Skellig
David Almond

Michael’s family moves into a fixer-upper about the same time his baby sister comes too soon. So Mum is at hospital while he and his dad try to sort out the repairs. The teetering garage full of junk is off-limits, but Michael has a peek and finds someone there. A pale, crumbling, filthy person with wings … and a taste for Chinese takeout. Continue reading Skellig →

Greenglass House
Kate Milford

The Pines run a historic inn known as Greenglass House, which is perched on a cliff overlooking a river famous for local smugglers. Young Milo Pine was looking forward to Christmas with his (adoptive) parents. Normally, they have the place to themselves Continue reading Greenglass House →

The Dagger Quick
Brian Eames

Until the day Captain William Quick arrives at port in Kitto’s hometown, the boy has no idea that his hard-working cooper father (that’s a barrel-maker, by the by) had ever done anything more interesting than turn staves into barrels. Continue reading The Dagger Quick →

Al Capone Does My Shirts
Alcatraz, #1
Gennifer Choldenko

Moose’s family has moved to Alcatraz, where his father works as a prison guard, in hopes of enrolling his sister Natalie in a special school in San Francisco. Continue reading Al Capone Does My Shirts →

The Luck Uglies
Paul Durham

Rye O’Chanter and her friends run a bit wild in Village Drowning, bending rules and breaking laws. But harmless fun changes to real danger when Rye encounters a Bog Noblin, Continue reading The Luck Uglies →

Flight of the Phoenix
Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist, #1
R. L. LaFevers

When Nathaniel’s parents are lost at sea, he’s sent to live with his father’s cousin, who decides it’s high time 10-yr-old Nate take up the Fludd family tradition of adventuring. Continue reading Flight of the Phoenix →

The Ravenmaster’s Secret: Escape from the Tower of London
Elvira Woodruff

Forrest Harper is the son of a guard at the Tower of London who holds the additional role of Ravenmaster. The boy’s best friends are Tuck, a raven he’s raised from a fledgling, and Rat, a boy who works for the Tower’s rat-catcher. Continue reading The Ravenmaster’s Secret →

Drizzle
Kathleen Van Cleve

Polly Peabody’s family lives on what can only be called a magical farm. Their house is a castle. Nobody can drown in their lake. The insects are surprisingly intelligent. And it rains every Monday at 1:00 p.m., without fail. Continue reading Drizzle →

The Evil Wizard Smallbone
Delia Sherman

Neil runs away from the uncle who beats him and the cousin who bullies him and finds himself at the door of the Evil Wizard Smallbone. Getting away proves impossible Continue reading The Evil Wizard Smallbone →

The Peculiar (The Peculiar, #1)
Stefan Bachmann

In an England irrevocably marked by war against the Sidhe, Bartholomew Kettle must hide from prying eyes because of what he is. A changeling, born with both human and faery blood. Continue reading The Peculiar →