HomeDiscoverChildren's articles16 must-read fantasy books for 9-12-year-olds16 must-read fantasy books for 9-12-year-oldsby the Puffin Team·min read·7 Escape the real world by diving into these epic fantasy books for 9-12-year-olds that will take you to fantastical and hair-raising locations. The Edge Chronicles: Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Stewart, illustrated by Chris Riddell (2026) The Edge Chronicles: Beyond the Deepwoods plunges young readers into a wildly imaginative world filled with incredible creatures and unforgettable characters. When Twig, a boy raised by woodtrolls, strays from the path into the strange and dangerous Deepwoods, he embarks on a thrilling quest to uncover the truth about who he really is. Bursting with action, adventure and Chris Riddell’s extraordinary illustrations, this fantasy classic is an exciting journey that will keep readers turning the pages. Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind by Misa Sugiura (2023) Growing up, Momo Arashima's mother used to tell her fantastic magical stories. However, Momo now has a tendency to get reality mixed up with those wondrous tales, and that has led to lots of teasing from her classmates. But after Momo spots a fox wearing pants and is attacked by a death hag, it appears her mother's stories may have some element of truth to them... This brand-new fantasy tale that blends Japanese folklore will take readers on an unforgettable ride. Swifter Than Starlight by Cerrie Burnell (2023) Lilac, Clover and Hester are three very different girls who are thrown together to track down a missing prince. The Faraway Wood is known for its twisting thorns and sharp teeth, myths and music, and it’s the perfect place for unsavoury characters and secrets to hide… This epic follow-up to Cerrie Burnell’s Wilder Than Midnight follows the girls as they use their individual strengths and brilliance to unite the realm. Redwall by Brian Jacques (1986) Named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, Redwall has been thrilling young fantasy fans since it was first published in the eighties. It follows a community of peace-loving mice whose home in Redwall Abbey is being threatened by an evil, one-eyed rat warlord. Cluny the Scourge believes his horde of predators will be able to conquer Redwall easily. Little does he know that the mice are stronger and braver than they appear. And they’ve got some loyal allies too… A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (1968) Considered one of the best fantasy books out there, this first adventure in the four-part Earthsea series is a tale of wizards, dragons, and terrifying shadows. The island of Gont is known for being the home of wizards, including the famous voyager Sparrowhawk. When he was just a boy, he discovered he held a great power that had terrifying consequences. While testing this newly discovered power, Sparrowhawk lets loose an evil shadow beast onto the island. Now it’s his responsibility to destroy it, even if the quest takes him far from home. Earthsea is often compared to the works of acclaimed authors J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett (2001) Terry Pratchett has created a wonderful tail (pardon the pun) about a con artist cat called Maurice and his pack of magical rats. When the rats forage on a wizard’s leftovers they acquire powers never seen before in rodents. They can speak and read and start to make big plans for a comfortable retirement. Maurice is always on the lookout for a get-rich-quick scheme and together with the rats, and young Keith, the ‘piper’, they develop a plan to make big bucks with their very own plague of rats. But things go wrong when they reach the run-down town of Bad Blintz and the educated rodents start to have their own ideas… This fantastical story has recently been adapted into a hit animation starring Emilia Clarke, Himesh Patel, David Tennant, Hugh Laurie, and Joe Sugg. