Young Adult Fantasy Book List Denotes new titles recently added to the list Animal Fantasy Epic Fantasy Breen, M.E. Barron, T.A. Darkwood The Lost Years of Merlin A clever and fearless orphan A young boy who has no identity endures increasing danger or memory of his past washes while trying to escape from ashore on the coast of Wales and greedy, lawless men and finds his true name after a series elude the terrifying of fantastic adventures. "kinderstalks"--animals who steal children-- before discovering her true destiny. (Summary Le Guin, Ursula from Follett Destiny, October 2009) The Wizard of Earthsea Sorcerer’s apprentice Clement-Davies, David Sparrowhawk unwittingly Fire Bringer unleashes evil on the land. He This animal epic follows the grows to manhood while fawn Rannoch and his friends attempting to subdue the evil he through many years on the run unleashed on the world. (Summary from from their herd’s harsh NoveList online fiction guide, March 2003.) dictator. Although the animals think and speak, they otherwise have the Tolkien, J.R.R. characteristics of wild deer. Rannoch’s trials The Lord of the Rings are monumental; his character is complex; and A three-part epic depicting the his enemies are truly vile. Set in Scotland Great War of the Ring, a during the thirteenth century, the novel refers struggle between good and evil to some historical events that deepen the in Middle Earth, in which tiny story. Hobbits, elves, dwarves and wizards play key roles. The books are Jacques, Brian Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Redwall Return of the King. (Summary from NoveList When the peaceful life of online fiction guide, March 2003.) ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the Fairy Tales, Folktale and evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, young Princesses mouse Matthias determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior Cabot, Meg which—he is convinced—will help Redwall’s The Princess Diaries inhabitants destroy the enemy. The Mia is a typical combat-boot- adventures continue in numerous books of wearing, animal-rights-loving, the series. (Summary from NoveList online algebra-failing New York teen fiction guide, March 2003.) until her absentee father reveals she’s the heir to the throne of a small European principality. Media exposure, Unless noted, all summaries are from Greenwood Publishing Group, Horn Book Guide Online, 1989-2002 1 Denotes new titles recently added to the list princess lessons from Grandmere and the ball is over. Feminist Ella, who managed attention from dreamy senior Josh follow. without any fairy godmother, finds palace protocol boring and trophy wifedom Ferris, Jean insulting—so she escapes and finds fulfillment Once Upon a Marigold doctoring suitably bathetic war refugees Christian ran away from home alongside Jed, her nobleman love interest. at six and has happily lived in the forest for eleven years. The Hale, Shannon girl next door happens to be a Enna Burning princess, and the two teens, kept apart by Enna hopes that her new circumstance, correspond by carrier pigeon knowledge of how to wield fire ("p-mail"). The lighthearted tale maintains the will help protect her good friend right balance of humor and sentimentality as Isi--the Princess Anidori--and all the characters finally meet and discover their of Bayern against their enemies, but the need love is real. Forbidden love, secret identities, to burn is uncontrollable and puts Enna and and a happy ending--what more could you her loved ones in grave danger. (Summary ask? from Follett Destiny, November 2009). Gaiman, Neil Hale, Shannon Anansi Boys Goose Girl Charlie's dad wasn't just any On her way to marry a prince dad. He was Anansi, a trickster she's never met, Princess god, the spirit of rebellion able Anidori is betrayed by her to overturn the social order, guards and her lady-in- create wealth out of thin air, and baffle the waiting and must become a goose girl to devil. When he dies on a karaoke stage, things survive until she can reveal her true identity get very interesting for Charlie. (Summary and reclaim the crown that is rightfully hers. from Hennepin County Library at hclib.org, (Summary from Hennepin County Library, 2007) Sept. 2008) Princess of the Midnight Ball Hale, Shannon George, Jessica Day Book of a Thousand Days A retelling of the tale of twelve Fifteen-year-old Dashti, sworn princesses who wear out their to obey her sixteen-year-old shoes dancing every night, and of mistress, the Lady Saren, shares Galen, a former soldier now Saren's years of punishment working in the king's gardens, who follows locked in a tower, then brings her safely to the them in hopes of breaking the curse. lands of her true love, where both must hide (Summary from Follett