Yxavel Magno Diño
The Serpent Rider
A vibrant entry into Filipino mythology that balances high-stakes adventure with accessible prose for early chapter readers.
Read this next
All picks after this →
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.
The Enchantress Returns
by Chris Colfer
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 750L · 2014
A solid middle-grade fantasy sequel that delivers what fans want—bigger stakes, deeper world-building, and twin protagonists who actually work together—without losing the series' warmth.
Dragon Cursed
by Elise Kova
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 750L · 2025
A solid fantasy-adventure with a strong female lead learning to own her power — engaging enough to hold older MG readers, with enough peril to feel real but not genuinely scary.