Introduction

Fantasy is a very popular genre with children and the events in fantasy always occur outside the ordinary laws that operate within the universe. Magic is central to the fantasy genre and the main character could involve evils, monsters, witches, talking animals etc. Fantasy books can open up possibilities and creates an imaginary world for children. Fantasy stories also can be in reality. Ursula Le Guin has written that “fantasy is true, of course. It isn’t factual, but it is true.” Therefore, fantasy books can actually serve as powerful learning tools and introduce subjects about natural science, physical science, space, history, and so many more.

This annotated bibliography information will focus on fantasy novels that have magic as the central theme and the target audience is 9-14 young readers.

The Isle of the Lost (May 2015)

Citation: De la Cruz, Melissa. The Isle of the Lost, New York: Disney-Hyperion, 2015.

 Annotation:
The Isle of the lost is a plot-driven fantasy fiction and also this novel acts as a prequel for the new-released Disney Channel movie which stuffed full a cartoon nostalgia and reluctant friendships.  De la Cruz explains carefully every character trait in a humorous tone and this book definitely attracts young adult of 9-14 years old. 

This story happens in an island where all magic are banished by a huge dome coving the island. All the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The offspring of four familiar villains are trained how to be an evil villains and their life on the island is dark and dreary. Until one day, one of the evil invents a device that is meant to provide them with more cable channels and inadvertently opens a hole in the dome, allowing a tiny bit of magic to reactivate the Dragon's Eye. The four start a long journey to find more magic and during the journey they are starting to show signs of caring for each other......

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Island of fire (Sep 2013)

Citation: McMann, Lisa. Island of fire, New York: Aladdin, 2013.

Annotation:

Island of fire is the third volume of McMann’s unwanted series and aim to 9-12 years old audience. In this fantasy fiction,  McMann builds her newly minted mage's self-confidence, firms up some emotional hookups and pitches her burgeoning cast into a series of rescues in this middle volume. The story opens with a crisis carried over from the previous episode and closes with a sudden attack by parties unknown. In this book, the island of silence (second volume of series) ended, the magical world of Artime is gone and the Unwanteds have no food, no water, and no hope and they are looking to Alex Stowe for answers, but while his twin brother Aaron continues to build his army in Quill, a very dangerous common enemy is revealed…. 

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The legend of the rift (Mar 2016)

Citation: Lerangis, Peter. The Legend of the Rift, New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2016.

Annotation:

The Legend of the Rift is the final volume of the Seven Wonders series. This book is fantasy fiction, action-packed storyline and the author write the book in a very fast pace to catching the eye of the 9-14 years old readers. This volume begins right after Aly has been kidnapped by King Uhla'ar and pulled back into Atlantis. The rift is guarded by a behemoth, and Aly simply cannot be rescued easily. Frantic, the kids come to believe that their only hope is to find the rest of the lost Loculi in order to rescue Aly. With that, it’s off to the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, where they have to face down the armies of Artemis, and then to the Lighthouse of Alexandria, where they wind up in the belly of an unimaginable beast. And then finally, back to the Karai Institute for a final trip back to Atlantis to save Aly, the world, and themselves.

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Monstrous (Feb 2015)

Citation: Connolly, MarcyKate. Monstrous, New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2015.

Annotation:

This fantasy fiction is narrated in first person and suitable to grade 2-8. The story focus on the plot more than action and the author write in an intensifying pace. 

The story happened in the city of Bryre and the main character, Kymera, has a raven's wings, a snake's tail, and a cat's eyes and claws. Her scientist father brought her back to life after a wizard killed her. But she begins to question his motives, especially after she connects with a boy in the town from which she is rescuing sick girls. Together, Kymera and the boy set out to save their homeland of Bryre with the help of Batu, a pensive rock dragon. A likely read-aloud that has its share of guts, blood, and grim reality within this fantasy  land and this book can keep young readers thinking about trust, good and evil, friendship and loyalty, and devotion to community

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Heroes of the dusbin (Sep 2015)

Citation: Whitesides, Tyler. Heroes of the dustbin, Salt Lake City, Utah: Shadow Mountain, 2015.



