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Ageless Books


The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy - 10/10
A beautifully illustrated journey of unlikely traveling companions who reflect on life, beauty, hope, and friendship. This book is filled...


The Wanderer by Peter Van Den Ende - 9/10
A picturesque book which explores a fantastical, black and white, and largely aquatic world as we follow the journey of a small paper...
Picture Books
Picture Books


Too Many Rabbits by David Cali - 9/10
Getting two rabbits for the price of one really is too good to be true... This is basically a counting book full of humor and absolutely...


The Biggest, Best Light by Daniel Darling - 8/10
An introduction to creation, brokenness, and human dignity. This book traces the Biblical story of Creation and the Fall, then reflects...


Dad and the Recycling-Bin Roller Coaster by Taylor Calmus - 8/10
When their dad turns the backyard into a playground of inventions, these kids insist something important is missing. A goofy depiction of...
Elementary School Novels


Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman - 10/10
A whimsical story about a father whose trip to the corner store to fetch milk for his children becomes a fantastical adventure through...


The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards - 10/10
After befriending an excentric old professor, three siblings learn to see beauty and wonder in the everyday world, and eventually travel...


The Adventures of Minnie and Max (Series) by Patricia Reilly Giff - 9/10
Two stories about a young girl, Minnie, who lives in a sea-side town and shares a special bond with a cat, Max, who helps her solve...
Young Readers' Graphic Novels


The Prisoner of Shiverstone by Linette Moore - 9/10
Young Helga journeys to a mysterious island on a quest to free her grandfather, an infamous mad scientist, from his entrapment. This book...


Kerry and the Knight of the Forest by Andi Watson - 9/10
Join the pure-hearted Kerry as he tries to make his way through the dark, enchanted forest and evade the darkness lurking in the shadows....


Anti/Hero by Kate Karyus Quinn and Demitria Lunetta - 9/10
Worlds collide when young super hero in the making Piper and the troubled super-genius Sloan scuffle over a new gadget that forces each...
Middle School Novels


The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle by Shawn Stout - 9/10
Cutie, a young girl forced by situation to be largely self-reliant, begins receiving clues from a flock of ravens and must race against...


Extra Normal by Kate Alice Marshall - 9/10
Charlie, the normal daughter of a pair of supernatural investigators and adopted sister to several displaced paranormal children, must...


Quintessence by Jess Redman - 9/10
This tale of friendship and the mysterious nature of the world invites readers to explore other perspectives and provides insight into...
Transitional Novels
While the posts themselves contain specific details, this section is - generally - filled with books where the protagonists are younger but the themes or presentation make the book mature or heavy. I still think they are worthy of consideration, but their appropriateness ought to be given a case-by-case consideration rather than a blanket recommendation - I think that, if you can ignore the stated age of the protagonist, they could comfortably be considered as a "peer" by older readers.


Alex and the Ironic Gentleman (Series) by Adrienne Kress - 9/10
In these parallel adventures, daring Alex learns to balance adventure and morality and cynical Timothy discovers that some things are...
High School Novels


Lockwood & Co. (Series) by Jonathan Stroud - 9/10
Join Lucy Carlyle as she teams up with Anthony Lockwood and George Cubbins to fight ghosts, solve mysteries, and uncover the true origins...


Riders (Series) by Veronica Rossi - 9/10
What will happen when four 18-year-olds suddenly develop supernatural powers that call them to guard the world against the forces of...


The Mirror Visitor (Series) by Christelle Dabos - 8/10
In a society shaped by family allegiance, Ophelia is forced into an arranged marriage in a place as distant and cold as her fiancé and...
Young Adult Graphic Novels


Heartless Prince by Angela De Vito - 9/10
This modern reworking of classic fairytale elements highlights the nature of love and sacrifice, captured through gripping and dynamic...


My Last Summer with Cass by Mark Crilley - 9/10
When Megan convinces her parents to let her visit her childhood best friend in New York, she finds Cass completely transformed. Is this...


Estranged by Ethan Aldridge - 10/10
When the Fae court is overthrown by a powerful sorceress, The Childe slips away to the human world to find the one person who might be...
University and Early Adulthood Novels


Odd Thomas (Series) by Dean Koontz - 9/10
Accompany the charismatic Odd Thomas as he uses his supernatural sensitivities to solve mysteries and thwart evil. Odd Thomas wants...


The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues by Ellen Raskin - 9/10
This book weaves together childlike elements, such as nursery rhymes and games, with reflections on the nature of life, art, and mystery....


Jurassic Park (Series) by Michael Crichton - 9/10
Dive into the suspense and adventure of a group of scientists and businessmen when they create a scientific marvel that gets drastically...
Adult Novels


The (Increasingly Inaccurately Titled) Dublin Trilogy (Series) by Caimh McDonnell - 8/10
A series of comedic mystery novels set mainly in modern Ireland (though some of the later books make even that description inadequate)....


Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman - 9/10
The familiar becomes strange in this modern fairytale about London. After a spontaneous act to help a stranger in need, the average...


Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Series) by Douglas Adams - 9/10
Follow the exploits of Dirk, an unconventional private detective who solves complex mysteries by seeing patterns in apparently...
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