by Brain JacquesConditional Recommendation: A group of woodland creatures defend their abbey from a notorious rat warlord while one apprentice mouse quests to recover a legendary lost weapon.
Genre: Fantasy
by Kirby LarsonConditional Recommendation: 16-year-old orphan Hattie Brooks travels to Montana to try her hand at homesteading and prove up a claim of land so that she can have a place to call home.
Awards: Newbery Medal (2007), Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (2008), Montana Book Award (2006), California Young Readers Medal for Middle School/Junior High (2009), Missouri Gateway Readers Award (2009)
by AviUnconditional Recommendation: A little mouse discovers the truth and her courage when she defies the menacing great horned owl and journeys out of bounds to find a new home for her family.
Awards: Boston Globe–Horn Book Best Fiction Award (1996), New Mexico’s Children Choice Award (1999), National Christian School Association, Crown Classic (1998), Maryland’s Children’s Choice Award (1998), ALA Notable (1996)
by Shannon HaleConditional Recommendation: A betrayed princess must change her name and become a goose girl to survive until she can reveal her true identity and reclaim her crown.
Genre: Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling
by Lois LowryConditional Recommendation: In German-occupied Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns what it means to be brave as she helps her best friend Ellen escape from the Nazis.
Awards: Newbery Medal (1990), National Jewish Book Award for Children’s Literature (1990), Sydney Taylor Book Award for Older Readers (1989), Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Nominee (1990), Charlotte Award (1992), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award (1991), Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award (1992), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award (1992)
by John FlanaganConditional Recommendation: Ranger apprentice, Will, and his friend Horace are sent as envoys to Celtica in light of the coming war and they find themselves and their training put to the ultimate test.
Awards: Children’s Book Council of Australia Award, International Success of the Year Award (2007)
by John FlanaganUnconditional Recommendation: A 15-year-old orphan boy is recruited and trained to become a ranger and must, with his master, track dangerous creatures before evil Morgarath’s bidding results in someone’s death.
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy