My 6-year-old is so excited to go see Wish at the end of November, and I’m right there with her! I love when a movie is a great fit for both of us, and there are a bunch of books in the same group! Here are some we recommend for fantasy adventure stories that work for middle grade readers and their parents.
Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe
A young witch must pass a coming-of-age quest or risk losing her magic forever.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
A breathtaking, enchanting story about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination.
Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
Thirteen-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits, is on a quest to clear her brother’s name and meet gamblers, pirates, and vengeful ghosts on her journey.
Maya and the Rising Dark by Rena Barron
Twelve-year-old Maya’s search for her missing father puts her at the center of a battle between our world, the Orishas, and the mysterious and sinister Dark world.
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Aru Shah unwittingly frees the Sleeper, an ancient demon whose duty it is to awaken the God of Destruction. Her classmates and beloved mother are frozen in time, and it’s up to Aru to save them.
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston
Amari’s search for her missing brother, Quinton, leads her to a ticking briefcase containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and a surprising magical talent.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A community that sacrifices children to a forest witch each year doesn’t know that she is kind. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, and nurtures the children with starlight.
The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
Ella Durand is the first Conjuror to attend a magic school in the clouds where Marvellers from around the world practice their cultural arts, but when a dangerous criminal escapes prison, Ella becomes the target of suspicion and must find a way to clear her family’s name.
Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
Nnamdi vows to avenge his father after a mysterious nighttime meeting, the gift of a magical object that enables super powers, and a charge to use those powers for good changes his life forever.
Ellen Whitfield is senior publicist at Books Forward, an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers.
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