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (1900) Dorothy and her dog, Toto are whisked away from the comfort of her homely Kansas farmstead for the ultimate road trip to Emerald City. Oz is a beautiful and magical land to escape to and find lots of new friends along the way – just be sure not to cross paths with the Wicked Witch! This classic story is one every fantasy fan should have on their bookshelf. The Midnighters by Hana Tooke (2022) Ema Vašková has always been different from the rest of her family. Surrounded by famous scientists who specialise in zoology, astronomy, anthropology, and more, there isn't much room for superstition or predicting when bad things are going to happen. When she is sent to live with her uncle in Prague, Ema is resigned to the fact that she will never fit in. But then she meets Silvie, a girl who believes Ema has some kind of sixth sense and is right to be fearful of shadows. Silvie helps Ema be proud of her peculiarity! But when Silvie suddenly disappears, it's up to Ema to find her friend. The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant (2021) For fans of books with magic, actor and author Tamzin Merchant's series is ideal. Cordelia’s family have always been milliners and they create all kinds of stunning hats using magical ingredients. Making is a rare and ancient skill and only a few special Maker families remain. But Cordelia’s family is struck by tragedy when her father Prospero and his ship, the Jolly Bonnet, are lost at sea during a mission to collect hat ingredients. Cordelia makes it her mission to find him, but her Uncle Tiberius and Aunt Ariadne have no time to help the little Hatmaker. And when she finds out someone is using Maker magic to start a war, Cordelia has more on her plate than she bargained for! Brother Wulf by Joseph Delaney (2020) When young novice monk Brother Beowulf is sent to spy on Spook Johnson, it sets off a whole sequence of events he could never have predicted. Johnson proudly tells Wulf of his battles against demonic creatures, but the monk has no idea whether to trust him. When the monsters Johnson describes turn out to be not just in his imagination, Wulf turns to another young Spook, Tom Ward for help. But will the dark forces end up being more than they can handle, or will Wulf be able to stop them? Frankie Best Hates Quests by Chris Smith (2022) Frankie Best likes watching YouTube and eating Pot Noodles. She doesn’t like being forced to embark on mega-dangerous quests. Nope, no thank you. But that’s exactly what she must do when what was supposed to be a quiet weekend at her Grandad’s house turns into an epic rescue mission. It’s down to Frankie and her brother Joel to save their Grandad when he is kidnapped by gnoblins (yes, gnoblins!). The pair head off to a magical realm where they encounter crazy creatures, terrifying enemies, and strangest of all – no Wi-Fi! Orphans of the Tide by Struan Murray (2020) If you fancy a dystopian fantasy series, try Struan Murray's Orphans of the Tide. Following the catastrophic drowning of the world, this gripping fantasy follows a mysterious boy who washes in with the tide. But the child is not welcomed into The City and instead, its citizens believe he’s the Enemy – the god who caused the untold chaos. The boy has an ally though in a fearless young inventor called Ellie who believes he’s innocent. But can she prove this to the ruthless Inquisition who are determined to destroy the Enemy forever? And will she have to reveal her own dangerous secret in the process? Frostheart by Jamie Littler (2019) All aboard the Frostheart for a hilarious and heart-stopping adventure! Young Ash and his yeti guardian Tobu live in the furthest part of the known world, cut off from the rest of humankind by creatures that lurk beneath the Snow Sea. When a group of travellers arrives on his rocky outcrop, he discovers more about his missing parents and realises he has been given the magical power of song weaving. This power sees him whisked aboard the Frostheart sleigh on a journey that will change his life forever. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (1979) The Neverending Story is a dazzling fantasy that pulls you into the mysterious world of Fantastica, full of strange creatures, new friends, and magical adventures. Bastian is an unlikely hero but it is his mission to stop the world from falling further into decay. This is a story for anyone who dreams about discovering a new world through the pages of a book. Make sure you check out the 80s box office hit adaptation of the book. Beowulf, Dragon Slayer by Rosemary Sutcliff (1961) Travel back through the centuries to Anglo-Saxon England in this retelling of the well-known legend of Beowulf. Rosemary Sutcliff takes us on some of the great warrior’s most daunting crusades, where he battles a variety of mythical creatures including a man-wolf, a sea-hag, and a fire-drake. The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Bell (2016) Set in an outlandish world where nothing is as it seems, The Crooked Sixpence takes you to an uncommon place where ordinary objects have extraordinary powers. Located beneath the well-trodden streets of London, the fantastical city of Lundinor trades in these uncommon objects and reveals many secrets to visitors within its hidden depths.
