Nadia Shammas
Squire
A sharp, funny entry into fantasy that centers a Muslim protagonist without making her identity the sole source of conflict.
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Theft of the Ruby Lotus
by Sayantani DasGupta
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 750L · 2026
A richly woven fantasy adventure that threads South Asian folklore and mythology into genuinely inventive magic-system worldbuilding; Kiranmala's agency and the ensemble cast of friends make it stand out from generic quest narratives.
Wings of Starlight
by Allison Saft
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 750L · 2025
A genuinely moving middle-grade fantasy about a disabled girl who doesn't need fixing—she needs the world to stop underestimating her; the astronomy worldbuilding serves the character, not the other way around.
The Magician's Nephew
by C. S. Lewis
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 780L · 2020
A prequel that works beautifully as entry point: less battle-heavy than The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, grounded in a real child's moral struggle, and the world-creation arc is genuinely awe-inspiring—though Jadis's arrival carries real menace.