Children's Fantasy Books: New Reads and Old Favourites

Stories are everywhere. Adults and children make them up all the time – sometimes without even knowing it. I’ll bet you do it too.  And it’s a short stop from a story like:

  ‘The dog ate my homework.’

to

  ‘The dread sorcerer Bernard the Tetchy burnt down my bedroom so I couldn’t finish the

    maths paper.’

Fantasy is everywhere.

   The wonderous and fantastical takes your imagination and blows it up like a million fireworks in your head but the great thing about books is that all that fizz and thrill and sparkle, stays captured in their pages, forever. Magic on demand. There is a world of fantasy books out there waiting for any child who wants the adventure. Some leap out at you from supermarket shelves, others beckon you into bookshops, or smile at you from online seller sites. And some (old or new) might want a bit of a nudge forward so that a child somewhere might think:

   ‘I want to read that...’

     That’s what I’m here for. Famous or forgotten, what you’ll find here are recommendations for magical tales of the feisty or shy, human or supernatural, to give children an adventure they won’t soon forget, in words they will want to keep on reading... and reading... and reading.

The Magic Moments Code Symbols

Here are my code symbols for the themes you can expect to find in the books reviewed

REDISCOVER A CLASSIC

THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE: Joan Aiken. 1962

I’ve put this book in the ‘other worlds ‘and ‘historical’ categories because Joan Aiken did something rather clever with this story. She invented an alternative history of Britain starting from about 1688.  In this world Queen Victoria never existed but our young heroines Bonney and Silvia travel on 19^th century steam trains however – rural England is plagued by wild wolves. You might not want to linger at a quiet country station after dark in case you’re eaten.

   But Bonnie’s home, Willoughby Chase, faces a far greater threat than fierce winter wolves. Miss Slighcarp, the governess from hell, takes over the house and soon Bonnie and her cousin Silvia must deal with dangers they could never have imagined.  Heartbreaks, imprisonments, daring escapes and wild chases take the girls on a thrilling journey.  Bonney is brave, and fearless, Silvia is kind and loyal, and together they can face anything - but can they outrun Miss Slighcarp and the ravenous wolves of Willoughby Chase.

 Age group: 10+

Reading level: suits 9/10+ perfectly.

Comments: This is the first in a series of children’s books Joan Aiken set in a fantasy Britain where James II was never deposed and the House of Stuart continued to reign. In an interview with Locus Magazine, in May 1998, Joan Aiken is on record as saying that she invented an alternative history of England for this book because she wanted the freedom to change it. And change it she does; here is an England full of almost Dickensian characters but where the dark and exciting wilderness still exists. Bonnie and Silvia face very tangible threats.  There are no magical solutions here just brains, bravery and luck to see our heroines through their adventure.

Current Availability:  Paperback. I’d recommend the Vintage Classic 2012 edition because it contains some really good fun-facts, questions, follow-up activities at the back.    

I reviewed: the 2012 paperback published by Vintage; illustrations by Pat Marrioty.

RECOMMENDED CURRENT READS

THE WHISPERWICKS: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found: Jordan Lees. 2024

Book 1 in a series about the magical world of Wreathenwold.

Eleven-year-old Benjamin Creek already has enough troubles of his own when he discovers a door in the cellar that just shouldn’t be there. Benjamin soon finds himself in Wreathenwold where anyone like him, who doesn’t have magic of their own, is an enemy. Lost and in danger he just wants to get back home but in Wreathenwold, almost everyone becomes lost forever if they wander too far from their own house. Worse still, people are starting to just disappear – but one spiky girl is determined to find her missing brother and, like it or not, Benjamin has been dragged into her obsession. He can’t let the headstrong Elizabella face untold dangers (not to mentioned losing her own home forever) on her own.  But is she right, did her twin really leave a trail of hidden whisperwicks behind to help her to find him? Join Benjamin and Elizabella on their thrilling journey, full of magical threats and unexpected discoveries to find out.

Age group: 10+

Reading level: suits 10+ perfectly. May be challenging for less confident readers.

Comments: This is an exciting plot full of twists and turns that manages to combine fantasy with very real emotions of children facing disruption to the family they love. It references some mythical creatures (like the minotaur) that might need explaining for younger readers and as a generalisation I’d suggest that a few of the plot-complexities may present a few challenges for less experienced readers under the age of 10.  

Current availability:  Paperback.

I reviewed: the Puffin Books edition 2025. Lots of fun illustrations and a taster at the back of Book 2 in this series; The Whisperwicks; The Impossible Trials.

NEVERMORE: The Trials of Morrigan Crow: Jessica Townsend: 2017 (UK)

Book 1 in the Nevermore series about the magical adventures of Morrigan Crow

Young Morrigan Crow hates everything about her monochrome life in the Wintersea Republic. And almost everyone and everything at home, seems to either hate (or at best) ignore her. If there’s more to life, she isn’t expecting it. She’s expecting to be dead on her eleventh birthday; that’s the way things are, if you’re born on Eventide. What Morrigan is not expecting, just before the fatal stroke of midnight on her last day, is a red-haired man in boots apologising for being ‘late’ because he was at a party chatting to an old trapeze artist.

‘Death’ will have to wait for Morrigan. Somehow Jupiter North (he of the ginger hair) is now her ‘patron’ and she has been signed up for try-outs to join the fabled school of the Wundrous Society, across the closed border in Nevermore.

There are a few problems: Morrigan might have to miss her own funeral in the morning; she hasn’t packed; she doesn’t have a visa for Nevermore, but most important of all, you need a ‘knack’- a special, fantastical-talent to get into the Wundrous Society. Jupiter North seems to think she’s got one – Morrigan knows she hasn’t.

