Alexander, Lloyd. Book of Three. (J Alexander)
Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper to a famous oracular sow, sets out on a hazardous mission to save Prydain from the forces of evil. Other books in the series are: The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King.
Baccalario, Pierdomenico. The Door to Time. (J Baccalario)
After moving from London to an old mansion on the English coast, eleven-year-old twins Jason and Julia discover that their new home has twisting tunnels, strange artifacts from around the world, and a mysterious locked door.
Banks, Lynne Reid. The Indian in the Cupboard. (J Banks)
A nine-year-old boy receives a plastic Indian, a cupboard, and a little key for his birthday and finds himself involved in adventure when the Indian comes to life in the cupboard and befriends him. Other books in the series are: The Return of the Indian, The Secret of the Indian, They Mystery of the Cupboard, and The Key to the Indian.
Carman, Patrick. The Dark Hills Divide. (J Carman)
When she finds the key to a secret passageway leading out of the walled city of Bridewell, twelve-year-old Alexa realizes her lifelong wish to explore the mysterious forests and mountains that lie beyond the wall. Other books in the series are: Beyond the Valley of Thorns, and The Tenth City.
Collins, Suzanne. Gregor the Overlander. (J Collins)
When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving humans, bats, rats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy. Other books in the series are: Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane, Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods, and Gregor and the Marks of Secret.
Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl. (J Colfer)
When a twelve-year-old evil genius tries to restore his family fortune by capturing a fairy and demanding a ransom in gold, the fairies fight back with magic, technology, and a particularly nasty troll. Try the other books in this series: The Artic Incident, The Eternity Code, The Opal Deception, and The Lost Colony.
Coombs, Kate. Runaway Princess. (J Coombs)
Fifteen-year-old Princess Meg uses magic and her wits to rescue a baby dragon and escape the unwanted attentions of princes hoping to gain her hand in marriage through a contest arranged by her father, the king.
Cooper, Susan. Over Sea Under Stone. (J Cooper)
Three children on vacation in Cornwall find an ancient manuscript which sends them on a dangerous quest that entraps them in the eternal battle between the forces of the Light and the Dark. Try the other books in this series: The Dark is Rising, The Grey King, Greenwitch, and Silver on the Tree.
Diterlizzi, Toni. Spiderwick Chronicles. (J Diterlizzi)
Three siblings discover an old book with pictures of fantastic creatures in the spooky old house in which they live.
Downer, Ann. Hatching Magic. (J Downer)
A procession of a pet dragon, a wizard, and his archenemy travel through time from the 13 th century to the 21 st century, where an 11-year-old Bostonian becomes involved in their disputes. Sequel: Dragon of Never-Was.
Dunmore, Helen. Ingo. (J Dunmore)
As they search for their missing father near their Cornwall home, Sapphy and her brother Conor learn about their family's connection to the domains of air and water.
Funk, Cornelia. Inkheart. (J Funk)
Twelve-year-old Meggie learns that her father Mo, a bookbinder, can "read" fictional characters to life when an evil ruler named Capricorn, freed from the novel "Inkheart" years earlier, tries to force Mo to release an immortal monster from the story. Also try the sequel Inkspell.
Funk Cornelia. Dragon Rider. (J Funk)
After learning that humans are headed toward his hidden home, Firedrake, a silver dragon, is joined by a brownie and an orphan boy in a quest to find the legendary valley known as the Rim of Heaven, encountering friendly and unfriendly creatures along the way, and struggling to evade the relentless pursuit of an old enemy.
Ibbotson, Eva. The Secret of Platform 13. (J Ibbotson)
Odge Gribble, a young hag, joins an old wizard, a gentle fey, and a giant ogre on a journey from their magical island kingdom to London through a tunnel which opens every nine years for nine days, to try and rescue the young prince who had been stolen as an infant nine years before.
Kerr, Philip. Akhenaten Adventure. (J Kerr)
When twelve-year-old twins Philippa and John discover that they are descended from a long line of djinn, their mother sends them away to their Uncle Nimrod, who takes them to Cairo where he starts to teach them about their extraordinary powers. Also try the sequel The Blue Djinn of Babylon.
Lewis, C.S. Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. (J Lewis)
Four English school children find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch who has cursed the land with eternal winter. Don’t miss the other books in the series: Prince Caspian,The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle.
Levine, Gail Carlson. Ella Enchanted. (J Levine)
In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.
Levine, Gail Carlson. Fairest. (J Levine)
In Ayortha, singing and beauty are prized above all else. Aza, a commoner, can sing, and Queen Ivi is a beauty. The queen forces Aza to use her voice to deceive the entire court.
McKinley, Robin. The Blue Sword. (J McKinley)
Harry, bored with her sheltered life in the remote orange-growing colony of Daria, discovers magic in herself when she is kidnapped by a native king with mysterious powers.
Napoli, Donna Jo. The Prince of the Pond: Otherwise Known as De Fawg Pin. (J Napoli)
When a prince is turned into a frog, he finds it difficult to adjust.
Nimmo, Jenny. Midnight for Charlie Bone. (J Nimmo)
What's happening to Charlie Bone? Charlie doesn't want to believe it when he discovers that he can hear the thoughts of people in photographs. But his horrible aunts are delighted - it means that he is one of the chosen and must attend the Bloor's Academy for gifted children. Once there, Charlie realizes that some of his classmates have equally mysterious powers, and soon Charlie is involved in uncovering the mysterious past of one of them. Other book is the series are: Charlie Bone and the Time Twister, Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy, Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors, Charlie Bone and the Hidden King, Charlie Bone and the Beast.
Norton, Mary. The Borrowers. (J Norton)
The Borrowers are a tiny race of people who live hidden away in houses or other safe, convenient places, and own nothing except what they borrow from "human beans." The last family to live in the old house, Pod, Homily and Arrietty have made a comfortable home beneath the kitchen floor. But their lives become threatened when Pod is seen while on a borrowing expedition. Other books in the series are: The Borrowers Afield, The Borrowers Afloat, The Borrowers Aloft, The Borrowers Avenged.
Park, Linda Sue. Archer’s Quest. (J Park)
Twelve-year-old Kevin Kim helps Chu-mong, a legendary king of ancient Korea, return to his own time.
Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. (J Riordan)
Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson learns he is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea. His mother sends him to a summer camp for demigods where he and his new friends set out on a quest to prevent a war between the gods. Other books in the series are: The Sea of Monsters and The Titan's Curse.
Thompson, Kate. The New Policeman. (J New Child)
Irish teenager JJ Liddy discovers that time is leaking from his world into Tir na nOg, the land of the fairies, and when he attempts to stop the leak he finds out a lot about his family history, the music that he loves, and a crime his great-grandfather may or may not have committed.
Winthrop, Elizabeth. The Castle in the Attic. (J Winthrop)
A gift of a toy castle, complete with silver knight, introduces William to an adventure involving magic and a personal quest. Also try the sequel The Battle for the Castle.
Wrede, Patricia. Dealing with Dragons. (J Wrede)
Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved with fighting against some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom. Other books in the series are: Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons.
Mary Cheney Library
586 Main Street
Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 645-0577
http://library.townofmanchester.org/children.html
Whiton Memorial Branch Library
100 North Main Street
Manchester, CT 06042
(860) 643-6892
Updated 1/09