10 Underrated Fantasy Books for Children and Young Adults

Is that young person in your life suffering from post-Harry Potter reading blues? Do they want something to read that's just as magical and fantastic as The Chronicles of Narnia or Alice in Wonderland? I've got the fix for you. These are all books I read and loved growing up, and you might not have heard of them. From youngest to oldest in reading level, here are ten underrated fantasy books for children and young adults.

1. 'The Rough-Face Girl'

Written by: Rafe Martin

Illustrated by: David Shannon

Reading Level: 1st to 5th grade

Summary: In this Algonquin Indian version of the Cinderella story, the Rough-Face Girl and her two beautiful but heartless sisters compete for the affections of the Invisible Being. This variation on the Cinderella tale takes place in an Algonquin village on the shores of Lake Ontario.

This book is short and beautifully illustrated, and it was the intriguing cover art that originally prompted me to pick it up at a young age. Rather than the Anglo-Saxon fairy tale elements of princes, princesses and fairies, this tale gives us aspects of traditional Native American tales: a great spirit, nature, and life in the wilderness. The story also emphasizes the theme of inner beauty vs. outer beauty. It makes for a great read for introducing kids to Native American culture and folklore, which is rife with as many fantastical elements as European fairy tales, yet may not be as well-known as their European counterparts.

2. 'Cinderellis and the Glass Hill' (And the Princess Tales Series)

Written by: Gail Carson Levine

Illustrated by: Mark Elliot

Reading Level: 3rd to 6th grade

Summary: In this unusual spin on an old favorite, Cinderella is a boy! He's Cinderellis, and he has two unfriendly brothers and no fairy godmother to help him out. Luckily, he does have magical powders, and he intends to use them to win the hand of his Princess Charming—that is, Marigold. The only problem is, Marigold thinks Cinderellis is a monster!

This is a delightful and funny mixture of Cinderella and the lesser known Norwegian fairy tale, The Princess on the Glass Hill. As a little girl, it was Princess Marigold’s side of the story that drew me in, as it reminded me of Princess and the Pea only somehow more dramatic. The protagonist is witty and inventive, and will keep young readers guessing what he plans to do next. The author, Gail Carson Levine, also wrote Ella Enchanted, which received a Newberry Honor Award. I highly suggest reading the other books in the series, The Princess Tales, as well.

3. 'The Phantom Tollbooth'

Written by: Norton Juster

Illustrated by: Jules Feiffer

Reading Level: 4th to 6th grade

Summary: For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams.

This book is like Doctor Who meets Alice in Wonderland. It’s considered a classic, and yet I find that it’s rarely mentioned as a popular read. Growing up, I had this book read to me in class, as an English teacher’s favorite. This comes as no surprise, as the tale is packed with creative wordplay similar to that of Alice in Wonderland. I also find that young readers may identify with protagonist Milo now more than ever, in this day and age where children are quick to bore. If interested, there is also a film adaptation made in 1970.

4. 'Sirena'

Written by: Donna Jo Napoli

Reading Level: 6th to 8th grade

Summary: When a ship crashes on the shore, Sirena decides to break the goddess Hera's rules and help the lone survivor, yet as a love between them develops, they both realize that they have great obstacles in their future and wonder if their feelings for each other will be strong enough to overcome them.

Kids who were fans of The Little Mermaid growing up will love this aged-up story straight out of Greek mythology. Rather than the fluffy romp of the Disney movie we all know and love, readers will find this to be a more serious tale reminiscent of Hans Christian Andersen, and exploring the more adult side of romance. A beautiful and poetic story from beginning to end, it filled my young heart with dreams of what love would truly be like as I got older, and remains one of my favorite books to this day as an adult.

5. 'Growing Wings'

Written by: Laurel Winter

Reading Level: 6th to 9th grade

Summary: “Linnet waited with her eyes closed for the door to open and her mother to peek in. Waited for her to touch Linnet's shoulder blades lightly...Linnet knew that touch in her bones, as if it had happened every night of her life. An imprint, a memory of the skin itself.” So begins this startling first novel about an eleven-year-old girl who suddenly begins to grow wings—wings with soft auburn feathers, which only at first can be hidden with long hair and loose clothes. Funny, sad, and hopeful, this remarkable story captures a girl's shock at feeling alone in life, as it follows her journey to answer a most important question: how can a girl with wings ever fit into the world?

At the age group this book is meant for, it explores the feelings of going through drastic changes in one’s self with a fantastical element. I loved that it was a realistic take on what life would be like for an individual who would have this sort of body augmentation, rather than exploring the premise lightly and letting the characters have their wishes fulfilled easily. Having wings and flying would be great, but often the challenges of such a condition are overlooked for the sake of escapism. This book is also relatable for young readers who are experiencing other changes within themselves, such as discovering their sexual orientation, in which they may feel isolated or ashamed but eager to reveal their true selves to the world nonetheless. The book was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature, and the Locus Award for Best First Novel.

