Tag Archives: magic

Fairy Tales Retold

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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

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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

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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

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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]