Here are juvenile and young adult fantasy books that I really like. Some of them are better classified as beast-tales or science fiction, but I’ll leave them here, anyway, since fantasy is also classified as “speculative fiction.”
Still in random order (some books cross categories):
Fantasy with Princesses, Dragons, or Magic is now moved to its own post
“Historical” Fantasy (some have a trace of magic)
Hilari Bell
Shannon Hale
Jennifer A. Nielsen
V. Briceland
Mary Hoffman
Megan Whalen Turner
Emily Rodda
Elizabeth Winthrop
Holly Bennett
Gerald Morris
Lloyd Alexander
The Great and Terrible Quest, by Margaret Lovett (one of my “ought to be a movie” books)
John Flanagan
Minnipin series, by Carol Kendall
The Princess and the Goblin (and Curdie sequel), by George MacDonald
Silver Woven in My Hair, by Shirley Rousseau Murphy
The Ordinary Princess, by M.M. Kaye (also my favorite romance, even though it’s a children’s book)
Crown Duel & Court Duel, and the Wren series, by Sherwood Smith
Cameron Dokey
most of Robin McKinley
Gail Carson Levine
Shattered Stone, by Robert Newman
“Contemporary” Fantasy
Brandon Sanderson (also found in adult fantasy and YA sci fi)
Rick Riordan
Sarah Rees Brennan (content warning for younger readers)
George Selden
Susan Cooper
Gregor series, by Suzanne Collins
Diana Wynne Jones
Bethany Wiggins
Shannon Messenger
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (I like the movie, but the book is much better)
“Contemporary” Science Fiction (not all set in current day, but less intense science)
The True Meaning of Smekday, by Adam Rex (SO much better than the movie!)
The Girl with the Silver Eyes, by Willo Davis Roberts
Pamela F. Service
The Giver, by Lois Lowry (but unfortunately not the sequels)
Alexander Key
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory series, by Roald Dahl
Diane Duane (also in adult Sci Fi)
“Heavier” Science Fiction
Have Space Suit–Will Travel, by Robert Heinlein (no, I don’t like all his stuff)
Stephanie Harrington series, by David Weber
Devil on My Back series, by Monica Hughes
Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline
Alan Gratz
Douglas Arthur Hill
Janet Edwards
Kat Falls
Adrian McKinty
Sylvia Engdahl (sci fi with a fantasy feel)
A Wrinkle in Time series, by Madeline L’Engle
Timothy Zahn’s Dragon series
Enjoy, and feel free to comment if you found something you liked or if you think I’ve misclassified something. 🙂