Magical stories for teens

These books are brilliant for teenagers who want to get lost in a magical journey. There are classics and new titles, picture books and chapter books and some books containing magic realism rather than traditional fantasy.

  • Out of the Blue

    by Robert Tregoning, illustrated by Stef Murphy 

    2023 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books
    • Poetry and rhyme

    In a world where everything has to be blue, what happens if you like yellow? A joyous celebration of being individual.

  • Howl’s Moving Castle

    by Diana Wynne Jones 

    2009 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Classics
    • Fantasy

    Sophie Hatter is cursed with an old body by the Witch of the Waste and the spell can only be broken by the dreaded Wizard Howl who lives in his moving castle and likes to eat the souls of young girls.

  • The House With Chicken Legs

    by Sophie Anderson 

    2018 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Coming-of-age
    • Myths and legends

    A story of death, magic and the afterlife told by Marinka, who is desperate not to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and wants to find her own destiny. Loosely based on the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga, this story is delightfully macabre and utterly engrossing.

  • The House in Poplar Wood

    by K E Ormsbee 

    2018 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books
    • Fantasy
    • Thriller

    Thirteen-year-old twins, Felix and Lee, live in the same house but lead very separate lives. Skilfully combining a gripping plot, intriguing characters and a convincing alternative world, populated by sinister beings, this is a dark and compelling novel.

  • The Trilogy of Two

    by Juman Malouf 

    2018 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Around the world
    • Fantasy

    Fans of Philip Pullman’s sophisticated fantasy will love Juman Malouf’s intricate, strange world of urchin children in a shadowy world full of evil cats, mysterious spheres, circus performers and a remarkable cast of ragtag characters.

  • Curse of the Chosen: Volume 1

    by Alexis Deacon 

    2022 11 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Comic books
    • Fantasy
    • Graphic novels
    • Myths and legends

    Fifty warriors partake in a competition to decide which of them will rule the kingdom. An enthralling graphic novel packed with magic, adventure, and action.

  • Storm-Wake

    by Lucy Christopher 

    2018 11 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Love and romance

    Moss has always believed that the island she lives on is all that is left, after the great floods have swallowed the world. But a new arrival forces her to question all that she has ever known and loved. Lyrical and dreamlike, this is a unique and beautiful novel. 

  • What Sunny Saw in the Flames

    by Nnedi Okorafor 

    2016 11 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Around the world
    • Fantasy
    • Myths and legends

    The first book of a fantasy adventure series set in contemporary Nigeria, this book is full of jeopardy, juju and mythical monstrosities. 

  • And the Ocean Was Our Sky

    by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Rovina Cai 

    2018 11 to 14 years 

    • Classics

    In Patrick Ness’ amazing homage to Moby Dick, the worlds of ocean and sky are upturned, and it’s a whale that tells her version of the story of hunter and hunted. The writing is as beautiful as you might expect and the illustration is exceptional. 

  • Wolf by Wolf

    by Ryan Graudin 

    2015 9 to 14 years 

    • Around the world
    • Fantasy
    • Historical
    • Thriller

    Set in an alternative post-World War II, a shape-shifting death camp survivor tries to win a cross-continent race in order to kill Adolf Hitler.

  • A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars

    by Yaba Badoe 

    2017 11 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Around the world
    • Coming-of-age
    • Fantasy
    • Love and romance

    Real and supernatural threats mingle as a girl saved from a shipwreck tries to find justice for her dead parents. Romance and magic combine with a powerful setting and subject to make a unique, enjoyable read for teens.

  • The Beast Player

    by Nahoko Uehashi 

    2018 11 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Around the world
    • Coming-of-age
    • Fantasy

    Elin’s mother has a very special job – caring for the magical Toda which protect their kingdom. But when something goes wrong, Elin must flee and discovers an astonishing talent for communicating with creatures. A sophisticated fantasy that will have teen readers gripped.

  • The Shepherd’s Crown

    by Terry Pratchett 

    2015 11 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy
    • Funny

    The final Terry Pratchett novel shows there is something menacing in the air, change is coming and the veil between worlds is dangerously thin. Tiffany Aching knows she must be ready for whatever battle is ahead but with all her new found responsibilities she has no time to prepare for the fight.

  • The Book of Dust 1: La Belle Sauvage

    by Philip Pullman, illustrated by Chris Wormell 

    2017 11 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy
    • Thriller

    Malcolm is drawn into a dangerous world of secrets and intrigue – and a mission to protect baby Lyra, whatever the cost. La Belle Sauvage gives readers a not-to-be-missed chance to be back in the world of His Dark Materials: full of peril, magic and thrills. 

  • State of Sorrow

    by Melinda Salisbury 

    2018 11 to 14 years 

    • Coming-of-age
    • Fantasy
    • Love and romance
    • Thriller

    This is the first book in a new fantasy thriller series characterised by thwarted love, fraud, trickery and a ruthless battle for power. Startling plot twists will keep you gripped until the last page and impatient for the next instalment.

  • Children of Blood and Bone

    by Tomi Adeyemi 

    2018 11 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Around the world
    • Fantasy

    Magic has been gone from the world for years, destroyed by a vengeful king. Zelie joins forces with a rebel princess to bring it back and save her people from domination. Adeyemi has created a thrilling rollercoaster ride of a book. 

More magical booklists!