If You Liked The Hobbit
This article originally appeared in SLJ’s Extra Helping. Sign up now!
-- School Library Journal, 7/9/2008 8:53:00 AM
From epic quests to the adventures of a young wizard (not Harry!), there’s more than enough adventure and fantasy in these books for fans of Tolkien’s classic.
CROGGON, Alison. The Naming. Candlewick. 2005. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2639-6; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3162-8.
Gr 7 Up–Australian author Croggon is also a poet, which explains the beautiful imagery in her writing. In this first installment in the “Pellinor” series, 16-year-old Maerad is rescued from slavery by a bard who trains her in the use of her extraordinary magical powers, convinced that she is destined to save their world by defeating the "Nameless One."
DUANE, Diane. So You Want to Be a Wizard. Harcourt. 2003. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-15-204738-2; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-15-204940-9.
Gr 7-12–This title has regained popularity in the last few years as a read-alike for Harry Potter fans, but it’s actually more like The Hobbit with its altruistic themes and unique blending of fantasy and science fiction. Readers who enjoy riding along with neophyte spellcasters Nita and Kit will want to read the next seven titles in Duane’s “Young Wizards” series.
NICHOLSON, William. Seeker. Harcourt. 2006. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-15-205768-8; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-0-15-205866-1.
Gr 6-11–With a decidedly religious bent, this epic quest to protect the “All and Only god” will attract fans of C. S. Lewis as well as Tolkien with its opening replete with an abandoned baby and a hero who must avenge his people who are being tormented by a ruthless enemy. The plot and setting are complicated enough to keep fantasy readers enthralled, and Nicholson has created characters who clearly understand the meaning of loyalty, suffering, and ultimate redemption.
TAYLOR, Laini. Blackbringer. Putnam. 2007. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24630-2.
Gr 5-9–Feisty faerie Magpie Windwitch dispatches herself and an army of like-minded crows to get nasty demons back into their glass homes before everything is destroyed. When one especially motivated devil sets its sights on destroying Dreamdark, a hidden faerie outpost, Magpie is forced to waken the ancient djinni and call on their powers. Fans of elf- and Hobbit-talk will enjoy Taylor’s faerie-language dialogue.
Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors at NoveList, the leader in readers' advisory electronic resources. For more information, visit NoveList.
