The term 'fantasy' in fiction means "things that can't happen, or are so extremely unlikely to happen that we assume they can't". Examples of this are parallel worlds populated by unicorns and elves, stories of supernatural beings, or you winning American Idol. Fantasy. Not real. Can't happen.
Because 'fantasy' is such a broad term, the books that populate the genre are as eclectic as Lady Gaga's wardrobe. (Yes - 'eclectic' is a word. It means 'more varied than Lady Gaga's wardrobe'. Look it up.) So, to say "I love fantasy novels" could make you anything from a dragon lover to an aspiring vampire. Regardless, fantasy novels stretch our heads by presenting worlds of impossibility for our entertainment.
These are the Best of the Best Teen Fantasy novels.
Alanna, the First Adventure: Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce - Alanna and her twin brother are sent to school, he to be a knight and she a convent lady. Neither of them happy, they switch roles. Soon Alanna, disguised as a boy, is earning the admiration of all for her work ethic and thirst for knowledge. However, a recurring vision of a black stone city that emanates evil plagues her. A four part series, the adventures of Alanna are a great read for younger teens, and a good introduction to high fantasy.
Beauty: a Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley - This much-loved retelling of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast creates a more complicated Beauty and a richer, deeper relationship with the Beast. Although the arc of the story is familiar, the depth of the characters and the bond that grows between them makes you wonder if you ever heard the story at all. This novel is a Beauty!
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb - Dead Helen attaches herself to one human host after for 130 years, until she meets James, a kindred spirit who has occupied the living body of a teenage boy whose soul has left. When he teaches Helen to do the same with the vacant body of a teen girl, the pair begin a romantic relationship that mixes old-fashioned courting and modern morals. More importantly, they begin to unravel the mysteries of their pasts. Caution: the physical aspects of the romance are explicit.
The Changeover: a Supernatural Romance by Margaret Mahy - Laura has latent supernatural power, but has kept it in check. However, when she sees the face in the mirror, she knows it is a warning of dire things to come. The utterly evil Carmody Braque has marked her little brother, and now the boy's illness is growing worse. Laura knows that she must "change over" - release her supernatural gifts - for the inevitable battle. But that requires joining forces with the enigmatic Sorenson, who she may hate, or may love. Outstanding!
Charmed Life: the Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diane Wynne Jones - Chrestomanci appears to be just a dapper Englishman. However, he happens to be a nine-lived magician in charge of all the magic in all the parallel worlds. When he brings Cat and Gwendolen, a pair of orphans, to live with him, he knows that Gwendolen is a powerful witch with designs on ruling the world. The ensuing battle of magical wills between the magician and the girl is a highly entertaining mix of humor and horror. The first of an excellent series.
Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde - Teenager Kerry helps rescue a mysterious young man from a vigilante mob, only to learn that he is a vampire. Forced to trust him to rescue her family, she wrestles with the suspicion that she is being seduced by evil. As a romantic horror novel, this outshines the more recent "Twilight".
Coraline by Neil Gaiman - A young girl discovers an alternate version of her family through a secret door, and the new family has malevolent intentions. Although the "new" family is at first appealing, Coraline slowly recognizes the mortal danger that faces her. She must find a way of escape before losing her real family forever. Although written for young teens, it generates a great "creep-out" factor for all ages.
Dealing with Dragons: the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede - The author plunders various fairy tales in creating the story of Cimorene, princess of Linderwall. Always slighted because of her tomboy behavior, Cimorene willingly chooses to be the prisoner of a dragon rather than suffering as a second-class princess in the castle. Soon, her intelligence and compassion prove make her an invaluable ally to the mostly kind but misunderstood dragons.
Down the Dead Road by David J. Nix - Teen "Cowboy" is pursued by Death, who has made multiple attempts on his life. He is an easy target, having lived on the streets his entire life, raised by a homeless woman. A series of events, including encounters with a supernatural figure, a brutal street gang, and a beautiful girl, lead him to search for his origins. The mayhem leaves both his heart and life in danger, but leads toward the astonishing truth. A story that gives humane treatment to the lesser of society, with a sweet romance thrown in. The multiple twists will leave you guessing.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine - Ella is cursed at birth by a well-meaning fairy such that she must obey every command she is given. When her mother dies and Ella falls into the clutches of a wicked stepmother, she sets out to find the fairy to undo the curse. Along the way she encounters giants, fairies, and even a prince, and discovers the ambition and strength that lives within. A terrific twist on the Cinderella story.
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty - Before the terrifying movie that had viewers vomiting in the theater came the book - one of the most frightening and controversial novels ever written. Blatty fictionalizes the true story of a child's demonic possession in the 1940s. It's up to a small group of overwhelmed yet determined humans to somehow rescue Regan from this unspeakable fate. Though written in 1971, it will shock you more than anything written recently.
