Just Ella (Margaret Peterson Haddix)

Author Biography

Margaret Peterson Haddix is a prolific, award-winning author of children’s and young adult literature, best known for the two series Shadow Children and The Missing. She lives in Columbus, Ohio

Published By: Simon & Schuster

Year: 1999

ISBN: 978-0-7614-5536-3

Reading Level: Grades 6 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

What if the story of Cinderella wasn’t really the fairy tale we’ve been told? And what if Ella’s “happily ever after” wasn’t so happy?

Dragon Flight (Jessica Day George)

Author Biography

Jessica Day George has written sixteen fantasy novels for children and young adults, including the Dragon(skin) Slippers trilogy, the Princesses of Westfalin trilogy, and the Tuesdays at the Castle series. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Published By: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Year: 2008

ISBN-13: 978-1-59990-110-7

ISBN-10: 1-59990-110-2

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

When an army of dragons threatens to destroy the kingdom of Feravel, Creel and her own dragon friends must try to stop them… and to solve the mystery behind the unprovoked attack.

Venturess (Betsy Cornwell)

Author Biography

Betsy Cornwell has written four YA fantasy novels, served as columnist and editor at Teen Ink, and taught multiple subjects at Notre Dame. She currently lives in Ireland.

Published By: Clarion Books

Year: 2017

ISBN: 9780544319271

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

After her Cinderella-like rise to success, steampunk inventor Nick is called upon to defend the magical race of Fey from oppression and slaughter. But whose lives will be most transformed by her journey: the Fey’s, or her own?

Squire (Tamora Pierce)

Author Biography

Tamora Pierce has written numerous renowned fantasy novels, set in either the “Tortall” universe or the “Circle” universe. In 2013 she received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her body of work.

Published By: Random House Inc.

Year: 2001

ISBN: 978-0-679-88916-8

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Her term as a page over, Kel is chosen to serve as squire to one of Tortall’s most famed knights. Her next four years will be filled with new adventures, new hardships, new threats, and new opportunities to prove her chivalrous spirit.

Eona/The Necklace of the Gods/Eona: Return of the Dragoneye (Alison Goodman)

 

Author Biography

Alison Goodman is an award-winning author of YA fiction, including Singing the Dogstar Blues, the Eon/Eona duology, and The Dark Days Club. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Published By: HarperCollins

Year: 2011

ISBN: 978-0-670-06311-6

Reading Level: Grades 10 and up.

Reader’s Annotation:

As the only surviving Dragoneye allied with the exiled Pearl Emperor Kygo, Eona must strive to save the Empire of the Celestial Dragons from a usurper’s deadly reign. But can she succeed amid the many dangers, both external and from within herself?

Page (Tamora Pierce)

Author Biography

Tamora Pierce has written numerous renowned fantasy novels, set in either the “Tortall” universe or the “Circle” universe. In 2013 she received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her body of work.

Published By: Random House Inc.

Year: 2000

ISBN: 0-679-88918-3

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Having proven herself worthy to be a page, Kel trains to become a squire and then a knight. As she does so, she makes new friends and faces new hardships, but her tenacity and courage remain unchanged.

Forest Born (Shannon Hale)

Author Biography

Shannon Hale is the Newbery Honor-winning author of Princess Academy, as well as the four Books of Bayern. She lives in South Jordan, Utah.


Published By: Bloomsbury U.S.A.


Year: 2009


ISBN-13: 978-1-59990-167-1


ISBN-10: 1-59990-167-6


Reading Level: Grades 9 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Ashamed of her secret power to manipulate others, Rin goes through life repressing all desires and hiding her true self, except from her beloved trees. But when the royal family faces a terrifying threat, Rin’s true self just might save the kingdom.

The Realms of the Gods (Tamora Pierce)

Author Biography

Tamora Pierce has written numerous renowned fantasy novels, set in either the “Tortall” universe or the “Circle” universe. In 2013 she received the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her body of work.