If Morrigan can’t get into the Wundrous Society, it’s back to, midnight-in-Wintersea and certain death.  What’s she going to do without a ‘knack’?

Age group: 9 -10+                                                                        ;

Reading level: suits 9 -10+. Suitable for confident 9 + readers.

Comments: This is one of my personal favourite children’s books of the 2000s. Jessica Townsend has created a genuinely captivating character in the shape of young Morrigan. More than just another wise-cracking, feisty-girl-on-a-mission, Morrigan has deeply felt issues about family, trust, self -confidence, and who she really is, that resonate through a fast-paced adventure story. Townsend is endlessly inventive with her cast of fantastical characters (human and non) in Nevermore. Even the land itself, from the magical WUNSOC school to the colourful city streets buzzes with excitement.

As an adult I loved reading this book but oh, how I wish it had been around when I was 10. 

 Current availability:  Paperback.

I reviewed: the Orion Children’s Books edition 2017. Peppered with small, fun illustrations by Beatrix Castro and a taster at the back of Book 2 in this series; Wundersmith; The Calling of Morrigan Crow.

THE WEE FREE MEN: Terry Pratchett. 2003

Book 1 in the Tiffany Aching series. A Discworld novel for young readers.

Tiffany Aching knows it’s dangerous to be a witch. It’s not just green monsters or feral fairies coming after you but people too. When things go wrong – blame the witch. Not even some poor old dear who just looks like one is safe. Tiffany knows all but she’s still determined to be a witch – a proper one with sturdy boots and a pointy hat.

   There never were many witches on the chalk hills: a lot of sheep, some old standing stones, Granny Aching’s ruined Shepherd’s hut, but after she ‘passed’, no genuine witch. And despite the fact that a local group of wild, blade-wielding, thieving, drunken pixies (sorry that should be pictsies) called the Nac Mac Feegles, think that Granny must have passed on her knowledge of ‘how to be their hag’ (that’s Feegle for a witch) to Tiffany, all she remembers is a few old stories and a lot about sheep.

 The Nac Mac Feegles need a new hag and a new (temporary) leader; Tiffany needs a big favour. Someone has kidnapped her sticky-fingered baby brother and the Feegles might know who did it and how to find them.  Could it be the same child- kidnapper who took the Baron’s son a year ago? Tiffany isn’t too fussed about the Baron but her parents are frantic about little Wentworth.

  Thus begins a fearsome confrontation; on one side an underaged witch with a frying pan, and a tribe of ankle-high, blue pictsies in kilts, on the other, the ageless dark forces of Faerie, cruel, ruthless, armed to the teeth – and totally unprepared for Tiffany Aching and her Wee-Free- Men.

Age group: 10+

Reading level: suits 10+

Comments:   I confess – this is one of my all-time-favourite books. Tiffany Aching has to be one the smartest, bravest, most self-aware heroines in the whole of children’s literature. If Alice had had half her determination, she’d have walloped the Red Queen and left Wonderful as functioning republic before zipping back home. The Wee free Men are one of Pratchett’s greatest creative triumphs – get to grips with their dialect and there are laughs in abundance. The modern child might need a bit of help with some references but it's worth it. Take for instance the Feegles’ bard, William the ‘gonnagle’. William McGonagall  was a real-life Scottish writer/performer, notorious for being the worst poet EVER to come out of Scotland (or anywhere else). So, you can understand why the Feegles use lethal poetry as a weapon of fairly-massive-destruction.

Current availability:  Paperback.

 I reviewed: the Corgi Books edition 2017. There is a taster at the back, of Book 2 in this series: A Hat Full of Sky. 

HEDGEWITCH: Skye McKenna. 2022

Book 1 in the ‘Hedgewitch’ series. The adventures of Cassie and her friends in the magical village of Hedgely.

 An abandoned child in a boarding school full of bullies, Cassie Morton has learned to hide herself (and her books) from girls and teachers alike; she’s done her best to become invisible (especially from Lizzie and hockey team gang). Engrossed by stories and books about faerie (not that Cassie believes in actual fairies she’s too old for that) she hides away from everyone. Then one fateful day she is noticed. Her mother is dead, says the Headmistress but Cassie just knows that can’t be true and she isn’t going to allow herself to be packed off some ghastly orphanage. It’s time to break out of Foxwell House. That’s when things get weird.

    With the aid of the school cat and an old broom in an alleyway Cassie makes an escape she couldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams. Nor could she have imagined that an aunt she’s never heard of is the prestigious Hedgewitch of Hedgely.  Apparently, the cat has been keeping an eye on Cassie and if she can manage to keep control of the broomstick for more than five minutes, a new home, a new school and new friends are waiting for her.

   But that’s just the beginning.

Witches aren’t just born; they are trained. Cassie has a lot of catching up to do and a lot to discover about her family and Hedgely.  There are also new threats and enemies to discover that make Lizzie’s hockey team look about as dangerous as a doll’s tea party.  Maybe Cassie was wrong about a few things – including fairies?  

Age group: 9+

Reading level: suits 9+ perfectly.

Comments: This book starts out like a traditional underdog-at-boarding-school tale then neatly transforms into the story of a witch-family guarding a magical village. Cassie’s family and friends form an interesting group of characters as she learns new skills, new confidence and negotiates mixed feelings about her new relations. A story that shows how fitting-in isn’t always easy but is always possible. 

Current availability:  Paperback.

I reviewed: the Welbeck Flame edition 2023. Enchanting illustrations by Tomislav Tomic and a taster at the back of Book 2 in this series; Woodwitch.