Destiny, November who they are as they work as kitchen maids. A 2009) reimagined, little-known classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm, reset on the central Haddix, Margaret Peterson Asian steppes. (Summary from Hennepin Just Ella County, Sept. 2008) Combining modern sarcasm with stilted medievalism, Just Ella picks up the Cinderella tale after Unless noted, all summaries are from Greenwood Publishing Group, Horn Book Guide Online, 1989-2002 2 Denotes new titles recently added to the list Hanley, Victoria Levine, Gail Carson The Seer and the Sword Ella Enchanted The fates of Princess Torina of Cursed at birth with the gift of Archeld and Landen, a former obedience by an irresponsible prince of a conquered country fairy, Ella is powerless to resist who was brought to Archeld as a the commands of others. captive, are tightly entwined. When a Expert characterization and murderous despot seizes the throne, Torina original ideas enliven this and Landen flee the country separately and novelization of Cinderella. Built each becomes a trusted adviser to the high around the traditional elements of the fairy king. tale and at times limited by those restraints, the retelling boasts an admirable heroine who Hanley, Victoria discovers her inner strength by combating her Healers Keep greatest weakness. When the Healer's Keep is attacked by dark forces, Levine, Gail Carson Princess Sara and the foreigner The Two Princesses Dorjan join forces with the of Bamarre slave girl Maeve and freeman Courageous Princess Meryl Jasper to defend it. (Summary contracts the disease that plagues from Hennepin County Library, Oct. 2004) Bamarre, and it is known that courage demonstrated by a Hoffman, Alice former coward could extinguish Foretelling the epidemic. Her timid sister Rain, the product of a rape and Addie arms herself with her sister’s sword and shunned by her distant queen sets out to find the cure. mother, struggles to find her identity and prove herself in a Levine, Gail Carson world where an Amazonian band The Wish of horsewomen warriors fight to defend their Wilma Sturtz endures most of territory and sovereignty. Rain is a gifted the eighth grade as warrior herself, but begins to question her “unpopular,” but a few weeks tribe's combative, man-hating traditions and before graduation she does a unlike the rest of her army, she does not find good deed and is granted her any pleasure in watching her enemies die. wish to be the most popular kid Haunted by a dream of a black horse, which is at school. Author Levine convincingly a common symbol of deal, Rain fears that her captures Wilma’s adolescent distress between people will someday rise against her. After her wanting her friends to like her for her and mother dies giving birth to her second child, never wanting the spell to end. Rain is forced to determine the future of her community and her own. Marillier, Juliet Daughter of the Forest To reclaim the lives of her brothers, Sorcha leaves the only safe place she has known Unless noted, all summaries are from Greenwood Publishing Group, Horn Book Guide Online, 1989-2002 3 Denotes new titles recently added to the list and starts on a journey of pain, loss and Napoli, Donna Jo terror. Beast Elaborates on the tale of Beauty McKinley, Robin and the Beast told from the point Beauty of view of the beast and set in Kind Beauty grows to love Beast Persia. (Summary from NoveList at whose castle she is compelled online fiction guide, March 2003.) to stay and through her love releases him from the spell that Napoli, Donna Jo had turned him from a Zel handsome prince into an ugly beast. (Summary The girl in the tower, the witch from NoveList online fiction guide, March 2003.) and the prince tell this re- visioning of Rapunzel in turns. McKinley, Robin This book transforms myth Rose Daughter without flippancy, honoring Nearly 20 years after the the power of its roots. publication of Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty Nielsen, Jennifer and the Beast, McKinley has— The False Prince quizzically—produced In the country of Carthya, a another full-length novel retelling the same devious nobleman engages four tale. orphans in a brutal competition to be selected to impersonate the Meyer, Carolyn king's long-missing son in an effort to avoid a Mary, Bloody Mary civil war. (Summary from Destiny Follett, An engaging account of the January, 2013). childhood of Mary Tudor, King Henry VIII’s oldest daughter, Pullman, Philip childhood and early adulthood. The Tin Princess Long before she ascends the High melodrama and throne, Mary is dismayed by the way Henry adventure greet Becky discards her mother after failing to produce a Winter, companion to the male heir. new queen of Razkavia—a beautiful London commoner.