First, Witch Catcher, by Mary Downing Hahn, will grab you from the beginning. Twelve-year-old Jen, and her widowed father, have just inherited a large house from Uncle Thaddeus. When she discovers a crystal glass globe, she soon finds that there are others that want this unusual object. An antique dealer, Moura, has her eye on this globe - as well as on Jen’s dad. Jen detects there is something very sinister about Moura when she is willed to give her the precious globe. But just as she approaches her closet where she’s hidden it, her pet cat breaks it to tiny pieces. Soon Jen meets what was kept captive inside it. You’ll have a great time reading this book as you find out what Jen is about to discover.

And while we’re on the subject of searching through large old estates, Ulysses Moore’s The Door to Time has a similar premise, but 3 eleven year olds discover hiding places, secret coded messages and a hidden door that won’t open. When they finally open it, their discovery takes them on a time travel trip that will make you turn pages faster than you thought possible! Thankfully, this is the first book in a series!

Horns & Wrinkles, by Joseph Helgerson, is a delightful and winsome tale full of magic and charm. After Claire’s mean cousin, Duke, throws her off a bridge along with her pet turtle, Claire is rescued by a most interesting old woman. She learns that Duke is now enchanted with a large horn in place of his nose. The only way to be rid of this awful pointy thing is to perform a genuine act of kindness. The story is so well written, and so rich in characters, that it would be a perfect read aloud!

Little Fur: The Legend Begins, by Isabelle Carmody, is a sweet tale about a small and smart elfish troll who is about to find a way to stop the bulldozers from knocking over the forests where she and all of the other little creatures live. This well told story will enlighten readers to the fragile balance of nature and how everything plays an important role. This an excellent chapter book for ages 6 though 10.

The last two books are geared for children with better reading abilities because of the longer length and more complex vocabulary. Fly By Night, by Frances Hardinge, is a beautifully written fantasy by a first time author. Twelve-year-old Mosca Mye is about to escape her mean uncle who has locked her up each night. Books throughout her country have been banned, and she misses them. “Since the burning of her father’s books, Mosca had been starved of words.” She relished words and soon met Epyonymous Clent who had a way of talking with such veracity and eloquence that she was mesmerized. However, Mosca is about to begin an adventure, along with Clent, that will take the reader beyond anything ever experienced before. The story is full of imagination, and with wondrous and descriptive language. It brings to mind other favorite fantasy writers that include one of my all time favorite author’s - Lloyd Alexander.

Dirty Magic, by Carol Hughes, will grab you on the first sentence and not let go until you’ve finished the book. The story begins with Joe and his family living a normal life in a normal home setting with a little sister who seems to be spoiled even though she’s been sick since she was a baby. But all of that is about to change when he wakes in the middle of the night to find his sister gone. An army jeep was seen speeding away and before long an ambulance is flashing its red signal. He realizes his sister is sick again as he heads out to the backyard at dawn. But when he hears his name being called and looks to see a girl about his age, he realizes he’s never seen her before. As he ventures to talk to her, the familiar grass, flowers and fishpond seem to melt away and mud and rain take its place. This is all in just the first 18 pages. Where he’s about to go and what he has to do in order to get his sister back will fill you with intrigue and mystery. Both of these last two books are great for ages 11 through adult!