Unique fantasy for young adults
When did you first become a fantasy fan? Many of us remember the magic of that first book just like we remember our first kiss. These two events may even have happened around the same timethere’s something about the uncertainty and hidden pleasures of being a young adult that makes fantasy an appealing escape. Sure, we need that escape as adults, too, but perhaps for different reasons.Whatever the case, a number of authors have built their careers around young adult fantasies. Categorizing these books can be difficult, since the best of them can be enjoyed by people of all age groups. However, the age of the protagonist can be an indication of the intended audience of the book.The purpose of selecting a few series to emphasize in this article is to show that not all young adult fantasy falls in the same category as Twilight (however you happen to feel about that series in general). Instead, here’s some of the varied choices you can choose from when it comes to young adult fantasy.
- The Books of Abarat by Clive Barker: This continuing series tones down the language and sex of Barker’s adult works, but retains the imaginative fantasy and chilling horror. A young girl named Candy Quackenbush journeys to a fantastical word known as the Abarat, a series of islands relating to each of the twenty-four hours of the day. There, she is tracked by a variety of creatures, including Christopher Carrion, the Lord of Midnight.
- Artemis Fowl (Series) by Eoin Colfer: The idea of the anti-hero in adult fiction is nothing new, but basing a series of books on a pre-teen criminal and son of an Irish crime lord is daring, to say the least. Setting the books in a world populated by fantasy creatures helps take off some of the pressure. These books have received significant praise over the years.
- Young Wizards by Diane Duane: Like Harry Potter, these books focus on young wizards coming in to their own and combatting an evil force, here known as the “Lone Power.” However, the first novel was published in 1983, and the protagonists of this book have much less guidance when it comes to uncovering their powers. Duane has created a complex system of magic, which grows with each book. The ninth book was published in 2010.
- Abhorsen, The Seventh Tower, The Keys to the Kingdom (Series) by Garth Nix: Nix has a number of popular young adult series out. Each of these series takes place in its own unique world. For instance, the Abhorsen books take place in a world overrun by Necromancers, while the Seventh Tower takes place in a world blocked off from the Sun.