Airborn by Kenneth Oppel.
Teenaged Kate is a first-class passenger on the same airship where Matt is cabin boy. When the airship is captured by pirates then crashes on a remote island, Matt puts aside helping Kate search for legendary flying creatures to focus on survival. For grades 6-9. Printz Honor Book. LP 1422.

Alchemy by Margaret Mahy.
Seventeen-year-old Roland is blackmailed by his teacher, Mr. Hudson, to spy on unpopular girl classmate Jess Ferret. Roland discovers that she is studying alchemy and that their destinies are linked with that of a power-hungry magician. Some strong language. For senior high readers. RC 57236.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud.
Seeking revenge, twelve-year-old apprentice magician Nathaniel calls up the djinni Bartimaeus, a demon, to steal an amulet from a powerful minister. But the theft has unforeseen consequences, and the sarcastic djinni has his own agenda. The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1. For junior and senior high readers. RC 58011.

Archer’s Goon by Diana Wynne Jones.
When Quentin Sykes refuses to write his quarterly quota of words for the mysterious Mountjoy, he and his family learn it can be inconvenient and even dangerous to defy the commands of imperious magicians. For junior and senior high readers. RC 24268.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.
Twelve-year-old mastermind Artemis plans to restore his family fortune by obtaining some of the fairies' gold. The first step involves blackmailing an alcoholic fairy to photograph her "Book," containing her race's secrets but written in an ancient tongue. Some violence. For grades 5-8. Bestseller. BR 13430; RC 52289; LP 1392.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket.
The Baudelaire siblings—Violet  fourteen; Klaus, twelve; and Sunny, a teething toddler—are charming and clever, but "magnets for misfortune." In short order, they are orphaned, denied access to their inheritance until Violet comes of age, and sent to live with a repulsive relative, Count Olaf. A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1. For grades 4-7. Bestseller. BR 13626; RC 50907; LP 739.

The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance by Margaret Mahy.
No one except Laura understands that her little brother is being possessed and destroyed by a demonic man. Laura thinks she can save Jacko, but only by using her latent supernatural powers—an act that may cost her own life. For junior and senior high and adult readers. BR 6100; RC 22780; LP 396.

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper.
Will Stanton, eleven, learns that he is the last of the Old Ones—immortals dedicated to controlling the forces of evil. Will's quest is to find the Signs of Light to defeat the Dark. The Dark Is Rising Sequence, Book 2. For grades 4-7 and older readers. Newbery Honor book. BR 13420; RC 50256; LP 360.

Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones.
For forty years Mr. Chesney, supported by a demon, has imposed his tour groups ("pilgrim parties") on the worn-out kings, dragons, elves, and farmers of the community. This year an unusual wizard, Derk, becomes the Dark Lord and involves his whole family—even the griffins—in stopping Mr. Chesney. For junior and senior high readers. RC 48321.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede.
Princess Cimorene is curious, energetic, feisty, and not at all the proper princess that her parents—the very proper king and queen—wish her to be. Determined not to marry the vapid prince that has been chosen for her, she runs away and throws herself wholeheartedly into a career as a dragon's princess. As she fends off nosy wizards and helps out hysterical princesses, she makes a firm place for herself in the dragon world. Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book 1. For grades 5-9. RC 33457.

Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly.
When the fearful dragon, Morkeleb, attacks Ylferdun, Prince Gareth seeks the only living dragonsbane, John Aversin, to ask for help. Instead of a dashing, heroic figure, he finds an unpretentious farmer whose only dragon kill was reluctantly done through necessity. John is persuaded to go with Gareth, and takes along Jenny, a half-taught sorceress. And it is Jenny who finally faces the dragon. Winterlands series, Book 1. For junior and senior high readers. RC 26667.

Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey.
Menolly, the only girl apprentice at Harper Hall, finds that she needs more than her gift for composing songs and melodies to fulfill her dream of being a Harper of Pern. Harper Hall Trilogy, Book 2. An adventurous fantasy for grades 5-8. RC 15983.

Enter Three Witches by Kate Gilmore.
Uncomfortable about his home life (his mother and grandmother are witches, and a voodoo priestess occupies their garden apartment), Bren has been a loner, finding solace in Central Park and with his dog Shadow. Now his one friend, Eli, has convinced him to help with the lighting for the school production of Macbeth. When Bren meets Erika, First Witch and the girl of his dreams, his life changes forever. For grades 6-9 and older readers. RC 38998.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini.
Fifteen-year-old Eragon bonds with the baby dragon, Saphira, that hatches from a mysterious blue stone. They train in magic and martial arts and, refusing to serve the evil king, sally forth to encounter warriors, dwarves, and others battling the empire. Some violence. Inheritance series, Book 1. For grades 6-9 and older readers. RC 57232.

