Recommendations from Linda
The Redwall series by Brian Jacques: Talking animals, delicious descriptions of food, and a huge universe of over 30 books to explore that don't have to be read in any particular order
The Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke: Although they're only a trilogy, each of the books in this series is the most exciting tome you'll ever read. Fun facts: these books are some of only a few middle grade books in translation and if you love it her Thief Lord and Dragon Rider books are just as great!
The Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann If you've got a kid who's ready for the dystopian stuff, this is the place to start! Kids who have "unwanted" and dangerous artistic talents are banished--but these creatives just might be creating an uprising all their own.
Pierce has written dozens of books full of knights, spies, courtiers, and magic, but this was the quartet that got her started and remains one of my favorites to this day. By forging a letter from her father, 10-year-old Alanna takes her twin brother's place at the palace to become a knight; hiding her identity turns out to be only half as hard as her training, however!
A New York Times bestselling series
A USA TODAY bestselling series
A California Young Reader Medal–winning series
In this riveting series opener, a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world before the wrong person finds the answer first.
Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit into her life.
The Thickety: A Path Begins is a spellbinding tale about a girl, the Thickety, and the power of magic. Fans of Neil Gaiman will love this thrilling new world.
When Kara Westfall was five years old, her mother was convicted of the worst of all crimes: witchcraft. Years later, Kara and her little brother, Taff, are still shunned by the people of their village, who believe that nothing is more evil than magic…except, perhaps, the mysterious forest that covers nearly the entire island. It has many names, this place. Sometimes it is called the Dark Wood, or Sordyr's Realm. But mostly it's called the Thickety.
The villagers live in fear of the Thickety and the terrible creatures that live there. But when an unusual bird lures Kara into the forbidden forest, she discovers a strange book with unspeakable powers. A book that might have belonged to her mother.
And that is just the beginning of the story.