The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander (U.S., 1964) When evil threatens the mythical land of Prydain, a young pig-keeper named Taran must face the monstrous Horned King.The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper (England, 1973) On his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers that he possesses ancient powers.Five Children and It by E. Nesbit (England, 1902) Five children encounter a hideous, cranky creature that grants their wishes—for better or for worse.Half Magic by Edward Eager (U.S., 1954) What looks like an old coin on the sidewalk turns out to be a quirky magic talisman.The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs (U.S., 1973) The shy orphan Lewis Barnavelt learns that his uncle’s mansion harbors a deadly secret.A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (U.S., 1999) The three orphaned Baudelaire children put their intelligence and resourcefulness to work as they encounter ghastly misadventures.The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis (England, 1952) Edmund, Lucy, and their vile cousin Eustace enter a magic painting of a sailing ship and join the quest of a legendary king.The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner (England, 1960) Wizards and goblins are among the unearthly figures lurking in a remote and mysterious part of England.A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin (U.S., 1968) A young boy is chosen to enroll at a school for wizards, where he learns the language of magic and dragons.The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken (England, 1962) Two cousins plot a dramatic escape from the orphanage run by evil Miss Slighcarp.A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (U.S., 1960) Otherworldly visitors guide Meg and her brother Charles Wallace on a journey through time and space.
