Fantasy! Talking animals... time travel... science fiction... special powers... ghosts...all of that!
What good fantasy books have you read? Add them here...
All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn
Genre: Ghost story
Summary: Two kids go to spend the summer with their grandmother in an old inn. In the past, the inn was supposedly haunted and the kids decide to pretend to be ghosts to scare up some business. However, their tricks "wake up" the real ghosts and now they have to figure out what to do.
Review: I give this book a 4.5 out of 5. I thought it was a great ghost story but some parts broke my heart and made it hard to read. It's not super scary (this is middle school afterall) but it's a great ghost story!
Genre: Ghost story
Summary: Two kids go to spend the summer with their grandmother in an old inn. In the past, the inn was supposedly haunted and the kids decide to pretend to be ghosts to scare up some business. However, their tricks "wake up" the real ghosts and now they have to figure out what to do.
Review: I give this book a 4.5 out of 5. I thought it was a great ghost story but some parts broke my heart and made it hard to read. It's not super scary (this is middle school afterall) but it's a great ghost story!
My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale, Romance - definitely Chick-Lit!!
Summary: Savannah needs to find the perfect prom date after her sister steals her boyfriend! Her Fair Godmother steps in to help, but Savannah ends up in the Middle Ages along with a boy who wants to be that perfect date. This books is funny!
Review: 4.5 out of 5 - I love dating aspect of this story and there are some pretty funny parts!! This is a great book if you like fairy tales but don't want it to be "cheesy".
Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale, Romance - definitely Chick-Lit!!
Summary: Savannah needs to find the perfect prom date after her sister steals her boyfriend! Her Fair Godmother steps in to help, but Savannah ends up in the Middle Ages along with a boy who wants to be that perfect date. This books is funny!
Review: 4.5 out of 5 - I love dating aspect of this story and there are some pretty funny parts!! This is a great book if you like fairy tales but don't want it to be "cheesy".
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Genre: Fairy Tale, fantasy, romance (kind of) and beauty is not "all that"
Summary: Aza has a beautiful singing voice, but she is UGLY! She ends up going to the King's wedding and her entire life turns upside down. Through it all, she learns some big, big lessons!
Review: 4.5 out of 5! This is NOT my favorite genre, but I could not put this book down! Ms. Byler recommended it and so I gave it shot - I think you should too!!
Genre: Fairy Tale, fantasy, romance (kind of) and beauty is not "all that"
Summary: Aza has a beautiful singing voice, but she is UGLY! She ends up going to the King's wedding and her entire life turns upside down. Through it all, she learns some big, big lessons!
Review: 4.5 out of 5! This is NOT my favorite genre, but I could not put this book down! Ms. Byler recommended it and so I gave it shot - I think you should too!!
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
Genre: Fairy Tale, fantasy, romance (kind of) and beauty is not "all that"
Summary: Aza has a beautiful singing voice, but she is UGLY! She ends up going to the King's wedding and her entire life turns upside down. Through it all, she learns some big, big lessons!
Review: 4.5 out of 5! This is NOT my favorite genre, but I could not put this book down! Ms. Byler recommended it and so I gave it shot - I think you should too!!
Genre: Fairy Tale, fantasy, romance (kind of) and beauty is not "all that"
Summary: Aza has a beautiful singing voice, but she is UGLY! She ends up going to the King's wedding and her entire life turns upside down. Through it all, she learns some big, big lessons!
Review: 4.5 out of 5! This is NOT my favorite genre, but I could not put this book down! Ms. Byler recommended it and so I gave it shot - I think you should too!!
H.I.V.E. (Higher Institute of Villainous Education) by Mark Walden
Genre: Action/Adventure and bit of science fiction with the technology.
Summary: Otto Malpense ends up getting kidnapped and sent to a very, very secret school. The purpose of the school is teach kids how to be very scary villains – the smartest, sneakiest, most evil villains. However, Otto and a few others do not want to be there and are going to try and leave. However, the school believes leaving is not an option.
Review: I give this book a 4.5 out of 5. The action is good and the technology is amazing. This is a series so I’m not completely sold…
Genre: Action/Adventure and bit of science fiction with the technology.
