YA Fantasy
LABYRINTH LOST by Zoraida Córdova
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For years, Alex has tried to hide her powers. She doesn’t want to be a bruja–not after what happened the first and only time she let her magic slip out. But when her best friend is in trouble, she can’t help but take on the bully, and suddenly, her magic is no longer a secret. In fact, it seems she is the most powerful bruja of them all: an encantrix. As her mother and sisters joyfully plan her Deathday ceremony and celebration, Alex plans a counter-canto–one which she hopes will take the burden of her magic away forever. Unfortunately, her canto goes wrong, and Alex must rely on the help of a brujo boy she hardly knows to reach the Tree of Souls and rescue her family from the Devourer.
A compelling blend of myth and modern life, the world of the Brooklyn Brujas will entrance readers. Alex’s struggle to come to terms with her magic is inextricably tied to her struggle to find her place in her family and community. One of the most engaging books I’ve read lately; I highly recommend it to teen fantasy fans!
A FIERCE AND SUBTLE POISON by Samantha Mabry
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Lucas has always been an outsider to San Juan: the rich white developer’s kid who only visits in the summers. But all his life he has soaked up the culture, especially the stories the old women tell about the scientist’s house and the supposed witch-girl who lives there. As Lucas gets older, the stories begin to seem less real. Until the summer that the island girls begin to disappear and everything leads Lucas back to the old house and the mysterious girl shrouded in the trees.
A poetic literary thriller nestled somewhere between realistic and science fiction, this novel gripped me from the start. I actually read it in one sitting, a rare occurrence for me. Mabry immerses readers in a vivid setting of blended reality and folklore as Lucas struggles to define himself, caught between two worlds and a disappointing relationship with his father. One of the best written books I’ve read this year and a stunning debut novel. I highly recommend it!
CARRY ON by Rainbow Rowell
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Watford School of Magic changed Simon’s life. When he was eleven, the Mage plucked him from the orphanage and told him he was the most powerful magician ever to live–the one who was prophesied centuries ago and who is destined to defeat the Insidious Humdrum which has been stealing magic. Of course Simon wishes he were born into a magic family, and that his magical abilities were not quite so unpredictable and destructive, and that the Insidious Humdrum weren’t making his life quite so miserable. Perhaps most of all, he wishes the Humdrum didn’t inexplicably look exactly like him. But when in his final year the Mage suggests that he leave Watford for his own safety, Simon’s answer is an emphatic no. He couldn’t possibly leave his brilliant and brave friend Penny or his girlfriend Agatha. And he couldn’t ever leave Baz, his vampire archnemesis/roommate, unmonitored–especially now when Baz’s parents and the other old magic families are planning a rebellion against the Mage. Unfortunately, Baz doesn’t show up for the start of term. Although he is initially worried the vampire might be planning something evil, when the ghost of Baz’s mother shows up looking for him, Simon begins to worry for his safety. When Baz finally does return, released from an embarrassing kidnapping, Simon feels obligated to help him find his mother’s killer–even if it means trusting the person he knows is destined to kill him.
Carry On, Simon was the hypothetical “Simon Snow” fan fiction novel written by character Cath in Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, a novel inspired by the Harry Potter fan fic world. In actually writing Carry On, Rowell created a vivid and nuanced fantasy world that has many direct parallels to Harry Potter, which makes the differences and twists all the more meaningful. I wish there really were eight books set in this world, but the one is brilliantly crafted, engaging, and poignant. It will be most appreciated by older teen and adult Potter fans. It is not necessary to read Fangirl first, but I recommend it.
DOLL BONES by Holly Black
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It’s not that Zach doesn’t care what other kids think of him. He does his best to hide his secret imaginative life from his friends on the basketball team. But it’s worth the risk of getting caught in order to keep playing the game with Poppy and Alice. When Zach is being William the Blade, it is like his whole identity changes; he becomes a pirate. And the creepy bone China doll they pretend is their queen really seems to have deadly powers. When Zach’s dad throws away all of his action figures, Zach feels like his world is falling apart. He can’t get up the courage to tell Poppy and Alice why he can’t play anymore. But the bone China doll isn’t about to let Zach go so easily. A ghost appears to Poppy in a dream and suddenly Zach and his friends find themselves on a real adventure every bit as dangerous and magical as any of their games.
