[Ravenlock]

I am taking a class called Adolesent litterature. It covers everything from picture books up to stuff in Junior High. One of the categories that i have to read from is Fantasy and Science. I was wondering if anyone knew of some really good fantasy and science fiction books that are more junior high or upper elementary reading level?

I have Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain and Lewises Chronicles of Narnia, but I can't think of many others.

[Cadfael]

The Harry Potter books from J.K. Rowling are the current flavour in children's fantasy, in fact quite a few adults have become addicted to them. For you info the books are:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

[This message has been edited by dennizm (edited May 31, 2001).]

[Rob B]

From what I hear anything David Eddings, though I haven't read him.

DragonLance Chronicles & Legends and The Darksword Trilogy by Weis and Hickman.

The Hobbit by Tolkein

The Sword of Shannara by Brooks

Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King (he wrote it for his kids, who were teens at the time)

I haven't read her, but I believe Dyana Wynne-Jones has a bunch of books about a wizardry school that predates Harry Potter

Patrica C. Wrede

Robert A. Heinlein had a whole group of books for teens.

My wife and I are two addicts of JK Rowling.

and

of

course

Terry Goodkind j/k! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Pathir]

Diana Wynne-Jones has written books about some sort of tour/journey through a typical fantasy world, books very much leaning towards the satirical approach.
When you like Pratchett, I think you will like these books as well.
I have JK Rowling books at home now. Are they good or is it strictly kid-stuff?

[FitzChivalry]

Well, Terry Goodkind certainly writes his plotline like a story for 5 years old, but too much sex or violence for kids.

In general, all of the TSR stuff is good for junior high kids.
Actually, maybe i'm too liberal, but i think Junior High kids (that's like 12-13 years old right?) can handle almost every fantasy series, after all, what's keeping them from reading books is lack of interest not lack of intellectual ability to understand it (unless it's philosophy or science or something else like that).

[Rhaegar]

Personally, I would steer 12 or 13 year olds away from GRRM's series, unless they were unusually mature kids.

[Rob B]

Pathir, as I said above: My wife and I are two addicts of JK Rowling.

We are both in our mid-late twenties. Most "adults" that I talk to love the books, too.

FC, very funny. I was only half-kidding!

[e-Morgana]

I'd have to say any of the Weis/Hickman stuff - Dragonlance, Darksword, Rose of the Prophet (if you can get hold of it) and even DeathGate Cycle (though it may be a bit long-winded.

The Harry Potter books are just fabulous - especially the last two which I think are aimed more at slighly older kids. The first two were just your typical adventure/mystery story for youngsters, but numbers 3 and 4, I found to be a lot more in-depth, darker, and much more complex in characterization and plot. (A lot more shades of grey for the reader to ponder on rather than just goodies and baddies).

I'm actually reading these books to my kids at the moment and they are loving them. (Actually its just an excuse for me to reread them myself - I love them and can't wait for the next installment)

[Lady Fox]

Diane Duane has a fantasy series that is geared toward younger readers. The titles in this series are:
So You Want to Be a Wizard
Deep Wizardry
High Wizardry
A Wizard Abroad
The Wizard's Dilemma

Phillip Pullman's Golden Compass trilogy is also geared toward younger readers, but it has had lots of appeal for adult readers as well.

Back in the mid-seventies/early eighties Shirley Rousseau Murphy wrote a fantasy series titled The Children of Ynell. This series was one of the first fantasy series that I read and was a favorite of mine. The titles in this series are:
The Ring of Fire
The Wolf Bell
The Castle of Hape
Caves of Fire and Ice
The Joining of the Stone

Susan Cooper is another author that has books that are written for younger readers. The series I am referring to is titled The Dark is Rising, and I think it was also first released in the late seventies. I'm not sure I can remember all the book titles, but here are the ones I am sure about. There may be one or two more that I don't remember.
Over Sea, Under Stone
The Greenwich
The Dark is Rising
Silver on the Tree

Madeline L'Engle has some fantasy books that are geared toward younger readers. The titles I can remember are:
A Wind in the Door
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
Many Waters

As for scifi geared toward adolescents, the Young Jedi books would fit this category. Also in this category are some books written by H.M. Hoover that I read in the mid/late eighties. The titles for these books are:
The Shepard Moon
Children of Morrow
The Lost Star
Return to Earth
This Time of Darkness

[Zsinj16]

I think also C.S. Lewis wrote another fantasy trilogy that's more suitable for young adults called simply "The Space Trilogy". I've heard it isn't sci-fi, like it sounds to be, because there aren't very many technology systems or starships involved. I guess that you would consider it a type of "science fantasy"
But I myself don't really like C.S. Lewis because I think he's too preachy in them, I mean, I have no problem with Biblical and Chistian values being taught, but I don't think it fits in very well in the fantasy genre or the sci-fi genre.