Fantasy Books for age 9-12
Summer means time for fantasy reads! Start with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. If they loved that and want to read more, or maybe they didn’t like it and they want something else, here are some recommendations.
Some parents may wonder: what is the point of fantasy books? You may want to be a parent who only gives your children realistic fiction or historical fiction, but I unabashedly claim that fantasy is just as needed as any other genre—if not more. I grew up reading The Chronicles of Narnia series and The Lord of the Rings series. Based on my own experience, I can honestly say that fantasy provides much more than entertainment.
First, readers get to leave the world they live in (who doesn’t want to do that sometimes?), step into a new world, and imagine something new—maybe something better. Fantasy requires readers to accept the unexplainable. Because of this, authors can take their readers to a place the reader could never imagine, with characters who do impossible things. Summer is the perfect time to explore new worlds, new magic, and new ideas that readers haven’t thought of before. No matter how tough their school year was, they can escape those memories and stressful times and see how a protagonist faces the platform of 9 ¾ when all he sees is the number 9 and the number 10. What a natural way to increase creativity! Get them to think beyond their current view of reality.
Second, fantasy is a great way to teach life lessons without coming out and saying it. Nothing bugs me more than books that try to tell the reader what to think. This is often the reason many realistic fiction books don’t sell. No one wants to be told what to think or how to behave. I think we all get enough of that. Do you want to read resilience and bravery without someone telling you how to be resilient and brave? Read fantasy. The characters often cannot exist in real life. Hence, they are a step further from the reader. Readers can still learn from these characters, but it’s not being shoved in their face. They can choose to apply it to themselves, or they can read a story about children fighting a white witch. It’s up to them. Readers of any age love the freedom of taking what they want out of a story. I absolutely believe I benefited from the fantasy books I read. I don’t know if I realized what I learned from Sam and Frodo at the time, but I certainly remember my amazement at their loyalty and bravery.
Lastly, much of the fantasy genre’s appeal is that the reader gets to watch an ordinary character transform into a hero. Most genres depict the hero’s journey, but for many readers, the circumstances for the hero in a fantasy novel seem even more impossible. Often, the main character must leave home, change routines, journey to a place they didn’t know existed, and survive incredible dangers and challenges along the way. The setting and challenges may not exist, but whether it could be real or not, the hero still must learn how to be a hero. Bilbo Baggins must leave home, face death, see the dragon, and more before he comes to find his own inner confidence outside of Hobbiton. Certainly sounds like a school year to me. Your child just finished school. Give them a visual of what a hero they are!
Maybe they will love The Chronicles of Narnia or other fantasy books you are already familiar with. Clearly, I am a Harry Potter fan. If you’re still striking out after HP, here are a few I highly recommend:
The 13th Reality series by James Dashner. The first one is called Journal of Curious Letters. Action-packed science fiction/fantasy novel with a boy named Tick. With 2 friends, Tick must save the universe by solving a series of riddles. These are tough to put down with a clear hero’s journey. (age 10+)
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull. Another great series. Magical creatures (fairies, trolls, imps, witches, you name it) survive for centuries in a sanctuary under the watchful eye of Kendra’s grandfather. The sanctuary rules are broken and a dangerous evil is unleashed. Kendra and Seth must come to the rescue! (age 10+)
Legend by Marie Lue. Yep, I swear all good fantasy books are a series. Meant for YA, but could be for 6th grade and up. June’s brother is killed toward the beginning of the story and June is sent to avenge his death. There is one clear suspect, but June is smart too. Readers get to watch her figure this out. Well-paced story. (age 12+)
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. Not a series! Does your reader love cats? Jackson and his family are homeless again, living out of their minivan. Crenshaw is an imaginary, abnormally large cat who befriends Jackson. Can this imaginary cat save Jackson and his family? Surprisingly, this book will make you laugh. Readers may also get an honest glimpse at poverty. (age 10+)
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler. Another series. This book was always checked out at the library! Emily is a girl who lives on a houseboat with her mom. She soon learns that her legs switch to a mermaid’s tail when they’re fully submerged in water. Whoa. See what happens when she discovers an entire mermaid kingdom under the sea. Fun read with some great life lessons. (age 9+)
Happy summer reading! I hope your readers enjoy their fantasy books as much as I will.
a year ago