This creepy adventure story combines the family and friendship tensions of growing up with an intriguing ghost story. I wouldn’t call it scary, but it definitely has a chilling tone at times. The main thrust of the book, however, is the evolving character relationships and Zach’s coming of age. I would recommend this book to middle grade readers who enjoy fantasy adventures set in the real world.
UNDERTOW by Michael Buckley
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As she heads to school on the first day of its integration, Lyric Walker has strict instructions from her father: keep your head down. Don’t do anything that would make them suspect you are anything other than fully human. When the Alpha emerged from the sea three years sgo, Coney Island was thrown into turmoil. The government claims to want to help the Alpha assimilate with the humans, yet nearly all of the original Alpha who assimilated in secret 17 years ago have disappeared along with their families. Lyric’s mom might be the last one left. And being taken by the government might not even be as bad as the lynchings and beatings administered by so many hateful civilians. But even knowing what is at stake, Lyric can’t help but try to break up a fight between a human and Alpha student and finds herself punished by being assigned to tutor the Alpha prince. As violence at the school escalates, Lyric hopes she can keep herself safe and her secret hidden until her family is able to make their escape.
I had trouble putting this book down! With political tensions reminiscent of the last century’s school integration movement (and some timely commentary on building walls), family tensions and danger for the Walkers, friendship issues for Lyric, a love triangle, and some fantasy battles, there is no shortage of reasons to turn pages. Yet the story flows well and does not seem overburdened by its many complex attributes. I highly recommend this book to teen readers who enjoy dystopias and urban fantasy! I am excited to read the sequel.
THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black
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Growing up in a small town at the edge of the Faerie realm, Hazel and Ben learn what you should and should not do to be sure that the folk don’t play they’re dangerous mischiefs on you. You may visit the glass casket of the horned boy, but you must never try to break the glass lest you be cursed. Hazel and Ben fell in love with the horned boy, dreaming that he was their prince and that one day they would rescue him. In the meantime, they spent their days playing the knight and the Bard–using Ben’s magical music gift and Hazel’s skill with a sword to take revenge on the monsters that tormented tourists. But when Ben’s gift faltered, Hazel made a costly bargain with the folk. Five years later, when someone breaks the horned boy’s glass casket, Hazel struggles to get her memories back, to figure out whether the horned boy is a prince or a villain, and to find a way to stop the sinister monster that walks in his shadow.
This modern fairytale is a thrilling read. Hazel, Ben, and their changeling friend Jack are fantastically interesting characters and the mysterious plot keeps you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend this book to teen readers who enjoy fantasy and fairy tales.
If you liked The Darkest Part of the Forest, you might like Reckless by Cornelia Funke and The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff.
THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater
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Every October, the water horses return to the island. The beautiful predators are both feared and respected. Many have lost a parent to a horse’s fierce teeth. Puck Connolly lost two. When her older brother announces that he’s planning to move to the mainland, Puck announces that she plans to ride in the Scorpio Races–a deadly race of water horses along the shore line. Maybe she can win enough money to support herself and her younger brother. And maybe she can convince Gabe to stay. If she survives, that is. Sean Kendrick is riding in the races, too. He and his water horse, Cor, have won four years straight. No one can communicate with the horses like Sean can, and no horse understands Sean like Cor. But Cor belongs to Sean’s employer, Benjamin Malvern, and the more Sean wins for Malvern, the more Malvern’s son, Mutt, hates him for it. For Sean and for Puck, the first woman to ride in the races, the danger will come from more than just the teeth of the water horses.
Suspenseful, heart-wrenching, and beautifully written, The Scorpio Races is one of the most unique and compelling fantasy novels I have read in a while. Stiefvater immerses readers in the island culture and creates nuanced characters that you can’t help but love. I highly recommend the audiobook, performed by Steve West and Fiona Hardingham!
