The Magicians of Caprona, by Diana Wynne Jones, 2001

In both of the dueling magical families of Caprona, spell-making is taught even to the youngest children. But Tonino, of the Casa Montana, can barely summon a spell. All he's good for is reading and talking to cats. If only he could muster some ability, perhaps he could help the Montanas, and the Petrocchis, their enemies, unravel the mystery of why both families' magic seems to be eroding while the Duke of Caprona does nothing but watch Punch and Judy plays. And who's the strange redhead cousin courting cousin Rosa? Great big Italian warmth envelops this ambitious and successful Chrestomanci-meets-Romeo and Juliet. Recommended.

Eyes of the Emperor, by Graham Salisbury, 2005

Pop is furious when he learns Eddy Okubo lied about his age to enlist early in the Army. But when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, both Pop and Eddy see his service as a chance for honor, to show that though they have "the eyes of the emperor," they are loyal Americans. But what America asks of its soldiers of Japanese descent is only a cause for shame. Exemplary historical fiction, written with authenticity, dignity, and compassion. Strongly recommended.

The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson & The Olympians, book 3) by Rick Riordan, 2007

When Percy, Thalia, and Annabeth head to a military academy in Maine to rescue Grover who's in trouble rescuing a pair of half-bloods, they run afoul of Dr. Thorn, a manticore (a poison-dart throwing man-lion) and cross paths with Artemis, goddess of the hunt, and her maiden Hunters. Annabeth is captured, and Artemis leaves on a quest to track down a mysterious beast who may prove the downfall of the gods. But in Percy's nightmares, their dooms are linked. Without Blackjack, his mobster pegasus friend, all might be lost indeed. Adolescent love and angst clash spears with titanic forces in book 3, which nicely escalates all the prior tensions, and shows more depth and heart without sacrificing its breathless excitement or nutty humor. Strongly recommended.

The New Policeman, by Kate Thompson, 2005

J.J. Liddy never knew the scandal that explained why the Liddys were shunned in Kinvara, even though their cíelís (folk dances) were legendary for their fiddle tunes. Neither he, nor his mother, nor anyone knew where all the hours in a day disappeared to. And nobody knew the origins of the absent-minded but handsome new policeman in town, even if some old-timers had their suspicions. Only when a cheese delivery goes underground does J.J. begins to find out. Sophisticated, intricate fantasy dressed in tight, seamless prose. It left this would-be author envious. Most strongly recommended.

Slake's Limbo, by Felice Holman, 1974

Aremis Slake, a neglected and ill-used foster child, had learned how to dodge conflict by slipping into the subway system at the first sign of a threat. One day he slipped in and stayed. His first brushes with order, dignity, and compassion were found underground, where he slept on newspapers in a cave he made his home, and shared his food with a rat. 33 years after publication the novel still feels remarkably current, despite an unusual, omniscient voice; unsentimentalized, candid realism that offers Slake convincing victories and hope. Strongly recommended.

Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, by Wendy Mass, 2006

Jeremy Fink gets a box in the mail from his father's lawyer, containing a wooden box with four separate locks, and an engraving saying that it contains "The Meaning of Life." Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy spend a memorable summer hunting down the keys and sniffing out ideas from the colorful characters they meet about what the meaing of life could be. Middle grade realism, intricate, with many bright moments of humor and charm; Jeremy does not feel like a boy, though, and the outcome feels contrived.

Owl in Love, by Patrice Kindl, 1993

14-year old Owl Tycho is in love with her science teacher, Mr. Lindstrom. Hers is no ordinary schoolgirl crush; she's chosen her mate for life, for she is a were-owl, daughter of witches with owl blood in the family, er, tree. But even her unblinking obsession with Mr. Lindstrom, who sleeps in nothing but Fruit of the Looms size 34, suffers distraction when she discovers a deranged boy lurking in the woods outside her beloved's house. Innovative and convincing first-person fantasy, a forerunner in its genre. If Owl's voice felt overly formal at times, well, she's an owl. Strongly recommended.

The End of the Beginning, by Avi, 2004

Avon the snail longs for adventure, so he and his friend Edward the ant set out in search of one. But snails have a slow time of it, which affords more chances for reflection along the way. Edward and Avon are simple minds with warm hearts, and their tale of there-and-back-again is not without its charm. Young readers.

Night Birds on Nantucket, by Joan Aiken, 1966

Improbability reigns supreme in this sequel to Black Hearts in Battersea. Dido Twite, lashed to a beam and lost at sea, is rescued by a Nantucket whaler, nursed on blubber soup for nine months, and awakens to find herself in the merciful grip of a Quaker sea captain obsessed with a pink whale. Dido agrees to stay on in Nantucket and help Captain Casket's timid daughter, Dutiful Penitence, adjust to life with Aunt Tribulation. But Hanoverian plotters and foul imposters are never far away, and it takes all of Dido's pluck and sauce to stop a mad scientist from firing a gun across the Atlantic and hitting St. James Cathedral. Recommended.

A Mouse Called Wolf, by Dick King-Smith, 1997

Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse, so named because the smallest mouse baby in the litter needed a big name to back him up, has rare musical gifts, which neither his siblings nor his mother can fully appreciate. But the old lady who plays the piano next to the mouse-hole soon discovers her pest protege, and there springs a warm and chocolaty friendship between them. Simple, sweet without sentimentality, with cleverly understated wit. Well suited to elementary readers but older readers will enjoy it also. Strongly recommended.

