Fantasy and Science Fiction

 

Avi. Midnight Magic

Mangus the Magician must free a princess from a terrifying ghost. Naturally, Mangus doesn't believe in ghosts. He doesn't even believe in magic! However, his servant boy, Fabrizio, is a secret friend of the princess and is determined to prove the ghost is real. (publisher)

The author writes in a way that draws you into the books. I also loved the characters. It's set in a castle in Italy. Alice H.

 

Avi. Something Upstairs

When he moves from Los Angeles to Providence, Rhode Island, Kenny discovers that his new house is haunted by the spirit of a black slave boy who asks Kenny to return with him to the early nineteenth century and prevent his murder by slave traders.

 

Card. Ender’s Game

Aliens have attacked Earth twice and almost destroyed the human species. To make sure humans win the next encounter, the world government has taken to breeding military geniuses.

 

Chetwin.  Collidescope

When his spaceship crashes to earth, a highly advanced alien interferes with the lives of two teenagers living on the island of Manhattan during different centuries.

 

Cooper. The Boggart

After visiting the castle in Scotland which her family has inherited and returning to Canada, Emily finds that she has accidentally brought back with her a boggart, an invisible and mischievous spirit.

 

Crichton. Sphere

This is a cool and good book. Set in the ocean, there is a strange object. Is it from Earth or does it contain alien life? Tom P.

 

Colfer. Artemis Fowl

An evil "Harry Potter" type boy tries to kidnap a fairy to learn their secrets. Too bad Holly the Leprechaun is on his trail.

A fantastic fantasy story. Katie N.

 

Etchemendy. The Power of Un

When he is given a device that will allow him to "undo" what has happened in the past, Gib Finney is not sure what event from the worst day in his life he should change in order to keep his sister from being hit by a truck.

This book keeps you interested. A boy tries to go back and forth in time to rescue his sister. Connor L.

 

Haddix. Among the Hidden

Science fiction about a third child in a near future world where third children are forbidden.

It had a lot of mystery and is exciting. Thomas K.

 

Hahn. Time for Andrew

When he goes to spend the summer with his great-aunt in the family’s old house, Drew is drawn eighty years into the past to trade places with his great-great-uncle who is dying.

 

Hautman. Mr. Was

After his dying grandfather tries to strangle him, Jack Lund discovers a door that leads him fifty years into the past and involves him in events that determine his own fate.

 

Jacques. The Redwall Series

When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help Redwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy.

These books are all very good, detailed, and very imaginative. Patrick B.

Brian Jacques makes the animals act almost like humans! These books are full of animals and adventure. Stephanie C.

 

Jacques. The Legend of Luke

I liked this book because it was long and the author made it very clear what the characters were like. The setting was very clear. John C.

 

Jacques. Taggerung

Never lost my interest. Action, fabulous language and descriptions. Julia C.

 

Juster. The Phantom Tollbooth

This ingenious fantasy centers around Milo, a bored ten-year-old who comes home to find a large toy tollbooth sitting in his room. Joining forces with a watchdog named Tock, Milo drives through the tollbooth's gates and begins a memorable journey. He meets such characters as the foolish, yet lovable Humbug, the Mathemagician, and the not-so-wicked "Which," Faintly Macabre, who gives Milo the "impossible" mission of returning two princesses to the Kingdom of Wisdom. (publisher)

A funny, funny fantasy set in a world of double meanings and clever wordplay.

This book is funny and the characters are good and creative. Ethan M.

 

Lally. A Hive for the Honeybee

When Thora, a young worker bee, befriends some drones, she wonders if they really are lords of the hive or if their pompous posturing merely conceals an appalling fate.

 

Levine. Ella Enchanted

This is the story of Ella of Frell, who at birth was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at anytime anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom'and she'll have to obey? Against a bold tapestry of princes, ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, and fairy godmothers, Ella's quest to break the curse once and for all and discover who she really is. (publisher)

This is a terrific book about imaginative creatures. Rebecca C.

 

Levine. The Fairies' Mistake

In this humorous retelling of a Perrault tale, the fairy Ethelinda rewards one twin sister for good behavior and punishes the other for bad, only to discover that her punishment is more pleasing than her reward.

This is just like the classic fairy tales but with a little twist. Jocelyn S.

 

Martin. The Doll People

A family of porceline dolls that has lived in the same house for 100 years is taken aback when a new family of plastic dols arrives and doesn’t follow The Doll Code of Honor.

 

Paulsen. Transall Saga

While backpacking in the desert, thirteen-year-old Mark falls into a tube of blue light and is transported into a more primitive world, where he must use his knowledge and skills to survive.

A futuristic Paulsen book. Hmmm. It's what things will be like in the future. Breaker P.

 

Pierce. The Alanna Series

Ten wonderful books about three great heroines. First, Alanna--a girl who breaks therules and becomes the first lady knight. Second, Diane--a heroine who learns to speak to animals. Third, a heroine whose name is Kel and she is becoming a lady knight who is able to try because of Alanna so she doesn't have to disguise herself as a boy. Megan D.

 

Philbrick. The Last Book in the Universe

In a world where most people are plugged into brain-drain entertainment systems epileptic teenager Spaz is a rare human being who can see life for what it really is. When he meets an old man called Ryter, he begins to learn about earth and its past. With Ryter as his companion, Spaz sets off on an unlikely quest to save his dying sister ­ and in the process, perhaps the world.

This is science fiction, set in the near future. It is awesome. Travis M.

 

Rowling. The Harry Potter Series

Fun to read and keeps you wanting more. Derek L.

 

Rubinstein. Galax-Arena

Joella, Peter, and Liane are kidnapped from an Australian train station and taken on a rocket to the Galax-Arena, where they and other children are told they must perform death-defying stunts for the amusement of the inhabitants of the planet Vexak.

 

Peck. The Ghost Belonged to Me

In 1913 in the Midwest Alexander discovers a ghost in the barn.  When he first sees the eerie glow in the dormer window of the barn, it sets his heart pounding. And when he ventures into the barn in the dark of night, his breath catches in his throat. Suddenly Blossom Culp's words come back to him: "You can make contact with the Unseen...." Now there's a girl ghost standing right in front of him, telling him of great danger ahead.

 

Sanders. The Engineer of Beasts

Thirteen-year-old Mooch runs afoul of the repressive authorities controlling her floating domed city, by helping an old engineer build realistic robot animals and by seeking her spiritual roots with the wild animals left on the outside.

 

Sleator. Rewind

Not long after learning that he was adopted, Peter is hit by a car and then given several chances to alter events that could lead to his death.

 

Snicket. Series of Unfortunate Events books

I loved these books because you hear about these three kids' lives and what they go through. Things go bad and just when you're getting used to the good things it goes bad again. This series is the best! Sierra C.

 

Tolkien. Lord of the Rings Series and The Hobbit

All of these books have great characters and good plots. Paul C.

Wonderful. Captivating, and grotesque! Yet beautiful, deep, adventurous, amazing! Ingenious, the best books in the world. Funny, sad, and beautiful. Dino G.

I like the action. Very good books. Will M.

These books have great action, adventure, and beautiful detail of the action. Matt K.

Very detailed and descriptive. It has a lot of adventures and battles. Jordan G.

 

Zindel. The Doom Stone

When 15-year-old Jackson visits his aunt in England, he becomes caught up ina chase to capture an unknown creature who is stalking and killing people on the plains surrounding Stonehenge.