BRIGHTLY WOVEN by Alexandra Bracken
Sydelle has spent her whole life in a desert village in Palmarta where a drought has left her community impoverished for over a decade. But when the king of Palmarta is poisoned, their life is plunged into chaos. The government blames the neighboring country of Auster, which responds to the allegations by preparing for war. But a young wizard arrives in the village naming a different culprit: the malicious hedge wizard Dorwan. With the invading army at their doorstep, Sydelle’s parents sell her to North as a guide, hoping that the wizard will keep her safe, and the two vanish, leaving the rest of the village to become hostages of Auster. Sydelle is determined to lead North to the capital as quickly as possible, believing that the sooner they inform the Queen of Dorwan’s treachery, the sooner a truce will be called and her village released. But Dorwan is not going to let them succeed without a fight, and Sydelle soon learns that North is hiding some terrible secrets–and both of their lives may be at stake.
I saw this book on a display and thought “that author has the same name as the RA in my freshman dorm….” And then I discovered that she is the RA from freshman dorm and even began writing this book while in college! Go Tribe!
I really enjoyed this book, and thought it was particularly great for a first novel. The world building was pretty cool. She kept with the medieval high fantasy vibe while replacing knights with wizards and barbarian hoards. The heroine does spend most of the book as a pawn, but she gets herself together in the end and takes some control/action of her own, so that was relieving. But because the heroine takes so long to live up to her potential, it fell short of what I consider to be the greats of teen high fantasy (The Blue Sword and Alanna/Song of the Lioness). But it is better than many teen fantasy novels where the “heroines” tend to be pawns or lovesick groupies for the entire story. I do hope that she someday writes a sequel, because after Sydelle’s growth and transformation in this first book, I think she is going to become a very interesting and influential player in the future events of her world. . . .
ETIQUETTE AND ESPIONAGE by Gail Carriger
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Sophronia’s older sisters are refined and well-mannered Victorian ladies. But Sophronia is much more interested in climbing around in dumb waiters and tinkering with gadgets than more ladylike pursuits. So when a highly sought-after finishing school offers Sophronia a place at their academy, her mother ships Sophronia her off immediately. What her mother does not realize, however, is that Sophronia is a covert recruit to a finishing school that trains evil geniuses in espionage, assassination, and other fascinating arts–in addition to the requisite curtsying and handkerchief manipulation, of course. Sophronia’s curiosity and climbing skills thrust her into the middle of a skirmish between the school administrators, dangerous flywaymen, and her least favorite fellow pupil–the pompous Monique, who has stolen and hidden a very valuable prototype somewhere off school grounds. With help from her new school friends, the school’s young mechanics (the “sooties”), and her pet mechanimal (Bumbersnoot), Sophronia is determined to find the prototype before Monique or the flywaymen can get to it.
Set in an alternate 1850s England, this novel is part sci-fi and part fantasy. There is plenty of machinery to please steampunk fans, and some werewolves and vampires for those who prefer the supernatural. And for readers who enjoy stories about boarding school mischief (think the Marauder’s Map from Harry Potter), it is a very fun read! I highly recommend it to middle grade and teen readers.
ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine
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When Ella was a baby, a misguided fairy bestowed on her the “gift” of obedience; whenever anyone gives her a direct order, she must obey. Although the fairy’s curse presents certain challenges, growing up at home with her mother and her beloved fairy godmother (and cook), Mandy, Ella has never been ordered to do anything too dangerous. But when her mother dies, and her father decides to send her to finishing school, Ella’s world is turned upside down. Two spiteful girls discern her secret and begin to use her obedience against her. Through the terrors of finishing school, Dame Olga’s daughters, and run-ins with dangerous ogres, the only things that keep her spirits high are her friendship with Prince Char and the hope that one day she may be able to break her curse.
I just reread this childhood favorite, and it is just as funny and delightful now as it was when I was nine. Levine’s story is a brilliant spin-off of the Cinderella tale with fascinating, deep characters. You cannot help but fall in love with Ella, Char, and Mandy—for all of their goodness and their flaws. Although the reading level is appropriate for elementary schoolers (and the fractured fairytale will surely appeal to young readers), I would not hesitate to recommend this novel to teens as well. Ella and Char’s friendship and romance is sweet, funny, exciting, and full of love and self-sacrifice. I cannot recommend it highly enough to readers who enjoy fantasy and/or fractured fairytales! And now I really want to go home and slide down the banisters. . . .
Susan the Librarian 