The Little White Horse

by Elizabeth Goudge

A new-fashioned story that is as wonderful as the best fairy tales.

When orphaned young Maria Merryweather arrives at Moonacre Manor, she feels as if she’s entered Paradise. Her new guardian, her uncle Sir Benjamin, is kind and funny; the Manor itself feels like home right away; and every person and animal she meets is like an old friend. But there is something incredibly sad beneath all of this beauty and comfort—a tragedy that happened years ago, shadowing Moonacre Manor and the town around it—and Maria is determined to learn about it, change it, and give her own life story a happy ending. But what can one solitary girl do?
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This is one of the few books whose movie adaptation was thoroughly enjoyable. I saw the movie before I learned it was a book first and then was able to track it down a few days later at the library. If you just want a good old-fashioned wholesome story, this is it. It was written in 1946 and has a post-war feel to it. Fun adventure with great characters and a strong female lead.

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)

by Maggie Stiefvater (Goodreads Author)

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This book felt like a song to me. There was music, art, reading, love, struggle, and it all tied together into a perfectly balanced song. I thoroughly enjoyed this whole series. The author is clearly extremely well-read and passes that passion to literary exploration to the reader. The characters, aside from the supernatural difficulties, actually have a very healthy teen relationship. Something I value and do not get to see too often. This series made me dread the winter just a little bit less.

House of Many Ways (Howl's Moving Castle #3)

by Diana Wynne Jones

A chaotically magical sequel to Howl's Moving Castle. Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy, but Great Uncle William is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places - the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains, the past, to name but a few. By opening that door, Charmain is now also looking after an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard and a box of the king's most treasured documents, as well as irritating a clan of small blue creatures. Caught up in an intense royal search, she encounters an intimidating sorceress named Sophie. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind?
(retrieved from goodreads.com)

I accidentally read this series out of order, but it was still great and very understandable--in spite of my imposed order. Charmain was plucky and courageous and a great character. The story, while complex, was not difficult to follow. And the setting, both at Uncle William's house and in the royal palace, were easy to imagine, though I had to come to terms with their fictitious nature. A shame.

The Shipping News

by Annie Proulx

When Quoyle's two-timing wife meets her just desserts, he retreats with his two daughters to his ancestral home on the starkly beautiful Newfoundland coast, where a rich cast of local characters and family members all play a part in Quoyle's struggle to reclaim his life. As Quoyle confronts his private demons -- and the unpredictable forces of nature and society -- he begins to see the possibility of love without pain or misery.A vigorous, darkly comic, and at times magical portrait of the contemporary North American family, "The Shipping News" shows why Annie Proulx is recognized as one of the most gifted and original writers in America today.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

What a brilliant work of fiction. The narration was exquisite and the story powerful and compelling. The characters were thoroughly believable. I just can't say enough good things about this book. Definitely goes into the category of "Just Read It."

The Book of Lost Things

by John Connolly

High in his attic bedroom, twelve-year-old David mourns the death of his mother, with only the books on his shelf for company. But those books have begun to whisper to him in the darkness. Angry and alone, he takes refuge in his imagination and soon finds that reality and fantasy have begun to meld. While his family falls apart around him, David is violently propelled into a world that is a strange reflection of his own -- populated by heroes and monsters and ruled by a faded king who keeps his secrets in a mysterious book, The Book of Lost Things.

Taking readers on a vivid journey through the loss of innocence into adulthood and beyond, New York Times bestselling author John Connolly tells a dark and compelling tale that reminds us of the enduring power of stories in our lives.
(summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This was the first book by John Connolly that I randomly picked up. the second--and third--were his Samuel Johnson series. I will definitely include them soon, they were great... and a little more fresh in my memory.
I think I saw it at The Strand on one of their tempting rotating islands of books and judged the heck out of it by its cover. What a thoroughly novel novel. This is one of the few books I could see myself easily rereading.

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (Fairyland #1)

by Catherynne M. Valente (Goodreads Author), Ana Juan (Illustrator)

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.

With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I'd actually stumbled across this book by accident after I heard the author talk at my local bookstore. She was equally down to Earth, bright, charming, and extremely intelligent. This series--the only one I've read of hers so far--reflects that perfectly. She's not afraid to use big words to challenge younger readers to broaden their vocabulary and it's also enjoyable to "adults" who may need a refresher too. A very fun and thrilling story.

I Shall Wear Midnight (Discworld #38)

by Terry Pratchett

It starts with whispers.
Then someone picks up a stone.
Finally, the fires begin.
When people turn on witches, the innocents suffer. . . .
Tiffany Aching has spent years studying with senior witches, and now she is on her own. As the witch of the Chalk, she performs the bits of witchcraft that aren't sparkly, aren't fun, don't involve any kind of wand, and that people seldom ever hear about: She does the unglamorous work of caring for the needy.

But someone or something is igniting fear, inculcating dark thoughts and angry murmurs against witches. Aided by her tiny blue allies, the Wee Free Men, Tiffany must find the source of this unrest and defeat the evil at its root before it takes her life. Because if Tiffany falls, the whole Chalk falls with her.

Chilling drama combines with laughout-loud humor and searing insight as beloved and bestselling author Terry Pratchett tells the high-stakes story of a young witch who stands in the gap between good and evil.
(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

I was lucky enough to have this book with me when I was called for jury duty. Let me tell you, there is nothing better, when stuck in a room for 10 hours with a bunch of other disgruntled New Yorkers, than being kept company by Terry Pratchett. This book was funny, intense, extremely intelligent, and exactly what I needed. Tiffany is easily one of my favorite [fictional] people ever.

Fire and Hemlock

by Diana Wynne Jones, Garth Nix (introduction)

Polly has two sets of memories...

One is normal: school, home, friends. The other, stranger memories begin nine years ago, when she was ten and gate-crashed an odd funeral in the mansion near her grandmother's house. Polly's just beginning to recall the sometimes marvelous, sometimes frightening adventures she embarked on with Tom Lynn after that. And then she did something terrible, and everything changed.

But what did she do? Why can't she remember? Polly must uncover the secret, or her true love -- and perhaps Polly herself -- will be lost.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Easily one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors. This was a great modern take on the old Scottish ballad Tam Lin. Instead of a book from two different perspectives, this is a book where a character has two sets of memories. It's important to keep them straight. Otherwise you can just sit back (or hover on the edge of your seat like I did) and enjoy the ride. Wonderful wonderful tale.

Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales #1)

by Holly Black

Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. There, amid the industrial, blue-collar New Jersey backdrop, Kaye soon finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could very well mean her death.

(Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

Back to fantastical realms. Like the title says, this is a modern take on old fairy tales. It's a great combination of fairy, faerie, and faery elements from many different places in a modern setting. A great combination of fun and dark.

The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain #1)

by Lloyd Alexander

Taran dreams of adventure, but nothing exciting ever happens to an Assistant Pig-Keeper--until his pig runs away. A chase through the woods leads Taran far from home and into great danger, for evil prowls the land of Prydain. With a collection of strange and wonderful friends whom he meets on his journey, Taran finds himself fighting so that good may triumph over evil--and so that his beloved home will not fall to a diabolical fiend.

 (Summary retrieved from goodreads.com)

This was a great series inspired by Welsh mythology and folklore. I really enjoyed seeing the main character, Taran, develop as the story progressed. It is very dark and intense during some parts, so I might not recommend this to a young audience, but it was quite captivating. If you have a youth interested in this series, suggest not reading it before bed and he or she will be fine.