If You Loved Narnia…
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-- School Library Journal, 2/16/2006
As with C. S. Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia," first published in 1950, there is fantasy with a strong element of Christianity woven through these titles. But most young readers simply see the conflicts as the classic struggle of good versus evil. Courage and friendship are an important part of these titles, too, along with a few of those awe-inspiring creatures that keep young fantasy readers captivated.
ALEXANDER, Lloyd. The Book of Three. Random. 1978. pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-440-40702-8.
Gr 4-8–In this first volume in the "Prydain Chronicles," readers meet Taran, a boy impatient for manhood. As assistant pig-keeper of the oracular pig Hen Wen, his life is very tame. Taran's dreams of glory and adventure soon turn to bitter reality, though, when the Horned King marches to conquer Prydain, and Taran literally stumbles into a quest that continues through four more books, two of which won Newbery honors.
BARRON, T. A. Heartlight. Penguin. 2003. pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-441-01036-9.
Gr 5-8–Frequently compared to the work of Madeleine L'Engle, Barron's debut novel, the first in the Kate Gordon trilogy, puts the sun–or, more accurately, the destruction of it–at the center of a cosmic battle of good and evil. Kate follows her grandfather, an astrophysicist on the intervention team, across the galaxy on an adventure that includes nods to environmentalism, physics, Christianity, and metaphysics.
TAYLOR, G. P. Shadowmancer. Penguin. 2004. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-399-24256-2; pap. $7.99. ISBN 0-14-240341-5.
Gr 9 Up–Readers will find a touch of Tolkien, Lewis, Rowling, and even the Brothers Grimm in this complicated and richly descriptive novel set in early-18th-century England. As in Narnia, the Christian message is clear–there are healings, a corrupt vicar, and dabblings in dark magic. Mature fantasy readers will throw themselves headlong into this story of three teens that must restore order to the universe or risk losing their very souls.
Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors of NoveList, NoveList K-8, and Book Index with Reviews (BIR), leading resources for readers' advisory services and collection development. For more information, see epnet.com.
