Recommendations for family-friendly fantasy?

[wardog25]

I am somewhat new to the fantasy genre, and have really only read a few of the big names. I'm looking for some fantasy series to read, but need to stick to ones that are family friendly. The type of stuff I could read and discuss with 10-16 year olds and not be concerned about what they are reading. (But they don't necessarily have to be easy reading like the Narnia series). Anything with excessive violence or sex is definitely out.

Here is basically all I've read fantasy-wise:

Tolkien - Hobbit and LOTR
C.S. Lewis - Narnia series
Terry Brooks - Shannara series (just the original 7 books)
Robert Jordan - first 2 WoT books only.

That about covers it, and I don't know too much about a lot of the fantasy authors everyone discusses here, so I was just curious if anyone could recommend some good fantasy authors with family content similar to those listed above.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Archren]

I think I'd be safe in recommending Raymond Feist's Riftwar Saga, especially the first two "Magician: Apprentice" and "Magician: Master" (often collected in an omnibus titled simply "Magician.") It's Tolkein-esque but with less of a pure good vs. evil slant.

 

[Randy M.]

The obvious one would be the Harry Potter books. My daughter started them shortly after they first came out -- I think she'd have been 10 or 12 at the time -- and enjoyed them immensely.

The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula Le Guin might fit. The trilogy has expanded to 4 or 5 novels and a story collection, but the first three novels (_A Wizard of Earthsea_ being the very first) would probably suit the 14-16 range, though younger adept readers probably wouldn't have too much trouble, either.

If you can find it, I have good memories of _Black Moon, Red Mountain_ by Joy Chant. As I recall, it was written for younger readers though at the time there was so little fantasy written that many adults were reading it, too.


Randy M.

 

[Kenshiro]

The Dragonlance novels by Weis and Hickman are not excessively violent, no more than LOTR really. There is very little sex. Look for the Chronicles and Legends books.

 

[mr scarborough]

Susan Cooper's Dark Is Rising sequence (which are now published together in one volume, though the illustrations on the fronts of the old editions are awesome) is probably my favourite set of kids books, still. It's a classic 'children are drawn into a world they don't understand, and battle forces of evil' book, and Cooper creates such a rich mythology, quintessentially British, breathtakingly mysterious.
I'd reccomend The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner, and the Whispering Knights, or the Ghost of Thomas Kempe by Penelope Lively as fantastic, too. The last of that list is set in the village I used to live in.

All the books I've listed here have nothing more sexual or violent than you'd find in Swallows and Amazons, and are still classic stories of conflict and struggle. They're also really strong stories all; if you're thinking of getting them for kids of your own, make sure you read them yourself as well...

 

[JBI]

Terry pratchet's work is very family friendly.
You really needto look into the YA or children's work in the recomendation thread. I really can't tell you without you telling me exactly what you don't want in a book. To be honest, the sex and violence makes most books.

 

[Ondine]

Terry Brooks "The Word and Void" Trilogy would be pretty family friendly, Running with the Demon, Knight of the Word and Angel Fire East ( possibly not the right order)! Garth Nix triliogy Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen would be suitable for you 16yr old might be a little scary for your 10yr old! Alison Croggans books are supposed to be very good aswell and are YA i think. She has a huge fan base here so you should definitely check her stuff out in her authors forrum. Again these may be more suitable for your 16yr old, I'm not sure!

 

[ravenlynne]

I am somewhat new to the fantasy genre, and have really only read a few of the big names. I'm looking for some fantasy series to read, but need to stick to ones that are family friendly. The type of stuff I could read and discuss with 10-16 year olds and not be concerned about what they are reading. (But they don't necessarily have to be easy reading like the Narnia series). Anything with excessive violence or sex is definitely out.

Thanks in advance.

His Dark Materials Trilogy by Phillip Pullman..It's centered around 11 year olds and is just FANTASTIC. http://www.bridgetothestars.net/index.php?p=trilogy

 

[ravenlynne]

Terry Brooks also has a teen series based on his Shannara series...

 

[Kenshiro]

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is well suited for young readers. It's about rats that talk and live as people. I'm not sure if that constitutes fantasy in most people's minds. I also remember reading the Seven Citadels books by Geraldine Harris. Those are OK for young people but may prove to be hard to find.

