I need Fantasy book suggestions for my 12 year old

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Reepicheep:
Isaac Asimvo’s science fiction is superior to most. (While he was an atheist, I don’t recall that he ever treated religious believers disrespecfully.)
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Asimov was pretty good at SF narrative, not so great on character development.

As an atheist, his solution to the problem of religion was to exclude it entirely from his future-stories. But it doesn’t pose a particular problem; the stories are still readable.

But, you might find some SF anthologies in the library; this would help to determine whether the boy is interested in SF as opposed to fantasy.
 
I second the Lloyd Alexander nomination. I also recommend Piers Anthony’s Xanth novels. (I would recommend the Incarnations of Immortality, but they aren’t good if you want to keep him innocent. It can get misinterpretted pretty easily. Tabitha Pierce’s Circle of Magic series had a very well-written premise. Each of the four books in the series is focused on a different character. The story is about four kids who discover that by themselves, their newfound elemental abilities are impressive. But when combined, they discover just how helpful they can be. It’s a good way to learn about cooperation. There’s also a sequel to the series, but I forget what they’re called. And don’t be scared of J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter is not nearly as dangerous as the naysayers have overblown it.
While I’m at it, I should mention two great graphic novel fantasy series: Bone and Elfquest . Bone is probably one of the funniest things I’ve ever read, while Elfquest has great LOTR overtones but is still very original and in no way a ripoff.
I also recommend the following movies: *Dragonheart, The Neverending Story, * and The Princess Bride . All great fantasy movies.
 
These are considered to be archaic by some, and maybe seen as children’s books, but are worth a read by everyone: George MacDonald’s Curdie books. The Princess and the Goblin, the Princess and Curdie. Also try his At the Back of the Northwind.

Here is a link with more info.
love2learn.net/literature/authors/authgmac.htm

From your description of your son, I think he would enjoy them.
 
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rocklobster:
I also recommend the following movies: *Dragonheart, The Neverending Story, *and The Princess Bride . All great fantasy movies.
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Please - avoid the Neverending Story movies (especially 2 and 3). Read the book for something truly wonderful. One of the best children’s books ever written. If only most of his other books weren’t so difficult to get hold of. :crying:

But the film of The Princess Bride is excellent. I must sit down with my 5 year old and watch it. She’ll probably enjoy the action. And miss out on all the humour and tell me off for laughing and say “it’s not funny”.

Someone recommended Susan Cooper (they also recommended Ende). Fantastic books - I only read them for the first time a few years ago having bought the set for 20 pence from the widow of Les Dawson who at the time was chatting to one of the Roly Polys!

For older children (and adults like me) I recommend Alan Garner, Peter Dickinson and (not strictly fantasy) Jostein Gaarder.
 
I started reading at a young age and consumed books at a high rate. Through the gift of a teacher who taught me how to read, to comprehend, to increase my vocabulary and my speed of reading, could read simultaneously three three hundred page books in three days and remember and recall all of the details of all of the books. I was compulsive in my reading. I would read labels on cans. I don’t suggest that this is good or bad but relate it only to point out what I feel was a good and bad thing about my experience that might be of help in choosing what your child reads. As a child I wanted ‘new’ books. My teacher suggested I read the old books first. I didn’t like that but saw it as the only route to new books so I read the books published in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. This was a good exercise. A great experience and safe as the content was not as dangerous as today’s writings are. The downside of my experience was that no one introduced me to the lives of the saints. Today there are many children’s books on this topic and talk about ‘Fantasy’, the real life miracles of these people bring your child’s imagination and contemplative skills to life and bear fruit as no other type of reading can. Remember Jesus is the Word of God and the Bible tells us we shall be judged for every word we utter. I believe, perhaps incorrectly, that a love of reading corresponds to a deep love of God. A gift given by God that should be encouraged.
 
Lissla Lissar said:
The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper. A children’s fantasy classic.
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I took a class in Children’s Literature and read this series on the recommendation of the professor. It is very good. Also the books by Brian Jacques, the Redwall series is wonderful. They were also recommended by the professor in that course.
 
Harry Potter books are great reads.
JMJ Theresa:
My 12 year old son is just running through books like a pms-er with chocolate. He really likes Fantasy novels. He’s read the Brian Jacques books, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Narnia books. His reading level is very high, but so is his innocence. I think he is ready to move out of the children’s library, but I’m scared to turn him loose in young adult/adult books. At his age, I was reading all sorts of immoral literature that I’d like to protect him from.

Any suggestion on good books that don’t have impurity?
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rocklobster:
Tabitha Pierce’s Circle of Magic series had a very well-written premise. Each of the four books in the series is focused on a different character. The story is about four kids who discover that by themselves, their newfound elemental abilities are impressive. But when combined, they discover just how helpful they can be. It’s a good way to learn about cooperation. There’s also a sequel to the series, but I forget what they’re called.
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I’ve read two of her other series (by they way her name is Tamora Pierce)…the Song of the Lioness and the Immortal series. I like both and didn’t pick them up until College…Good little fast read. Has positive teachings about the strength of people and chossing right from wrong. Like her series because you meet all the main characters as teenagers and see them grow a year in each book. Alot like harry potter but not as long. The only issue is in one of the books in the Lion Series the girl has premarital sex but as long as your kids now it’s wrong then it’s might be okay for them to read…
 
I also Like the dragonlance series but they may be too adult BUT if your sons read lord of the rings then he should be able to follow this series. Just make sure you read the books in the right order. There are mulitply series with in the overall dragonlance novels.
 
