What's New in Fantasy Books for Ages 8 - 12 (Fall 2017)

I’m so excited to share with you the new fantasy middle grade books for children ages 8 – 12! If you’re like me and love this genre, you’re going to be thrilled with so many fantastic new titles.

What’s New in Fantasy Books for Ages 8 – 12

The Wonderling by Mira Bartók

This beautiful, heart-warming story is one of my favorite books of 2017. The story begins at an orphanage of maltreated groundlings (part human, part animal) orphans. One of the orphans, Number 13, is a fearful, shy foxlike 11-year old. He’s befriended by a fearless bird groundling named Trinket who convinces him to escape with her and renames him Arthur after the famous king. The two manage to escape and Arthur sets off on his own to find more about his origins. He falls in with a group of crooks but through a series of twists and turns finds he has a big destiny — he must stop the wicked orphanage leader from magically removing all the music in the world.

Podkin One-Ear The Legend Begins by Kieran Larwood

Well-written and enthralling, you’ll love every moment of this story about a young rabbit who reluctantly grows into his destiny. One cold winter night, the night before Bramblemas, a traveling bard seeks shelter in Thornwood Warren. He’s offered shelter and food in exchange for his stories; stories about the heroic Podkin One-Ear. Alternating between the bard’s present moment experience and the story of Podkin, we learn that young Podkin was a lazy, spoiled prince. When the cruel Gorm who are metal dark magic rabbits arrive at his family’s burrow to kill everyone inside, Podkin escapes with his much braver sister and little brother. No longer able to be spoiled and lazy, Podkin tries his best to be brave and pull his weight, often failing miserably but occasionally succeeding , too. They’re captured more than once and escape both times, once with the loss of his ear. I LOVE this story and can not wait for the rest of the books in the series.

Mighty Jack and the Goblin King by Ben Hatke
Lush graphic illustrations invite you into this marvelous second adventure of Jack’s. Jack and Lilly enter the portal to another realm to rescue Jack’s kidnapped little sister, Maddie. Somehow they must rescue Maddie from the giants before she’s sacrificed. Surprisingly, help comes from an unexpected group of creatures, the goblins. Truly an action-packed adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat, frantically turning the pages to see what will happen next. A superb, don’t-miss-this sequel.

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol
Arianwyn can’t believe she’s failed her witch exam nor that she’s sent to a small town to be their witch anyway. There she faces unexpected dark spirits, meets new friends, and conquers the worrisome glyph she keeps seeing. This is an entertaining fantasy book for anyone who loves magic and underdog heroines.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
If you’ve been a fan of Rick Riordan, you’re probably more knowledgeable about Norse mythology than most. Now, discover the major stories of this Northern culture from Neil Gaiman’s perspective. Gaiman shares stories of the beginning of the Gods, how the Nine Worlds were formed, how Odin lost one eye, the children of Loki, and so much more, all the way to Ragnarok. These stories are more bloody than the Greek pantheon but they are quite entertaining none the less and hard to put down once you get reading. See more Norse Mythology books for kids here.

Snow Rose by Emily Winfield Martin
This isn’t the same Snow White and Red Rose story from Disney, it’s something closer to the original Grimm story, and it’s marvelous. Snow and Rose are two sisters who with their mother live in the woods after their father disappeared in those same woods and they lost their fancy house and way of life. The girls explore, befriending a young boy from a mushrooming family named Ivo and a large bear who they nurse back to health during the winter. But they fear the woodsman will find and kill their bear. Then they stumble upon a sinister Little Man who seeks to enchant them or kill them. Surprisingly, this is one Grimm story with a happy ending . . . which I won’t spoil. You’ll find out when you read it. 🙂

The Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw by Todd Cage Gallicano
Sam is just an ordinary boy until a Gryphon reveals himself to Sam, something that has rarely ever happened in thousands of years. Sam learns that fantasy creatures like the Gryphon do exist, they live in our national parks, and need protection. In fact, Sam learns that the Gryphon only appears when there is an urgent danger. Now it’s up to Sam to figure out what’s happened to the park ranger and why the gryphon appeared, taking him on an adventure all over the world. Filled with the coolest fantasy creatures, this is a great beginning to the Sam London adventures with more books to come.

The Eye of the North by Sinead O’Heart
Emmaline’s parents have raised her to be a surviver. Now it’s time to be one. Her parents have been kidnapped so Emmaline embarks on a heart-pounding race to save parents in the icy North where a great evil (the Kraken) is about to be unleashed with her parents’ reluctant help. Filled with cool mythological creatures from northern mythologies (Irish, for one), this is an interesting adventure of bravery and friendship.