The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsly - Fifteen year old Corinna has the most important job in Rhysbridge. She sits in a dark cellar keeping watch on the "Folk" - the cave-dwelling gremlins who ruin food and make farm animals sick. Corinna takes pride in her job, and revels in the freedom. When summoned by Lord Merton, she learns that she is the long-lost child the nobleman has been looking for. The subsequent revelations lead her to a new view of herself, her role, and to the romance she has always missed.
Gossamer by Lois Lowry - Littlest One is an invisible spirit in training to be a dream-giver: one who blends the fragments of happy memory into peaceful dreams for those asleep. Her job is difficult, for she is opposed by the wicked Sinisteeds, who bring nightmares. At the center of Littlest One's story is her efforts to help a tormented foster child to overcome the horrific details of his father's vicious abuse. The story flows like poetry, matching the ethereal nature of the spirits involved.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - A child wanders into a graveyard after his parents' murder, where a kindly family of ghosts raise him. Under protection of the graveyard and the watchful eye of Silas, who might be a member of the undead, the boy thrives. His circumstance exposes him to a world of death, ghouls, witches, and monsters, all of which he takes in stride. When his blissful existence is threatened by the return of his parents' murderers, the boy must use his unique knowledge to survive.
Harry Potter (the entire series) by J.K. Rowling - If you have not heard of Harry Potter, you must be dead. Richly imagined tale of a boy destined to become the greatest wizard of all time - if he can survive destruction from his enemies and overcome self-doubt. Hogwarts, a Wizard boarding school, provides the rich setting for his adventures. Rowling's combination of great character development and unbridled imagination make this a classic with surprises and twists seemingly on every page. A great standalone read.
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley - Aerin is a disappointment to the kingdom: a princess whose "witchwoman" mother bewitched the king and died without leaving a male heir. Aerin upholds her poor reputation with wild behavior. Unexpectedly, though, the long-dormant powers of her mother call Aerin into duty to her homeland that she can't refuse. Rollicking action and a sympathetic protagonist move the story along.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien - The granddaddy of fantasy novels follows meek Bilbo the Hobbit as he is reluctantly dragged into a dangerous adventure by a Wizard and a band of Dwarves. As he faces monsters and perils of all kinds, he earns the admiration of his fellow travelers and finds the hero in himself. Tolkien invents the elfin fantasy genre with this work, which served as the precursor to the Lord of the Rings. Oh, and why must there always be spiders?
Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones - In a complex and compelling fairy tale, Sophie's hopelessly mundane life is interrupted when a witch's curse turns her into an old hag to distract the girl from discovering her latent powers. Taking refuge in the strange moving castle of the wizard Howl, she is soon swept up in his madcap attempts to rid himself of his own curse. As her powers grow, so does her love for Howl, and the story grows deliciously complicated from there. The ending is wonderfully satisfying!
Into the Land of Unicorns: the Unicorn Chronicles by Bruce Coville - I know what you are thinking. Unicorns? Well these unicorns don't exactly eat clouds and fart rainbows. Cara falls into the land of Luster with a magic amulet, which she must deliver to the unicorn queen. Accompanied by various inhabitants of the land, she makes the journey, overcoming one deadly obstacle after another, including attacks by a dragon and her deadbeat father. Coville creates very compelling characters and smooth dialogue which drive the story.
The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney - Thomas becomes apprenticed to the strange Spook, who fights witches and evil spirits. While Spook is gone, the boy is tricked by a new friend, Alice, into releasing Mother Malkin from the pit where Spook had imprisoned her. Unfortunately for Thomas, Mother Malkin is a powerful, cannibalistic, witch bent on destroying the boy. The author creates very rich characters, particularly the enigmatic Alice, and provides colorful and strong descriptions of a medieval magical world.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - Four siblings during WWII are sent to the English countryside to escape the London Blitz. There they stumble into a parallel world under the control of the malevolent White Witch. The mythical and animal inhabitants long for the return of the rightful ruler, Aslan the Lion. The children prove to be the key to his return, and soon find themselves in mortal danger from evil forces. Although part of a series, this novel is a magical standalone read.
Locked In Time by Lois Duncan - When Nore goes with her father to live with her new step-family, she quickly realizes that there is something very strange about them. Piecing together clues, Nore begins to realize an astonishing truth - that her step-family is "locked in time" - having not grown older for over 100 years. The story has everything else from mystery to romance to science fiction. Just when you think you have the mystery figured out, Duncan hits you with a surprise that you should have seen coming.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - The most detailed fantasy world ever constructed, Middle Earth is under assault from the dark lord Sauron. The task of saving every living creature falls to Frodo, a mild-mannered Hobbit. With the help of a fellowship of comrades that includes a wizard, elves, dwarves, and men, Frodo travels to Sauron's seat of power to destroy a ring that keeps Sauron alive. The many and unbelievable adventures along the way make up the richest telling of any fantasy series ever written.