Summary: Otto Malpense ends up getting kidnapped and sent to a very, very secret school. The purpose of the school is teach kids how to be very scary villains – the smartest, sneakiest, most evil villains. However, Otto and a few others do not want to be there and are going to try and leave. However, the school believes leaving is not an option.
Review: I give this book a 4.5 out of 5. The action is good and the technology is amazing. This is a series so I’m not completely sold…
The Fairy Ring By Mary Losure
Genre: Historical and fantasy
Summary: This is a true story about two cousins who accidentally fool the world with photographs of fairies. Even the author of Sherlock Holmes is tricked!
Review: 4 out of 5. I liked the book, but it moved a bit slow for me. I’m impressed however, that the girls could pull this off!
Genre: Historical and fantasy
Summary: This is a true story about two cousins who accidentally fool the world with photographs of fairies. Even the author of Sherlock Holmes is tricked!
Review: 4 out of 5. I liked the book, but it moved a bit slow for me. I’m impressed however, that the girls could pull this off!
Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs
Genre: Adventure and science fiction
Summary: A meteor lands in Brady’s bedroom and this meteor ends up giving Brady some pretty amazing sports and endurance abilities. However, something goes wrong and Brady’s life is in danger.
Review: Four out of five. It’s pretty good, but it took a little too long to get to the really, really good part!
Genre: Adventure and science fiction
Summary: A meteor lands in Brady’s bedroom and this meteor ends up giving Brady some pretty amazing sports and endurance abilities. However, something goes wrong and Brady’s life is in danger.
Review: Four out of five. It’s pretty good, but it took a little too long to get to the really, really good part!
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Genre: Fantasy and historical fiction
Summary: Ten year old orphan Peter encounters a fortune teller in a marketplace and tells him that his younger sister is alive and that she will be found behind the elephant! This information takes him on an sweet adventure that involves magicians, beggars, orphans, and an elephant!
Review: I give this book a 4 out of 5. It is a little bit hard to follow because it is written in an-almost-poetic way. But the story is sweet and you will love how all the characters tie together in the end.
Genre: Fantasy and historical fiction
Summary: Ten year old orphan Peter encounters a fortune teller in a marketplace and tells him that his younger sister is alive and that she will be found behind the elephant! This information takes him on an sweet adventure that involves magicians, beggars, orphans, and an elephant!
Review: I give this book a 4 out of 5. It is a little bit hard to follow because it is written in an-almost-poetic way. But the story is sweet and you will love how all the characters tie together in the end.
13 Gifts by Wendy Mass
Genre: Fantasy, friendship, and funny
Summary: This is another book related to 11 Birthdays. Tara has to spend the summer at her cousin's house in Willow Falls. She soon finds out that things are a little estra-ordinary in this town and she has to gather a list of items to repay a debt for an old lady in town. With the help of her new friends (the characters from 11 Birthdays and Finally) she gathers the items and discovers a lot more in the process.
Review: I hate to label this book as fantasy, but it is magical. I give this a 4.5 out of 5. It took me a little while to get into this book, but I love the ending and the lessons Tara learns!
Genre: Fantasy, friendship, and funny
Summary: This is another book related to 11 Birthdays. Tara has to spend the summer at her cousin's house in Willow Falls. She soon finds out that things are a little estra-ordinary in this town and she has to gather a list of items to repay a debt for an old lady in town. With the help of her new friends (the characters from 11 Birthdays and Finally) she gathers the items and discovers a lot more in the process.
Review: I hate to label this book as fantasy, but it is magical. I give this a 4.5 out of 5. It took me a little while to get into this book, but I love the ending and the lessons Tara learns!
The Prince of Fenway Park by Julianna Baggott
Genre: Fantasy and Sports
Summary: Oscar ends up living with dad... under Fenway Park! He lives with cursed creatures who are doomed to live under the baseball stadium until the curse is broken. It's Oscar's job to break the curse, but not all of the people he lives with want him to succeed.
Review: 4 out of 5 - especially is if you love baseball!
Genre: Fantasy and Sports
Summary: Oscar ends up living with dad... under Fenway Park! He lives with cursed creatures who are doomed to live under the baseball stadium until the curse is broken. It's Oscar's job to break the curse, but not all of the people he lives with want him to succeed.
Review: 4 out of 5 - especially is if you love baseball!
