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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
Best: Really engaging, excellent learning approach.
Very Good: Engaging, very good learning approach.
Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Book reviews for magic and fantasy, misfits and underdogs & pirates

429 results
  • Review
    Handbook for Dragon Slayers

    Exciting medieval adventure with brave teens and dragons.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Merrie Haskell
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    I Funny: A Middle School Story

    Middle school humor mixes with moving subplot.
    AGE
    11
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Chris Grabenstein, James Patterson
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Natural Born Angel

    Angel story sequel weighed down by celebrity, consumerism.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Scott Speer
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Teacher's Pest: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #3

    Bug-monsters offer light horror hijinks in third volume.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Charles Gilman
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Invisibility

    Mix of brutality and tenderness makes fantasy seem real.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By David Levithan, Andrea Cremer
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Truth or Dare

    Popular, rich girls star in shallow, sexy series starter.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jacqueline Green
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    A Box of Gargoyles

    Friendship and family in Paris in exciting, creepy sequel.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Anne Nesbet
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The 13-Story Treehouse

    Madcap mayhem perfect for Big Nate fans.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Andy Griffiths
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace

    Fast-paced coming-of-age tale about finding yourself.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Nan Marino
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    New Lands: The Chronicles of Egg, Book 2

    Gross-out humor and adventure in lively Deadweather sequel.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Geoff Rodkey
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Doll Bones

    Tween tale is both creepy and sweetly poignant.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Holly Black
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Lightning Catcher

    Kids battle severe weather in mild, whimsical fantasy.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Anne Cameron
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    One Plus One Equals Blue

    Upbeat tale about kids coping with disadvantages.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By MJ Auch
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Maid of Secrets

    Engrossing Elizabethan tale of murder and intrigue.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jennifer McGowan
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    That Is NOT a Good Idea!

    Goose outsmarts fox in funny, perilous story with a twist.
    AGE
    4
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Mo Willems
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle

    Wacky, gripping sequel has slapstick, swordplay, sweetness.
    AGE
    8
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Christopher Healy
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl

    Teen's positive turnaround mixes with iffy beauty message.
    AGE
    13
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Carolita Blythe
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    How to Lead a Life of Crime

    School-for-criminals mystery turns very dark and violent.
    AGE
    16
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Kirsten Miller
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs

    Garden fantasy casts a strange spell.
    AGE
    4
     
    Learning
    Select
    By William Joyce
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Slither Sisters: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School #2

    Goofy comedy for young boys riffs on horror cliches.
    AGE
    9
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Charles Gilman
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Obsidian Mirror

    Complex time travel page-turner starts sci-fi trilogy.
    AGE
    12
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Catherine Fisher
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Fragments: Partials, Book 2

    Kira tracks creators of super-soldiers in exciting sequel.
    AGE
    14
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Dan Wells
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    Navigating Early

    Compelling adventure as two boys cope with loss, loneliness.
    AGE
    10
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Clare Vanderpool
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    The Program

    Dystopian romance links teen suicide and memory.
    AGE
    15
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Suzanne Young
    (Book, 2013)
  • Review
    White Lines

    Edgy tale of teen in '80s club scene shows graphic drug use.
    AGE
    15
     
    Learning
    Select
    By Jennifer Banash
    (Book, 2013)