 

[BrianC]

The Earthsea Series, Ursula Le Guin

Seriously, it would be perfect for what you say you want. Not to disparage the other recommendations, but Earthsea really is right on spot for what you're seeking.

 

[Imelda]

Garth Nix's Old Kingdom series. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Most of all Alison Croggon's Books Of Pellinor Check out her portion of the site. She's cool.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend the Earthsea Quartet unless you want to turn the readers off fantasy forever. I'm just thankful I didn't find that book first.

 

[Werthead]

Terry Brooks also has a teen series based on his Shannara series...

I don't think he has. They have reissued his books recently in teen-friendly covers and seem to be targetting the YA audience much more than they did, but as Brooks has said on his own website, his books are more designed to be YA-compatible, rather than YA-specific.

With Wheel of Time the series does become more adult as it continues, a process which I would say takes off in Book 5 (a sex scene, several violent battle sequences) and continues into later volumes.

George RR Martin's The Ice Dragon is eminently suitable for a young audience (it is now available in a YA-oriented edition), but his Song of Ice and Fire series deals with very mature subject matter. Erikson and Bakker are right out as well. A shame as these are the three most interesting epic fantasy authors around at the moment.

RA Salvatore's Icewind Dale Trilogy and Dark Elf Trilogy are aimed at a relatively YA audience and are good, fun reads with lots of action but not much blood or gore.

Neil Gaiman's Stardust, Coraline and Neverwhere are all excellent reads, suitable for YA. Pullman has already been mentioned.

There is Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy, which is aimed at kids, but that may be unsuitable on the grounds of being unreadably awful.

Diana Wynn Jones has written many excellent children's books. I suggest googling or checking Wikipedia for a good place to start with her. Brian Jaques' Redwall series is also a good YA read.

 

[Gildor]

Personally, I wouldn't recommend the Earthsea Quartet unless you want to turn the readers off fantasy forever. I'm just thankful I didn't find that book first.

Eh! Why ever not?

I think Le Guinn created an almost perfect coming of age YA book. You've got, what, a young powerful boy learning his power in a school for Wizards, he has to deal with the responsibility of his actions, learn to face his fears, there are Dragons, magic!!!!

To keep on topic i'll rec one of my favourite childhod authors, Alan Garner. Read either Elidor, The Moon of Gomrath, The Owl Service or the Weirdstone of Brisingaman (This is a brilliant, brilliant book).

Very infused with old legends and magic, perfect for kids and they can be read singly or together.

 

[wardog25]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'll be sure to check these out.

Wardog

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I concur with those who have recommended The Dark is Rising sequence, Red Moon, Black Mountain, and The Weirdstone of Brisingamen -- all classics, and if you are reading to kids why not give them a taste of the best?

I love the Earthsea books and they were written for YA readers, but although they, too, are classics and in my opinion some of the best fantasy ever written, I blush to disclose that I did not appreciate the first one when I read it as an actual teenager. The subtle characterizations, the excellent world building, and the exquisite prose slipped right past me, and I thought the book dull; other young readers could feel the same. On the other hand, there is a quality to the writing that might come out even more strongly if read out loud, so maybe ...

Diana Wynne Jones is another author worth looking up, especially her Dalemark books, beginning with Cart and Cwidder, and among more recent authors Marcus Sedgewick's The Book of Dead Days, and Chris Woodings's The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray.

For books that aren't technically fantasy but historical in setting, yet have a certain fantastic feel (and occasionally ghosts), one of my favorite YA authors is Leon Garfield. Your library probably has a selection of his books in the children's section.

 

[Physics Knight]

I concur with those who have recommended The Dark is Rising sequence

I actually didn't like The Dark is Rising. I read the first book and thought it was dull and boring.

Hmmm... A 10 and a 16 year old. That's a toughie. At 10 I was still deep into children's books (Prydain Chronicles and Narnia were my favourites then, but I didn't like them when I read them again when older), but by 16 I was fully into reading adult fantasy with lots of blood and guts and sex. Maybe try the Riddlemaster trillogy by Patricka A. Mckillip, which is pretty good, but I liked The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by her better. You could also wait two years and read Tamora Pierce to them. I still read Tamora Pierce, but there is some talk of sex and some sex happening off the page which is not appropriate for 10, but just fine for a 12-year old.