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Fantasies to Keep Youngsters Turning Pages
By Holly E. Newton
Are you looking for a great fantasy? I've assembled below an outstanding list that will have your nine-year-old and older turning pages quicker than you think possible.
Ibby's Magic Weekend, by Heather Dyer, is an exciting story about a magician's kit that is found and the adventures that soon take place. Ibby is staying with her cousins, Francis and Alex, while her parents go to a conference. The magic begins on the first page when she can't find Francis. She soon discovers that the magician instruction book has shrunk him and now he can't be found.
They do finally capture tiny Francis running down on the floorboards. But there are many more exciting magical experiments to be tried out before the end of the book.
There are wonderful pencil etchings, by Peter Bailey, sprinkled throughout and a bit of a tease at the end so hopefully there will be more installments. This book would be a terrific read-aloud for all ages!
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, by Jessica Day George, is a treasure of a book! You know when you begin reading a book that grabs hold of your imagination and soars through unimaginable adventures and you wish for more books like it. George's book fits perfectly in this category!
The story begins with young Norway Lass, who has never been named because her angry mother has had too many other girls already. Lass has encountered a magical white bear who bestows on her a gift to talk to animals. When a giant bear breaks into the home, he tells Lass that he wants her to come live in his palace for one year..
No one else can understand him, but Lass is concerned about the welfare of her very poor family and asks what will become of them while she is gone. The bear tells her that they will find wealth, but she must come with him first. He tells her that no harm will come to her if she will relent, which she does.
The palace is far north and she arrives atop the bear and she sees that the entire building is made from ice. George based her story on an old Nordic tale, and the many facets of the story are gradually woven together to bring a climatic ending. It's beautifully and excitedly written so that all ages 12 through adult will thoroughly enjoy it! The Nordic terminology and usage found throughout can be researched in a well-defined glossary located in the back of the book. This book's a keeper!
Jessica Day George has been busy of late, because she has another new outstanding fantasy just out. Dragon Flight is a sequel to her fantastic (and a book I reviewed), Dragon Slippers . In this sequel, Creel discovers that the bordering country is about to invade hers with many fierce and dangerous dragons. Consequently, she is on the ready when she implores her good dragon friends to fight the good fight. This protagonist is smart, courageous and has integrity to help her country battle the evil enemy. I loved the first book and this one doesn't disappoint. It has all of the elements for an exciting page-turner! Once you start, you won't stop!
You don't have to be a cat lover to truly enjoy The Tygrine Cat, by Inbali Iserles. In this debut book, the young feline, Mati, has boarded a ship bound for England. He is escaping the conquering cats who have just found out that there's still one noble cat left that they must wipe out and that's Mati. Mati meets new cats to help him and he in return can help them before it's too late.
The Magic Half, by Annie Barrows, is a clever and inventive fantasy about time travel. Miri lives in a family full of twins. She's right in the middle of two sets and longs for a sister or friend of her own.
Her family has just moved to an old farmhouse where she discovers an old eye glass lens stuck in her wallboard. When she puts it up to her eye, she suddenly is taken back to 1935, where she meets another girl of the same age in her bedroom. Molly is living with a mean aunt, and two cousins who wished her father hadn't abandoned her three years before.
Molly is so unhappy that she wants to go with Miri to the present time. But just when Miri has decided that it would be the best for Molly if she left that horrible situation and came to live with Miri, she goes back to the present without Molly. And worse, she can't figure how to go back again and retrieve Molly. I'd be willing to bet that any 9-and-olders who pick this book up, will not put it down until they finish it! The plot is terrific with many twists and surprises. The characters are developed so well you feel you've known them all for a long time. A fantastic read!
The Flight of the Silver Turtle, by John Fardell, is a continuation of his great adventure: The 7 Professors of the Far North . The same adventurous kids seem to attract high-spirited excitement and anticipation as they help Professor Ampersand build an incredible airplane the Silver Turtle. The story takes a wild turn when someone suddenly steals the plane while the kids are still inside. Here's a fast paced escapade if ever there was one!
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