The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron - Emrys can't remember who he is - only that he washed up on a beach with a woman named Branwen who claims to be his mother. When Emrys discovers that he possesses unusual powers, and that Branwen may not be his mother, he sets off on an ocean journey to discover the truth of his past. The resulting adventure lays the ground work for the development of the man who would become Merlin. Expert weaving of mythology with believable characters.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - With one of the most unforgettable opening lines of any book, 14 year old Susie Salmon tells the story from heaven of her murder by a psychopath and the devastating consequences it has on her family. Although a grim subject, the story is ultimately one of faith, redemption, and the power of a father's love. The characters are compelling, and the emotion is palpable throughout. Much more uplifting than you might think.
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley - The Arthurian legend is re-told from the point of view of the women behind the throne. Gwenwhyfar (Guinevere) and Morgaine use Arthur as a puppet to promote their respective world views - Christianity vs. Faery, God vs. Goddess, progress vs. the old ways. Ms. Bradley's gift for moving dialogue and descriptive action moves the story along in a way the reader will not forget. Another reminder that men may hold the power, but women often control the men.
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh - When popular Isobel is partnered with sullen goth Varen for a report on Edgar Allan Poe, her life takes a dramatic and unexpected turn. After snooping Varen's journal, she finds herself drawn into a creepy dreamworld populated by ghosts, ghouls, and other Poe characters. The remainder of this difficult-to-describe story follows Isobel's attempts to escape and save Varen, and the romance that slowly grows between them. A great read, especially for more literary readers.
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope - The year is 1558, and Kate Sutton has been exiled by Queen Mary to a remote castle known as Perilous Gard. Her initial loneliness is soon swept aside as she is caught up in a series of mysterious events that lead her to the underground world of the Fairy Folk. The cave-dwellers are no blissfully peaceful creatures, but a serious folk with ancient traditions that include human sacrifice. Read the book if for no other reason that its fantastic ending - one of the best of any novel.
Poison by Chris Wooding - Poison is a black-haired girl with violet eyes who lives in the Black Marshes, a remote human settlement on the edge of the Phaerie Realm. When the girl's baby sister is kidnapped, Poison sets out with her mentor, the elderly Fleet, to rescue her. Foul weather, nasty fairy tale creatures, and horrific situations stand between Poison and a final confrontation with the Lord of Phaerie. A relentlessly dark story that will appeal to those who love Gothic fantasy or horror.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman - Brilliantly constructed novel meant to play a joke on the reader. The story of "farm-boy" Wesley trying to liberate his true love from an impending marriage to the evil Prince Humperdink almost takes a back seat to the clever dialogue and richly imagined characters. Swordplay, giants, curses, monsters, romance - this novel has it all. Hilarious, wry, and ultimately moving - the book is an entertainment classic.
Redwall by Brian Jacques - As the rodent inhabitants of Redwall Abbey bask in the Summer of the Late Rose, all is quiet and peaceful. But alas!. The evil one-eyed rat warlord is bent on destroying the tranquility as he prepares to fight a bloody battle for ownership of Redwall. This dazzling first story in the Redwall series is packed with all the wit, wisdom, humor, and blood-curdling adventure of the other books in the collection, introducing the cast of characters who live there. A magical tale!
Sabriel by Garth Nix - In a mystical land, Sabriel takes up her father's duties as a necromancer who returns troubled souls back to the land of the dead. This duty requires her to travel to the realm of Death where she faces all manner of evil beings wishing to escape to the land of the living to wreak destruction. As a bonus, she finds unexpected romance along the way. The way Nix melds a recognizable modern world with one of magic sets this series apart from everything else. Read it!
Skellig by David Almond - Michael's baby sister is gravely ill and he's moved to a new, run-down house, where he finds a mysterious arthritic, winged man in his garage. Is the man an angel or some new evolutionary creature? Michael tries to unravel the mystery while dealing with his sister's illness and the lack of attention from his parents. This gothic, dark, lyrical, dream-like tale is part mythology, part fairy tale, part poem. Beautiful, simple, and sweet, it is a great book that defies description.
Sorcery and Cecilia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer - This hard-to-describe novel has been described as J. K. Rowling meets Jane Austen. Two cousins, Kate and Cecilia, experience love, magic, and mystery in an alternate 1817 England where magic is an accepted force of nature. The mystery centers around an Enchanted Chocolate Pot, evil sorcerers, and a spell of irresistibility. The language of the book is so very "English", and the magical concepts are clever and innovative.