The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.
When the Grace children—nine-year-old twins Jared and Simon and their thirteen-year-old sister, Mallory—move into their great-aunt Lucinda's run-down Victorian house, mischief begins, and Jared is blamed. Finding a book about faeries in a secret room gives Jared a clue about the unseen troublemaker. The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1. For grades 2-4. BR 14982; BR 51422; RC 56514.

Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones.
Nineteen-year-old Polly realizes that she has two conflicting sets of childhood memories. As she attempts to sort out the true story of her past, she discovers that occult forces have played a part in the development of her most important friendship. A complex, thought-provoking fantasy. For grades 6-9 and older readers. BR 6351.

The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsly.
The orphan Corinna transforms herself into Corin because only boys are Folk Keepers, appeasers of the evil Folk. Her identity is further challenged at her new post near the sea when she discovers her heritage as a Sealmaiden, and she must draw upon all her gifts to stay alive. For grades 5-8. Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. BR 13177; RC 51788; LP 729.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman.
A tale set in Victorian England on an alternate Earth. Young Lyra Belacqua and her daemon enjoy an idyllic life among the scholars at Jordan College. Then her friend Roger and other children are abducted by the Gobblers. Venturing north in pursuit, Lyra encounters an alien and sinister world. Violence. For junior and senior high readers. BR 13276; RC 44343; LP 778.

The Haunting by Margaret Mahy.
A very shy and imaginative boy receives supernatural messages and pictures he is afraid to tell anyone about. He eventually learns that he has inherited a family legacy that may be considered either a rare gift or a despised curse. For grades 5-8 and older readers. BR 5514; RC 21801.

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley.
With a wizard's guidance and the blue sword's help, young Aerin fights to claim her birthright as daughter of a king and a witch from the mysterious, demon-haunted north. For grades 6-9 and older readers. Newbery Medal. BR 15580; RC 25926.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein.
The wandering wizard Gandalf recruits Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, to be the fourteenth member of an expedition. Hobbits prefer comfort to adventures, but Bilbo joins the quest and encounters many perils, including a dragon. For junior and senior high readers. BR 11595; RC 48978; LP 982; LP 1255.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.
As the eldest of three daughters, Sophie Hatter knows that—according to fairy-tale convention—she’s expected to fail first and worst when she sets out to seek her fortune. When the Ingarian countryside is threatened by both the moving castle of Wizard Howl and the schemes of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds a kind of courage and determination she's never known before. A magical fantasy for grades 6-9. RC 25892.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke.
Twelve-year-old Meggie lives with her father, Mo, a bookbinder. She discovers a terrible secret: nine years ago when Mo read aloud from a book the characters appeared in real life while her mother disappeared into the story. Mo's magic causes still more problems to solve. For grades 5-8 and older readers. BR 14997; RC 57116.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher: A Magic Shop Book by Bruce Coville.
Sixth-grader Jeremy Thatcher hates being small for his age—and he hates the bullies that pick on him. He also hates Mary Lou Hutton, whose one goal in life is to give Jeremy a kiss. One afternoon, trying to escape Mary Lou, he runs down a street he has never seen before and stumbles upon a magic shop. There he purchases a dragon's egg that soon hatches, making Jeremy the proud parent of a baby dragon that only he and Mary Lou can see! For grades 5-8. RC 37037.

The Magician’s Apprentice by Tom McGowen.
When Tigg, a twelve-year-old pickpocket, is caught searching magician Armindor's house, the magician takes him on as an apprentice. Armindor proposes a journey to the Wild Lands, and Tigg agrees to come along. On the way Tigg rescues Reepah, a furry creature, who warns them that they are being followed by the evil "Isst." Armindor ignores the warning until it is nearly too late. For grades 5-8. BR 8046; RC 31655.

Midnight Magic by Avi.
One stormy night in 1491, in Italy, Mangus the Magician and his twelve-year-old apprentice, Fabrizio, are summoned to the castle of King Claudio to determine if his daughter, Princess Teresina, is indeed being haunted by a ghost. For grades 5-8. BR 13138.

Mister Monday by Garth Nix.
While Arthur Penhaligon lies dying from an asthma attack on his first day in a new school, evil Mister Monday gives him a special key that not only helps Arthur recover but also unleashes many strange happenings. The Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1. For grades 5-8 and older readers. RC 57998.

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende.
A pudgy, lonely, motherless schoolboy enters the magical world of Fantasiana when he steals a beautifully bound book and begins "The Neverending Story." As he follows the marvelous adventures of the exotic creatures, he learns that only a human from the real world can save this kingdom and that he must enter the story to help them and himself. RC 20209.

Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl.
"I am Owl. It is my name as well as my nature," announces fourteen-year-old Owl Tycho. Born to simple witches, Owl has shape-shifting abilities (a condition that runs in her family) and is a suburban high school girl by day and a barn owl by night. She has fallen in love with her science teacher, Mr. Lindstrom, and keeps a nightly vigil outside his window as she pursues her ill-fated infatuation. For grades 6-9 and older readers. RC 38770.

Sabriel by Garth Nix.
Sabriel was sent to school outside the Old Kingdom for her safety. Now in her last year of study, she receives her father's necromancy tools, indicating that he is dead. Determined to find his body, Sabriel reenters the Old Kingdom and confronts the evil forces of life and death. Some violence. Clayr series, Book 1. For junior and senior high readers. RC 44682.

The Same Place but Different by Perry Nodelman.
Johnny Nesbit discovers that his baby sister, Andrea, has been kidnapped by the Strangers and replaced with a changeling. Johnny's parents believe that Andrea is autistic now that her behavior has changed, but Johnny knows the truth. Johnny will have to battle with many strange creatures in order to rescue Andrea. For junior and senior high readers. RC 45414.

Sandry’s Book by Tamora Pierce.
Sandry wants to weave thread, Daja prefers to work with metal, Trisana has an unusual connection to weather, and Briar communicates with plants. These four outcasts, each with a distinct magical power, are brought together at Winding Circle Temple by Mage Niklaren Goldeye. For grades 5-8. RC 49333.

The Satanic Mill by Otfried Preussler.
Strange dreams urge Krabat, a beggar boy, to a mysterious mill where he unwittingly joins a school of black magic with a cruel master from whom he cannot escape. For grades 5-9. RC 7749.

Sign of the Qin by L.G. Bass.
Chinese Prince Zong is born with a mark identifying him as the Starlord who will save his people from his father's oppressive regime. Rejoicing, the gods send Monkey and the Tattooed Monk to guard the boy against the evil Lord of the Dead. Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh, Book 1. For grades 6-9 and older readers. RC 58326; LP 1458.

Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel.
In the Silverwing bat colony, Shade—the runt of the newborns—has an enormous sense of curiosity that endangers the entire colony. When he is lost in a storm during a migration, his adventures in the larger world begin. Shade wants to learn about the disappearance of his father, why some bats have metal bands, and how to return to his mother in the colony. For grades 3-6. BR 51004; RC 46163.

So You Want to Be a Wizard? by Diane Duane.
Thirteen-year-old Nita finds a book on wizardry in the library. She soon discovers that it has magical properties. While practicing her spells, she meets Kit, another aspiring wizard, and the two call up Fred, a mischievous white hole. The three embark on a dangerous mission to retrieve the "Book of Night with Moon," which holds the key to the light and goodness of the universe.  Young Wizards, Book 1. For grades 5-8. RC 26846.

Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett.
In this tale set in Discworld, a young witch-to-be named Tiffany teams up with the Wee Free Men, a clan of six-inch-high blue men, to rescue her kidnapped baby brother and ward off a sinister invasion from Fairyland. For grades 6-9 and older readers. RC 56709.

Wise Child by Monica Furlong.
Juniper, a kind and loving sorceress shunned by the inhabitants of a remote Scottish village, agrees to take nine-year-old Wise Child into her home. The precocious Wise Child has been abandoned by her mother, an evil sorceress. With Juniper, Wise Child learns about the healing arts, magic, and superstition. When her mother returns and seeks to claim her, Wise Child also learns about love and loyalty. For grades 6-9. RC 29536.

The Witch Twins by Adele Griffin.
Troubled about being separated at school and preoccupied with sabotaging their father's marriage, ten-year-old witches, Claire and Luna, have little time to think of something good, smart and tricky to do that will finally make them one-star witches. For grades 3-5. LP 1138.

Wizard’s Hall by Jane Yolen.
A young apprentice wizard saves the wizard's training hall by trusting and believing in himself. For grades 3-6. LP 791.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.
When a cyclone blows Dorothy and her dog Toto from their Kansas home to the magical Land of Oz, Dorothy meets the Munchkins and witches. With her new companions the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy travels to the Emerald City to petition the Wizard. For grades 4-7. RC 51047; LP 85.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
Meg Murry, her younger brother Charles Wallace, and her neighbor Calvin are transported to the planet Camazotz as they search for Meg's lost father, a scientist studying time travel. Murry Family series, Book 1. For grades 5-8. Newbery Medal. BR 9403; RC 48972; LP 390.

Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones.
It is eight years after Mr. Chesney's Pilgrim Tours—as described in Dark Lord of Derkholm (RC 48321)—ended, and Elda, the griffin daughter of the wizard Derk, arrives at the Wizards' University. She encounters new friends, pirates, assassins, worry, sabotage, bloodshed, and misused magic. For junior and senior high readers. RC 51942.