Enchantress from the Stars
by Sylvia Engdahl
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · 780L (~4th grade) · 288 pages · 2003
Why we'd hand it over
A 1970 SF masterpiece that holds up: intellectually demanding multi-POV narrative about cultural misunderstanding and the cost of intervention, wrapped in adventure; older 10s and up will find it rewarding.