Annotation:

The heroes of the dustbin is the final volume of the Tyler’s Janitor series. The story is narrated in a funny tone and focus on both action and plot. 9-14 years old young reader will love this book.  
The story is about the boy named Spencer and his team of rebels who want to save the whole world. Although their enemies are powerful, their allies few, Spencer and his team of Rebels are not giving up! But what chance do a handful of kids and one rescued janitor have against the combined evil of the Founding Witches and the Sweepers? Can the Rebels close the source of all Glop and stop the Toxites once and for all—or is the world doomed to fall under the control of the sinister Bureau of Educational Maintenance? This final book will give you unforgettable ending.

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Soccer on Sunday (2014)

Citation: Osborne, Mary Pope & New York: Random House. Soccer on Sunday, New York: Random House, 2014.

Annotation:

Soccer on Sunday is an Action-packed and Plot-driven fantasy fiction for grade 3-6 children book. It is in the Magic Tree House #52 series and this title will take Jack and Annie to a soccer field in Mexico where they must find the final secret of greatness for Merlin. On the field, they'll meet a young soccer player who dreams of one day playing in the World Cup just like his hero, the great Brazilian soccer player, Pelé!  The author describe the whole story in a very fast pace and Suspenseful tone to grab attention of the readers. 

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Diary of a mad brownie (Jun 2015)

Citation: Coville, Bruce. Diary of a mad brownie, New York: Random House, 2015.

 Annotation:

This fantasy fiction is written in the first person and driven by the plot. The author narrated it in a humorous tone to grab the attention of 9-12 years old children. 

Angus Cairns is a brownie, a magical creature that loves to do chores. Angus has a temper problem. Alex Carhart is the messiest eleven-year-old in the United States of America. The two are thrown together by a centuries-old curse. Working together, Angus and Alex will set out to break the curse . . . without killing each other first. Bruce Coville brings fantasy, adventure, and humor together in a one-of-a-kind tale of family and friendship that will have readers laughing out loud.

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Gabriel Finley & the raven's riddle (Aug 2014)

Citation: Hagen, George. Gabriel Finley & the raven's riddle, New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2014.

 Annotation:

The booklist declares that this book is a first-rate fantasy for middle-grade readers. The main character, Gabriel, is an eleven years old boy. Gabriel lived with his aunt and his father disappeared several years earlier and his mother has been gone since he was a baby. The thing he enjoys most is solving riddles and this skill will be essential when it comes to finding his father. Gabriel must use all his wits to secure two magical objects from a dark lord, his evil uncle Corax, who is part human, part raven. This story involved into a large cast of characters and George narrated it in a humorous tone. Middle-graders looking for a soaring fantasy that’s not too hard, not too easy, will find this just right.

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The Whizz Pop Choc0late Shop (Mar 2013)

Citation: Saunders Kate. The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop, New York: Delacorte Press, 2013.

 Annotation:

This fantasy fiction is plot-driven and the author tries to grab the attention of 7-12 years old young readers. Oz and Lily's family used to own a famous chocolate shop. There was a terrible accident and all three of the great-uncles are dead, and with it their famous chocolates. Oz and Lily's family have inherited the shop, and with it, all of the family secrets. The children are thrown into a world of secrets, spells, and immortal animals (Demerara the cat and Spike the rat). From one unpredictable plot turn to another, Saunders’ lively characters will endear themselves to readers from start to finish. 

This book is reminiscent of Road Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and suitable to read loudly.

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Magic in the mix (Sep 2014)

Citation: Barrows, Annie. Magic in the mix, New York: Bloomsbury, 2014.

 Annotation:

To grad attention of 7-12 years old young readers, this fantasy fiction is written in a very fast pace. Magic in the mix is a sequel to The Magic Half.

This story told about the twin sisters Miri and Molly who look the same, act the same. However, the twin is only members in the family who are know they are actually not the twin. In The Magic Half (2008), Miri saved Molly from a life of abuse in 1935, bringing Molly to Miri's own time and family. In their family, only they know about the magic, and its power to set things right. One day, a magic tree house send them to another time-traveling adventure to the Civil War where they race against the clock to save two unusual soldiers and come to terms with the truth about Molly’s real past…

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