on the Twin Towers to hide their journeys. Age 12+
[Center for Children’s Books S. Sca76t]

Scieszka, Jon. Time Warp Trio [Series]
Joe, Fred, and Sam receive a magic book that allows them to travel forward and backward in time. The trio has a variety of wacky, humorous adventures in medieval Europe, Neolithic times, and the year 2095. Age 8-12.
[Education Storage]

Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. 2009.
As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1970s television game show, “The $20,000 Pyramid,” a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.
[Education S Collection, Center for Children’s Books S. St311w]

Winterson, Jeanette. Tanglewreck. 2006.
Eleven-year-old Silver sets out to find the Timekeeper–a clock that controls time–and to protect it from falling into the hands of two people who want to use the device for their own nefarious ends. Age 10+
[Center for Children’s Books S. W736ta]