The Phantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 740L (~4th grade) · 250 pages · 2001
Why we'd hand it over
A masterpiece of language and wit that rewards rereading; kids discover new wordplay jokes and philosophical layers each time, and it convinces bored kids that ideas are genuinely fun.
What parents said
The Phantom Tollbooth (unequivocally my favourite kids book)
he said that the BvM books were "fun" and The Phantom Tollbooth was "really cool and sparky"