The Pearl of Anton (by Gene Del Vecchio)

First-time Gene novelist Del Vecchio, an expert in "kid-marketing," follows the standard formula of high fantasy: an unlikely hero, aided by various magical races and items, reluctantly undertakes a quest that will build in him the courage and wisdom he will need for a climactic confrontation with Evil. Variations on the theme here include the involvement of the gods who created the world in the story, and the trapped souls of ancestors who were unable to ascend to heaven.

Adults will notice the amateurish writing, derivative plot, and awkward construction. Kid fantasy fans won't care about that: They'll enjoy the story, which gets considerably more exciting, as well as more gory, in the second half, when adults who have made it that far will get caught up enough in the story to stop noticing the writing.