I would pray and hope that NO ONE believes that Harry Potter is a good read for anyone. It is a subtle and not so subtle propaganda that leads people especially children away from their faith. Please say the Saint Michael Prayer for protection before making any decisions that you might be protected from the “wickedness and the snares of the devil” in all your choices. Amen.
 
Actually I have read all of them several times over and am saving them for my niece when shes old enough to read them. They are well written, imaginative and captivating. and :eek: IM STLL CATHOLIC!
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John-the-Seeker:
I would pray and hope that NO ONE believes that Harry Potter is a good read for anyone. It is a subtle and not so subtle propaganda that leads people especially children away from their faith. Please say the Saint Michael Prayer for protection before making any decisions that you might be protected from the “wickedness and the snares of the devil” in all your choices. Amen.
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beckers:
I’ve read two of her other series (by they way her name is Tamora Pierce)…the Song of the Lioness and the Immortal series. I like both and didn’t pick them up until College…Good little fast read. Has positive teachings about the strength of people and chossing right from wrong. Like her series because you meet all the main characters as teenagers and see them grow a year in each book. Alot like harry potter but not as long. The only issue is in one of the books in the Lion Series the girl has premarital sex but as long as your kids now it’s wrong then it’s might be okay for them to read…
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I pick this posting only as an example of how subtle is the snare that entraps us and leads ourselves and our loved ones to perdition.
By best way of explanation I use the story of the man hiring a driver to drive his family about in their horse drawn carriage. Each applicant he asked how close to a particularly dangerous cliff they felt they could safely drive. Most gave answers of a few feet or yards as they felt confident in their ability as horsemen. The driver who got the job said he would not go within a half mile of that area as the man’s family was too valuable to take even the slightest of risks that they might be endangered.
Please, please, please, do not let my plea fall on deaf ears. Your family is too valuable, to you, to us and to God. Please listen to the people who warn of the danger in moden books, movies and games. The enemy of your children is real, wise, subtle and present. Avoid ALL the near occasions of sin and do not depend on maturity or grace. Do not put God to the test.
 
John-the-Seeker, there are plenty of threads for debating whether or not certain types of books are suitable for Catholics. Please take your antagonism to them and leave this thread to its stated purpose, which is book recommendations from people who do not share your view of fantasy literature.

The works of Jules Verne are also excellent, especially Journey to the Centre of the Earth and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
 
I apologize to you LAPSED for not expressing my true intent which was to express my love and through that love to offer my advice of protection, my care, (that is my desire to Counsel And Release Emotions, not to Control and Regulate Everything), so therefore may have caused you to interpret my love as anger and antagonism. I pray for you and hope that you will accept my sincere apology.
 
Some of these seem a little advanced for a 12-year-old. CS Lewis’s space trilogy in particular … (yawn).

Susan Cooper’s “Dark is Rising” books are very good. So are Lloyd Alexander’s Taran Wanderer books. L’Engle’s “Wrinkle in Time” is great. Didn’t see anyone mention what may be the best of the lot – Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea books.

Those series are good for a 12-year-old because the heroes are roughly his age and they’re struggling with issues that he’ll relate to. Who am I? How do I grow up? That sort of stuff.

And they’re all clean.

I don’t think it’s necessarily good for a 12-year-old, but I ran across the “Riddlemaster of Hed” books a few years ago and really, really enjoyed them. Also, Guy Gavriel Kay’s “Tigana” and … rats … It’s set in his version of medieval Spain.
 
I’d suggest the Forgotten Realms series of novels. They’re similar to the dragonlance books, but there are more stand alones and short serials within the series. If what you want to avoid is sexual themes, then the Forgotten Realms books are decent…violence, magic, monsters, typical epic fantasy…and even a moral every once in a while…

Look for books by RA Salvatore.

Oh, someone suggested Piers Anthony earlier…he can be a good author for more ‘mature’ teens. He has alot of mild sexual themes in his books. Some of them are pretty raunchy. I’d avoid Piers Anthony until your son is a bit older…
 
OOOH OOOOH,

A Wizard of Earth Sea, Ursula LeGuin.

This is a must - really. I read this book in about a week, it was addictive, there is a series of three or four, and this book is truly fantastic, it is quite hard, but you have stated very high reading ability so your son should be fine.

I loved this book, and this is coming from someone who read it at 15. It really is great - please get it. 🙂
 
As an Avid Fantasy reader, there are many good (A-level) authors, the Harry Potter books are not as well written (B-level writing) and unless you are strong in your faith can encourage thioughts that are non-Christian in nature and then lead to non-Christian actions.
 
C.S. Lewis’ space trilogy (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength) is excellent and well within a precious 12-year-old’s reading level. My son read those books at that age and loved them.

I recently re-discovered some sci-fi/fantasy classics that your son might enjoy immensly – the works of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. They’re written extremely well. I suggest beginning with *The War of the Worlds * by Wells – I just re-read it earlier this week. It’s hard to believe it was written in 1898, the writing is so fresh.

'thann
 
I read The Song of the Lioness series and the Pern books when I was a middle schooler, and I wouldn’t actually recommend either as pure. They both have faily explicit premarital sex in them. Actually, some of the Pern books allude to orgies.

My real problem (and someday I’ll sit down and write a thesis about this- kidding) is that I think Anne McCaffrey believes that humanity is self-perfecting. Her books are about romatic substitutes for God- the perfect dragon friendship, wholeness through telepathy, emotional freedom through being a Crystal Singer. It seems very limited to me.

The first three books in the Earthsea series are great. If you can get it, Momo (also by Michael Ende) is really good. I don’t know how interesting they’d be for boys, but Robin McKinley’s Beauty and Spindle’s End are very good. So is Rose Daughter and The Blue Sword.
 
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