Published By: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Year: 1996

ISBN: 0-689-86209-I

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Transported to the Divine Realms to save their lives, Daine and Numair must find their way back to Tortall, where their friends need them. But can two mortals survive all the dangers that litter the realms of the gods, or the dangers awaiting them back home?

Sacrifice (Cindy Pon)

Author Biography

Cindy Pon is the author of four YA fantasy novels and a member of the We Need Diverse Books advisory board. In 2011, she co-founded the Diversity in YA blog with Malinda Lo.

Published By: Month9Books

Year: 2016

ISBN-10: 978-1-944816-92-6

ISBN-13: 978-1-944816-52-0

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Following the events of Serpentine, Skybright begins her new demonic existence with no hope of seeing her loved ones again. But fate will soon reunite them as terrifying supernatural forces threaten them all.

River Secrets (Shannon Hale)

Author Biography

Shannon Hale is the Newbery Honor-winning author of Princess Academy, as well as the four Books of Bayern. She lives in South Jordan, Utah.

Published By: Bloomsbury U.S.A.

Year: 2006

ISBN-13: 978-1-58234-901-5

ISBN-10: 1-58234-901-0

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Awkward, unassuming Razo hardly seems to belong among the soldiers sent on a peacekeeping mission to Tira. But when mysterious deaths occur and threaten to cause a new war, it just might be Razo’s sharp wits and deductive skills that save the day.

The Black Cauldron (Lloyd Alexander)

Author Biography

Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) was the widely renowned author of numerous fantasy novels, most famously The Chronicles of Prydain. His honors include a 1966 Newbery Honor for The Black Cauldron and the 1969 Newbery Medal for The High King.

Published By: Holt, Reinhart and Winston

Year: 1965

ISBN: 0-8050-0992-2

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

A year after their adventures in The Book of Three, Taran and his friends join the lords of Prydain on a quest to destroy the Black Cauldron of Arawn. This quest proves darker than Taran ever expected and drags him headlong into new maturity.

Lioness Rampant (Tamora Pierce)

Author Biography

Tamora Pierce has written numerous renowned fantasy novels, set in either the “Tortall” universe or the “Circle” universe. In 2013 she received the Margaret A. Edwards award for her body of work.

Published By: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Year: 1988

ISBN: 0-689-31116-8

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Alanna searches for the Dominion Jewel, which allegedly has the power to save a troubled realm. Her search could hardly be timelier, as sudden tragedy and an old enemy’s return bring Tortall to the brink of destruction.

The Wings of Merlin/Merlin, Book 5: A Wizard's Wings (T.A. Barron)

Author Biography

T.A. Barron is a prolific author of books for children and young adults, particularly in the fantasy genre, as well as an active founder and supporter of conservation causes. He lives in Colorado.

Published By: Penguin Group USA

Year: 2000

ISBN: 0-399-23456

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

Three threats loom over Fincayra: its tyrannical king’s return, a mysterious warrior’s bloody rampage, and an invasion of monstrous spirits from the Otherworld. Can Merlin stop them all, or is this the end of the magical world he calls home?

The Mirror of Merlin/Merlin, Book 4: The Mirror of Fate (T.A. Barron)

Author Biography

T.A. Barron is a prolific author of books for children and young adults, particularly in the fantasy genre, as well as an active founder and supporter of conservation causes. He lives in Colorado.

Published By: Penguin Group USA

Year: 1999

ISBN: 0-399-23455

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

A spell gone awry sends Merlin and his beloved Hallia to the Haunted Marsh. There they face terrible dangers and discover wondrous magic… including a mirror that contains the mists of time.

Shadow Scale (Rachel Hartman)

Author Biography

Rachel Hartman is a Vancouver-based comic book artist and music lover. Seraphina and Shadow Scale are her first two novels.

Published By: Random House

Year: 2015

ISBN: 978-0-375-86657-9

Reading Level: Grades 10 and up

Reader’s Annotation:

As a dragon war rages, Seraphina sets out on a quest to find other half-dragons like herself. But can she elude a powerful villainess who aims to hijack her mission for her own sinister purpose?