Black Hearts in Battersea, by Joan Aiken, 1964

Simon journeys to London to find his friend, Dr. Gabriel Field, under whose direction he intends to enter art school, but the doctor seems to have vanished. He meets the despicable Twites, his landlords, and their irrascible daughter Dido; and rediscovers his good friend Sophy, now lady's maid to the Duchess of Battersea. But a chorus of rascals comes and goes between the Twite home and Battersea Castle, and when Simon discovers an arsenal of weapons in the Twite's cellar, he suspects a Hanoverian plot against Good King James. Rollicking good fun set in an alternate England where the Glorious Revolution never happened, full-fledged danger and villainry that isn't watered down for the kiddies, and a literary original you'll not soon forget, Dido Twite. Most strongly recommended; read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase first.

The Squire, His Knight, and His Lady, by Gerald Morris, 1999 (Sequel to The Squire's Tale)

Terence, squire par excellence to Sir Gawain of the Round Table, has grown a few years older and developed an eye for the ladies. On a quest in which Sir Gawain seeks a Green Knight who's obligated to chop off Gawain's head (don't ask why, there's a lofty chivalric reason), Terence rescues, or is rescued by, the feisty Lady Eileen of Irish blood and temperament. Monsters, villians, and slightly naughty courtly love abound in this Arthurian coming-of-age romance. Minor stylistic hiccoughs don't interfere with this retelling of "Gawain and the Green Knight's" humor, charm, and good fun. Recommended.

Belle Prater's Boy, by Ruth White, 1996

When Gypsy's aunt, Belle Prater, up and disappears from out of her bed, and Uncle Everett takes to drink, pretty soon her cousin Woodrow moves in next door with Granny and Grandpa Ball. Woodrow wears Coke-bottle glasses and bears the brunt of their Virginia mining town's curiosity over his mother's disappearance. Middle-grade realism; warm, thoughtful, unsentimentalized, unexpected. Strongly recommended.

The Monster's Ring, by Bruce Coville, 1982

If only Russell Crannaker could really turn into Frankenstein's monster on Halloween, and frighten off Eddie who keeps beating him up! When a wrong turn to escape the bully leads him to Mr. Elives' Magic Shop, Russel buys the Monster's Ring for a dollar, and gets a lot more than he bargained for. Upper elementary fantasy, with just the right blend of thrills, naughtiness, and cafeteria humor. Strongly recommended, a great choice for children just starting to read novels.

Mister Monday, by Garth Nix, 2003. The Keys to the Kingdom, Book One

Arthur Penhaligon ought to have died from his gym class asthma attack. Instead, he has a hallucination of a bedraggled butler named Sneezer and an idle aristocrat named Monday giving him a metal key which restores his breathing. When foul-smelling, dog-faced Fetchers invade his school, and people start dropping ill with Sleepy Plague, Arthur begins to realize what's been thrust upon him. This extraordinarily inventive middle-grade fantasy suggests shades of Oz and Wonderland in its elaborate depictions of the House governed by Monday and the Morrow Days. But its premise is much more ordered and deliberate, leaving a hearty appetite for sequels. Strongly recommended.

Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry, 2000

When Kira's mother dies, the village women take over her cot as a plot of land for a pen for tykes and chickens, and threaten to stone her, since she's handicapped and unfit to live. The village Guardians intervene and assign her to live in relative luxury inside the Council Edifice, which has furnished rooms and even hot water, and her only job is needlework, her one great skill. Another Lowry dystopia of uncertain ending, pitting brave if bewildered young people against a repressive society. Matt, Kira's sidekick, is much more interesting and active than Kira; the novel lacks action and drama. Still, Lowry's fans will enjoy it.

Keturah and Lord Death, by Martine Leavitt, 2006

How to summarize this remarkable novel? It feels blasphemous to do so. Its power lies far, far deeper than its mere plot. Meet Keturah, meet Lord Death, and be swept away, and changed. Young adult fantasy. Most urgently recommended.

Ludie's Life, by Cynthia Rylant, 2006

Ludie grew up in Alabama in the 1910's, married at 15, and with her coal miner husband, moved to West Virginia to live her life and raise her six babies, which may have been five too many. This novel in verse was shelved in the YA section of my library; I can't help feeling this book belongs on the adult shelves, and may in fact have been intended to land there. Unimpressive verse and a jaded air to most of the selections. It may appeal to some, and fit bitter with the sensibilities of literature for adults, but from me: not recommended.

The Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan, 2006

Percy Jackson almost makes it through a year of school without incident, until fire-hurling Laistrygonian monsters show up in gym class on his last day. His not-so-little little brother, Tyson, saves him, and together they flee with Annabeth to Camp Half Blood, which has had a leadership shakeup and fallen on hard times. Could this be another step in Kronos' bid to return to power, aided by disgruntled heartthrob Half Blood and Percy's old nemesis, Luke? Like good Greek tragedy, a full cast of monsters for our hero to battle; like good middle-grade fantasy, a loyal if complicated band of friends to join in the quest. Fun, fast, furious. Book Two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is strongly recommended. Read the books in order.

The Squire's Tale, by Gerald Morris, 1998

There's something unusual about Terrence, squire to Sir Gawain of King Arthur's Round Table, and neither he nor anyone else -- except Merlin -- seems to know why. Time and again his instincts and courage save Sir Gawain on their quests, and as Gawain comes to better understand women, Terrence learns about his origins, saving the king in the process. Terrence calls to mind Taryn in Lloyd Alexander's Prydain chronicles. True to the form of knightly romance, the story wanders from quest to quest, and modern critics might wish for a more character-driven narrative where knowledge isn't so often magically handed to the main character. Nevertheless, a satisfying read. Recommended.