By Brandon Mull

It’s a normal day for Jason. He’s working in the zoo, taking care of the animals, and trying not to think about the career in dentistry that his parents planned for him. He’s reached his favorite part of the job, seeing the hippo. Then he falls into the hippo tank and is transported to another world.

At first, Lyrian isn’t that different from our world. In its general structure and makeup, it’s pretty similar. It just happens to be ruled by an evil wizard emperor. And he happens to be quite dangerous. Oh, and it turns out that magic is a thing that exists here. So maybe Jason doesn’t want to be here.

Unfortunately, right before he can begin his quest home, he happens to get drawn up into a plot to destroy the emperor. And once in on this, he can’t go back. So he joins up with Rachel, another person who’s been drawn into Lyrian from Earth. If they succeed at their quest, they will probably make it home. If they don’t…who knows?

This is one of my favorite middle grade books, and the subsequent series is amazing. I’ve read it multiple times and every time it’s just as good. You should read this if you like quest stories that. This one, while it is epic, is also funny and creative and compelling. You’ll be trying to figure things out early a lot. The characters are amazing, and if you get to the end of Book Three, that truly is amazing.

If you’ve read Fablehaven or 5 Kingdoms, you’ll like this one too, maybe even more than either of those!

General Stats:

• Genre: Fantasy
• Book 1 of 3
• Age: 7th grade and above
• My rating: ★★★★★

By James Riley

Owen doesn’t really like school. But then again, who does? For him, it’s mostly that school is much less interesting than the books he can read at his mom’s library. Who wants to go to school and do fractions when you can read fantasy?

But as with any book-lover, reading is never enough. Owen longs to escape the real world into the world of one of his favorite series. Real life is so boring compared to getting to live out the life of your dreams as a wizard destined to save the world.

Owen would do anything to get a chance to go into books. So when he catches Bethany, one of his classmates, actually slipping into a book because she happens to be half-fictional (don’t ask), he resorts to the logical next step.

Blackmail.

Yes, it’s always the answer.

So Owen tells Bethany that he’ll only keep her secret if she takes him into his favorite book series, Kiel Gnomenfoot, so Owen can meet Kiel. Who cares if it’s dangerous? Who cares if everyone might die because this is a fantasy book with magic and fighting and weapons and DEATH?

Oh, yeah. Owen also tells Bethany that Kiel has a magic book with a spell that might help her find her lost father. Good job Owen.

Of course, everything is going to get messed up and go completely wrong and everything might be ruined and it’s all going to be Owen’s fault. What else would you expect?

Everything is always Owen’s fault.

Guys, please read this book it’s so good and Kiel is the best character. Owen is also pretty great. Also, this is like my dream. I want to be Bethany.

General Stats:

• Genre: Portal Fantasy
• Book 1 of 5
• Age: 5th grade and above.
• My rating: ★★★★★