Pemba's Song a Ghost Story by Tonya Hegamin
Genre: Fantasty and non-scary ghost story
Summary: Pemba moves to a small town in Connecticut and encounters a ghost in her home. Pemba needs to find out what the ghost wants!
Review: 4 out of 5... The story is pretty good and I like how it switches from poetry to the story to the ghost. If you are looking for a scary book, this is not it. But it's worth reading anyway! This book is a Sunshine State Young Reader (so you know it's pretty good!!)
Genre: Fantasty and non-scary ghost story
Summary: Pemba moves to a small town in Connecticut and encounters a ghost in her home. Pemba needs to find out what the ghost wants!
Review: 4 out of 5... The story is pretty good and I like how it switches from poetry to the story to the ghost. If you are looking for a scary book, this is not it. But it's worth reading anyway! This book is a Sunshine State Young Reader (so you know it's pretty good!!)
Super Human by Michael Carroll
Genre: Adventure and fantasy/sci-fy
Summary: It's your basic good vs. evil story. Some people are "Super Humans" and have special powers. Other people are just "regular" people. The Super Humans and some regular people need to stop the Super Villain from taking over the world.
Review: It's a long book and I think it might be too long... I give it a 3.5 out of 5. The action is really good, but it's just not my favorite - maybe because I don't like Sci-fy!
Genre: Adventure and fantasy/sci-fy
Summary: It's your basic good vs. evil story. Some people are "Super Humans" and have special powers. Other people are just "regular" people. The Super Humans and some regular people need to stop the Super Villain from taking over the world.
Review: It's a long book and I think it might be too long... I give it a 3.5 out of 5. The action is really good, but it's just not my favorite - maybe because I don't like Sci-fy!
Jolted by Arthur Slade
Genre: Realistic Science Fiction (if there is such a thing...)
Summary: Newton's family has a strange "connection" to lightening; everyone in his family has died from a lightening strike. After his mom dies, he attends a school that teaches survival skills and he learns about survival but also what it means to have friends.
Review: This wasn't my favorite book, but it wasn't bad either! Some parts were pretty funny and some parts had suspense. So... I'll say 3 out of 5!
Genre: Realistic Science Fiction (if there is such a thing...)
Summary: Newton's family has a strange "connection" to lightening; everyone in his family has died from a lightening strike. After his mom dies, he attends a school that teaches survival skills and he learns about survival but also what it means to have friends.
Review: This wasn't my favorite book, but it wasn't bad either! Some parts were pretty funny and some parts had suspense. So... I'll say 3 out of 5!
Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson
Genre: Science fiction and adventure
Summary: Five kids have been chosen by Disney to be a tour guide - but not just any tour guide - hologram tour guides. But one night the technology backfires and the kids find themselves int he middle of a mystery they have to solve so that the "bad guys" don't destroy the park... or the world.
Review: Four out of five. I had a hard time getting into this book but it was cool to have all the action happen in a place that I am familiar with!
Genre: Science fiction and adventure
Summary: Five kids have been chosen by Disney to be a tour guide - but not just any tour guide - hologram tour guides. But one night the technology backfires and the kids find themselves int he middle of a mystery they have to solve so that the "bad guys" don't destroy the park... or the world.
Review: Four out of five. I had a hard time getting into this book but it was cool to have all the action happen in a place that I am familiar with!
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Genre: Friendship and fantasy (I hate labeling it this... because it sounds so weird and it's not!)
Summary: Amanda and Leo share a birthday and they have celebrated together every year. However, this year, they are growing apart. At the end of the day, Amanda is glad to have her birthday behind her... or is it?
Review: 5 out of 5! I. Love. This. Book.... Mrs Hagan loves this book! You will love this book!
Genre: Friendship and fantasy (I hate labeling it this... because it sounds so weird and it's not!)
Summary: Amanda and Leo share a birthday and they have celebrated together every year. However, this year, they are growing apart. At the end of the day, Amanda is glad to have her birthday behind her... or is it?
Review: 5 out of 5! I. Love. This. Book.... Mrs Hagan loves this book! You will love this book!
Claim to Fame ~ Margaret Peterson Haddix
Genre: Science Fiction
Summary: Lindsay, a former child actress, has a very special ability... she can hear everything that is said about her. So if that isn't bad enough, her dad dies and she has to figure out what to do now. And things get a little tense - and even a little action (yeah!!)
