Last month, we took a look at some of the young adult fantasy in our collection at the Butler Center, so this week we’re turning our eye to their middle grade counterparts. From dragon mentors to magical quests, these books take young readers away to worlds full of magic, heroism, and fearsome trials. Our feature pick is Forbidden Mountain by Bardon Mull, the first book of the Guardians series. In Anora, bonding with a guardian is a sacred spiritual practice — a guardian can bring greatness or ruin, depending on who an Anoran bonds with. For Mako and Arden, the meaning of guardianship is tested when they undertake their own journeys and discover secrets running deeper than they could’ve imagined.

Check out more middle grade fantasy below!

Forbidden Mountain
Brandon Mull
Random House Children’s Books/Labyrinth Road
Available now!

Clementine H. Hopeful is Not a Hero
Noah Corey
Random House Children’s Books/Labyrinth Road
Available now!

The Dragon’s Apprentice: Revenant’s Return
James Riley
Random House Children’s Books/Labyrinth Road
Available now!

Ice Apprentices: The Frozen Curse
Jacob North
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

A Kingdom of Shadows
Emily Bain Murphy
Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group/WaterBrook
Available now!