Tamsin by Peter S. Beagle - Jenny is bored to death after moving with her family to a ramshackle estate in England. The boredom is short-lived when she meets Tamsin, a ghost dead 300 years who pines for her long-lost love. Tamsin leads Jenny through a harrowing spirit world of boggarts, oakmen, and the earth mother. To save Tamsin and her love from eternal torment, Jenny must face evil personified - the demonic Judge Jeffries who was responsible for their deaths. Lyrically fantastic!
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt - The Tuck family has lived in a secluded forest for over a hundred years after discovering a fountain of youth. Young Winnie Foster, a restless girl in search of adventure, comes to their aid and is given the choice to join the Tucks in eternal life. Winnie must answer deep questions about the meaning of life before making the heavy decision - to live forever or to live for a time. Unforgettable.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - The criticisms of Twilight are many: shallow, not well written, cliché, etc. However, Meyer obviously touched a nerve in her story of a less-than-popular high school student who finds herself the love object of a teenage vampire. Edward and Bella's improbable relationship takes turns from innocent to frustrating to dangerous, culminating in Bella's realization that her love of Edward may result in her death - by him or by other means. This story hits the high mark of female fantasy - a hottie bad boy who remains barely tamed for the sake of his otherwise under-appreciated love interest.
Watership Down by Richard Adams - No, this is not a book about a submarine. Watership Down is a hill that is home to a community of rabbits. When the area is assaulted by land developers, the rabbits must flee. As the furry band searches for a new home, the reader learns about their rich emotions, relationships, culture, and mythology. When all is written, this novel is more about human nature than rabbits, more about ethics than animals - a compelling lens through which we can view our humanity.
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen: a Tale of Alderly by Alan Garner - Colin and Susan are school kids who find themselves suddenly thrust into magical happenings by an old witch. Rescued by a wizard from a horde of goblins, they learn that he is the keeper of a regiment of knights sleeping under ground to combat an evil spirit. However, the wizard has long ago lost the key for releasing the knights - the Weirdstone of Brisingamen. The kids must help the wizard and a crew of dwarves and elves to save the world.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin - Sparrowhawk, a resident of the land of Earthsea, desperately wants to become a sorcerer. The book follows him through his travels, his training as a Wizard, and his lust for knowledge that releases a shadow on the world. She introduces the concept of Wizard's school 25 years before Harry Potter, and imagines a world worthy of Tolkein. This epic fantasy is part 1 of a four-part series, and a landmark in the creation of fantasy worlds.
Wolf Brother: Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver - When a giant demon-possessed bear fatally wounds Torak's father, the man sends his son on a journey to find the mountain spirit that offers the only hope for defeating the powerful bear. Accompanied by an orphaned wolf cub who serves as his guide, Torak is soon captured by the Raven Clan. He is released when they believe him to be the Listener, a prophesied figure destined to defeat the Shadow, the overriding evil infiltrating the land.
Best of the Rest:
Across the Nightingale Floor: Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn
The Akhenaten Adventure: Children of the Lamp by P. B. Kerr
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Amulet of Samarkand: the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
The Arm of the Starfish by Madeleine L’Engle
Arrows of the Queen: the Heralds of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey
The Bad Beginning: a Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Birdwing by Rafe Martin
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Blue Is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Carrie by Stephen King
The Conch Bearer: Brotherhood of the Conch by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
The Crystal Cave: the Arthurian Saga by Mary Stewart
The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce
A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice
Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan
Dragonflight: Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey
East by Edith Pattou
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
Eragon: Inheritance by Christopher Paolini
The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing
Firegold by Dia Calhoun
Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin
The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Gothic!: Ten Original Dark Tales Edited by Deborah Noyes
The Grand Tour by Patricia C. Wrede & Caroline Stevermer
A Great and Terrible Beauty: the Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray
Gregor the Overlander: the Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Jaws by Peter Benchley
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery
Look for Me by Moonlight by Mary Downing Hahn
Magic Circle by Donna Jo Napoli
Magic Kingdom for Sale / Sold! (Magic Kingdom of Landover) by Terry Brooks
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
The Night Country by Stewart O’Nan
Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia McKillip
The Ropemaker by Peter Dickinson
Runemarks by Joanne Harris
The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by Suzanne Harper
Secret Sacrament by Sherryl Jordan
The Seeing Stone: the Arthur Trilogy by Kevin Crossley-Holland
The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
The Squire’s Tale: the Squire’s Tales by Gerald Morris
A Stir of Bones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Sweetblood by Pete Hautman
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Time Cat: the Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth by Lloyd Alexander
Tithe: a Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black
Trickster’s Choice: Daughter of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce
Vampire High by Douglas Rees
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
The Wind Singer: the Wind On Fire by William Nicholson
The Winter Prince by Elizabeth E. Wein
Witch Child by Celia Rees
Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