Review: I give this book a 3 out of 5. It's good - if you like fanatasy then you would probably rate it higher! This book reminds me of the other Haddix books - a little realistic, a little out there, but a whole lot of good!
Genre: Science Fiction
Summary: Lindsay, a former child actress, has a very special ability... she can hear everything that is said about her. So if that isn't bad enough, her dad dies and she has to figure out what to do now. And things get a little tense - and even a little action (yeah!!)
Review: I give this book a 3 out of 5. It's good - if you like fanatasy then you would probably rate it higher! This book reminds me of the other Haddix books - a little realistic, a little out there, but a whole lot of good!
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Genre: Science fiction and adventure
Summary: Jonah has always know he is adopted but after he begins to receive mysterious letters, he realizes there is more to this story. So Jonah, his sister, and friend get involved in a mystery that involves the FBI, a smuggling operation, a mysterious airplane, and people who come and go at will!
Review: Five out of five (but give it some time to really get involved with it!). There are more books in this series and you will be DYING to read the next one!!
Genre: Science fiction and adventure
Summary: Jonah has always know he is adopted but after he begins to receive mysterious letters, he realizes there is more to this story. So Jonah, his sister, and friend get involved in a mystery that involves the FBI, a smuggling operation, a mysterious airplane, and people who come and go at will!
Review: Five out of five (but give it some time to really get involved with it!). There are more books in this series and you will be DYING to read the next one!!
Dodger and Me by Jordan Sonnenblick
Genre: Humor and fantasy (sort of... Real character plus a blue chimpanzee that talks)
Summary: A nerdy, wimpy kid with an over-protective mom finds a "genie" that can't really grant wishes, but fulfills "heart's desires". This genie happens to be a blue chimpanzee and needless to say, they go on some crazy adventures.
Review: If you like goofy, silly books, this one is for you! I'm not going to rate it... I want you to rate it!! Let me know what you think.
Genre: Humor and fantasy (sort of... Real character plus a blue chimpanzee that talks)
Summary: A nerdy, wimpy kid with an over-protective mom finds a "genie" that can't really grant wishes, but fulfills "heart's desires". This genie happens to be a blue chimpanzee and needless to say, they go on some crazy adventures.
Review: If you like goofy, silly books, this one is for you! I'm not going to rate it... I want you to rate it!! Let me know what you think.
The Entertainer and the Dybbuk ~ Sid Fleishman
Genre: Historical Fiction and Ghosts (but not scary ghosts...)
Summary: An American ventriloquist is traveling Europe after World War II. Surprisingly, he becomes possessed by the spirit of a Jewish boy who died in the Holocaust.
Review: I give this book a 4 out of 5. It is funny and distrubing at the same time!
Genre: Historical Fiction and Ghosts (but not scary ghosts...)
Summary: An American ventriloquist is traveling Europe after World War II. Surprisingly, he becomes possessed by the spirit of a Jewish boy who died in the Holocaust.
Review: I give this book a 4 out of 5. It is funny and distrubing at the same time!
Surviving Antarctica by Andrea White
Genre: Science Fiction adventure (it takes place in the future...)
Summary: As part of a reality TV show, kids are sent to Antarctica. But at some point, it's more than a TV show
Review: 3 out of 5 - it's a good story but a little long!
Genre: Science Fiction adventure (it takes place in the future...)
Summary: As part of a reality TV show, kids are sent to Antarctica. But at some point, it's more than a TV show
Review: 3 out of 5 - it's a good story but a little long!
First Light by Rebecca Stead
Genre: Science fiction
Summary: Two stories weave together... Peter goes to Greenland with his dad and has visions. Thea lives beneath the ice because they were killed because of their visions. Thea needs Peter's help and can Thea help Peter?
Review: 3 out of 5 - I couldn't get into it, but others really liked it!
Genre: Science fiction
Summary: Two stories weave together... Peter goes to Greenland with his dad and has visions. Thea lives beneath the ice because they were killed because of their visions. Thea needs Peter's help and can Thea help Peter?
Review: 3 out of 5 - I couldn't get into it, but others really liked it!