6. 'Dealing with Dragons' (And the Enchanted Forest Chronicles)

Written by: Patricia C. Wrede

Reading Level: 6th to 9th grade

Summary: Cimorene is everything a princess is "not" supposed to be: headstrong, tomboyish and smart. She is so bored that she runs away to live with a dragon Kazul and finds the family and excitement she's been looking for.

This book is a riot and I still pick it up and read it every now and then, even though I’m in my late twenties! It boldly subverts every possible fairy tale convention you can think of, and is uproariously funny and charming. Not to mention it was way ahead of its time, having a Shrek-like tone but predating the movie by over 10 years. Princess Cimorene makes every Disney princess you’ve ever known look like a chump with her spit-fire wit and cleverness (Belle might be a close rival, but I still think Cimorene has her beat). It’s an overwhelmingly positive tale for female readers, as its messages and tone about girls defies the conventions of classic fairy tales as well. Cimorene chooses not to have a love interest, and this isn’t spun in a negative way by the narrative. Dealing with Dragons is the first book in Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles, and I highly recommend picking up the other books based on this entry alone.

7. 'A Wizard of Earthsea' (And the Earthsea Cycle)

Written by: Ursula K. LeGuin

Reading Level: 6th through 12th grade

Summary: Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death's threshold to restore the balance.

Another oft-overlooked classic, this is a Tolkien-esque high fantasy that took some broad strides in the world of fantasy literature in its heyday. It was one of the first stories to introduce the concept of a “magic school” long before Harry Potter was a forethought, and is a spectacular coming of age tale. Ursula K. Leguin, a child of two famous anthropologists, drew upon her specialized knowledge and experience to pen an epoch that eschews heavy-handed conventions, like cut and dry morality where good battles evil, and instead opts for the overarching theme of a delicate balance within the natural world. Margaret Atwood referred to it as a “wellspring” of fantasy literature, and the book won two distinguished awards: the Boston Globe—Horn Book Award in 1969, and it was one of the last recipients of the Lewis Carrol Shelf Award in 1979. There have been two screen adaptations: a mini-series on the Sci-fi Channel, and an animated film by Studio Ghibli, although LeGuin wasn’t terribly fond of either of them. Personally, I would recommend the Ghibli film, Tales from Earthsea, if interested.

8. 'The Golden Compass' (And His Dark Materials)

Written by: Philip Pullman

Reading Level: 6th to 12th grade

Summary: Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal—including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world. Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want. But what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other…

Most likely one of the more well-known entries on this list, I feel that this book doesn’t get the credit it deserves, to say nothing of the 2007 film that did no justice to it. What I loved about this book, and the series in general, is that its world is atypical for fantasy: a world nearly identical to our own in an early 1900s industrial revolution timeline, venturing into the icy north pole, African plains, and beyond into unknown dimensions. My fondest memory of this book is recreating its setting as a “living book report,” where I got to turn a small room in my school into the north pole and introduce its cast of characters to my family and friends with costumes and props. There is a new book in the series that just came out recently called The Book of Dust, so be sure to give the whole series a read!

9. 'Goblin Quest' (And the Jig the Goblin trilogy)

Written by: Jim C. Hines

Reading Level: 8th to 12th grade

Summary: Jig is a scrawny little nearsighted goblin—a runt even among his puny species. Captured by a party of adventurers searching for a magical artifact, and forced to guide them, Jig encounters every peril ever faced on a fantasy quest.

I personally am a big fan of “unlikely hero” stories, where someone you wouldn’t think of as a hero ends up saving the day through some crazy circumstances. Without spoiling too much, tiny Jig (and his tinier friend Smudge, a fire spider) ends up slaying a dragon and championing a forgotten god, learning to use an ancient magic that was sealed away with the deity. It’s an outrageously fun adventure that might drum up nostalgia of ridiculous off-the-rails Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. I was such an advocate of these books that I used it for a high school book project and re-created Smudge the fire spider out of air dry clay.

10. 'A Spell for Chameleon' (And the Xanth Series)

Written by: Piers Anthony

Reading Level: 8th to 12th grade

Summary: Xanth was the enchanted land where magic ruled—where every citizen had a special spell only he could cast. That is, except for Bink of North Village. He was sure he possessed no magic, and knew that if he didn't find some soon, he would be exiled. According to the Good Magician Humpfrey, the charts said that Bink was as powerful as the King or even the Evil Magician Trent. Unfortunately, no one could determine its form. Meanwhile, Bink was in despair. If he didn't find his magic soon, he would be forced to leave...

The fantasy genre is home to a lot of gritty, dark and edgy tales, or otherwise stories that seem to take themselves very seriously. Piers Anthony’s pun-filled adventure in a magical land that looks suspiciously similar to the state of Florida is a nice breath of fresh air, and I believe it paved the way for other stories where the overall tone is more lighthearted and fun, while still having a riveting plot that will pull you in. Be forewarned, however, as these books are definitely meant for an older audience due to some of the adult slanted humor. There are over 40 books in the series, so you won't have to worry about running out of reading material for quite awhile if you decide to take on Xanth.

I hope you and your young ones find these books just as magical as I did growing up.