Fantasy
The girl who drank the moon
Kelly Regan Barnhill
jFICTION Barnhill Kelly
Kids, Fantasy
"An epic fantasy about a young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her. Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule--but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her--even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she's always known. The acclaimed author of The Witch's Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic"--
Snow & Rose
Emily Winfield Martin
jFICTION Martin, Emily
Kids, Fantasy
Snow and Rose search the forest for their missing father and discover there is a sinister magic at work in the woods. A reimagining of the classic but little-known fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red.
This is a descriptive and lyrical retelling of Snow and Rose that features beautiful artwork from the author. Snow and Rose are sisters who are navigating the mysterious loss of their father and subsequent move from a large estate to a small cottage in the woods. While the plot may be a bit choppy at points, I did enjoy the fully distinct personalities between the two sisters and the magic of the woods. -Becky
Rump : the true story of Rumpelstiltskin
Liesl Shurtliff
jFICTION Shurtlif Liesl
Kids, Fantasy
Retells the tale of Rumpelstiltskin's childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the miller's daughter-turned-queen.
Liesl Shurtlif does a great job developing a backstory for Rumpelstiltskin. Typically the antihero in fairy tales, Rump is shown here as a misunderstood and thoughtful hero. His power develops during a time of hunger and loss, and we watch as he learns more about himself, his powers, and the consequences of magic. Plot driven, surprising, and a fun read! -Becky
Beauty : a retelling of the story of Beauty & the beast
Robin McKinley
YOUNG ADULT FICTION McKinley, Robin
Kids, Fantasy, Young Adult
Kind Beauty grows to love the Beast at whose castle she is compelled to stay and through her love releases him from the spell which had turned him from a handsome prince into an ugly beast.
A very detailed and descriptive adaptation of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast! The pace of the story moves more slowly, allowing the reader to really understand the character development, relationships, and the magical setting of the tale. Beautifully written! -Becky
The jumbies
Tracey Baptiste
jFICTION Baptiste Tracey
Kids, Fantasy
Eleven-year-old Corinne must call on her courage and an ancient magic to stop an evil spirit and save her island home.
"The Jumbies" is the first book in a trilogy which stems from Carribean folklore. This is a plot driven and frightening novel that would be enjoyed by children who enjoy suspenseful tales, magic, and brave characters! -Becky
Where the mountain meets the moon
Grace Lin
jFICTION Lin, Grace
Kids, Fantasy
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.
This is a beautiful fantasy adventure novel rooted in Chinese folklore. It follows Minli, a strong and lovable heroine, on her quest to seek answers from the Old Man of the Moon. While traveling, Minli meets several interesting characters and is told memorable folklore tales. This is a book for all ages! Grace Lin is an excellent storyteller and her artwork throughout the story is stunning! -Becky
Gideon the ninth
Tamsyn Muir
SCIENCE FICTION Muir Tamsyn
Fantasy, Fiction
Muir's Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cutthroat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.
I first read about this book on a list promoting titles that break down the heteronormative barrier of fantasy fiction. We love diverse books here at ICPL, and it's taken far too long for LGBTQIA+ fantasy to become mainstream. But that time has arrived! I'm not finished with this book yet, but it has the right amount of swordplay (and wordplay!), and the queer-romance angle is a slow burn. Necromancers dueling in space through their sidekicks takes everything to the next level. And what's on the line? Gideon's freedom. Definitely a book for fantasy lovers to put on their to-read list! -Melody
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
J. K. Rowling
jFICTION Rowling, J. K.
Kids, Fantasy
Burdened with the dark, dangerous, and seemingly impossible task of locating and destroying Voldermort's remaining Horcruxes, Harry, feeling alone and uncertain about his future, struggles to find the inner strength he needs to follow the path set out before him.
Added by Anne W
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
J. K. Rowling
jFICTION Rowling, J. K.
Kids, Fantasy
Sixth-year Hogwarts student Harry Potter gains valuable insights into the boy Voldemort once was, even as his own world is transformed by maturing friendships, schoolwork assistance from an unexpected source, and devastating losses.
Added by Anne W
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
J. K Rowling
jFICTION Rowling, J. K.
Kids, Fantasy
When the government of the magic world and authorities at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry refuse to believe in the growing threat of a freshly revived Lord Voldemort, fifteen-year-old Harry Potter finds support from his loyal friends in facing the evil wizard and other new terrors.
Added by Anne W
Kelly Barnhill is one of my favorite children’s fantasy authors. “The Girl Who Drank the Moon” is an adventurous and magical story with an intriguing plot and well-developed characters throughout. It has magic, dragons, enchantment, evil, and twists—what’s not to love!? -Becky