Fantasy books for children and teens
Fantasy books give children and teens a way into magic, hidden worlds, quests and impossible choices, without losing sight of real feelings. They might meet monsters, test strange powers or stand up to rulers who badly need challenging. That mix matters. Big emotions such as fear, grief, loyalty and temptation become easier to explore at a safe distance, while powerful magical adventures can pull in less confident readers and give confident ones plenty to chew over. This list features books by Katherine Rundell, B. B. Alston, A. F. Steadman, Tolá Okogwu, Frances Hardinge, Tomi Adeyemi, Tracy Deonn, R. F. Kuang, Samantha Shannon, and Katherine Arden.
Fantasy books for children and teens – our recommendations
Fantasy books for 7-12-year-olds
Amari And The Night Brothers by B. B. Alston
A missing brother and a mysterious invitation pull Amari Peters into the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, where mermaids, aliens, magicians and weredragons are very real. While trying to discover what happened to Quinton, Amari must face tryouts, suspicion from classmates and an illegal magical talent that makes adults fear her. For 8-12 year olds, this is a sharp, funny and heartfelt fantasy mystery with plenty to say about belonging, prejudice and backing yourself when the odds feel stacked.
Fireborn: Twelve and the Frozen Forest by Aisling Fowler
A nameless Huntling in a frozen prehistoric forest has sworn to fight monsters, but Twelve’s training turns into a rescue mission when her friend is taken. Joined by Dog, the stone Guardian of the Hunting Lodge, she travels into danger and begins to uncover a world far bigger than the life she has been taught to accept. A stirring 8-12 choice, it mixes fierce adventure with grief, loyalty and the difficult work of choosing who you want to become.
The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr
Rachel and Robert are plunged into danger after helping their father steal a forbidden book with powerful secrets. With their father imprisoned and President Malstain determined to seize the book’s magic, the siblings have to run, hide and work out what the Book of Stolen Dreams can really do. A good pick for 9+ year olds, this prize-shortlisted fantasy has a propulsive chase at its heart and a strong thread of bravery under pressure.
The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery
Charlie Challinor is already dealing with bullies and worries at home when he becomes guardian to Cadno, a tiny firefox cub and the last of his kind. Protecting Cadno from a hunter from another world forces Charlie to find courage he does not believe he has, especially as his family prepares for a new baby. Warm, funny and emotionally direct, this adventure for 7+ year olds is ideal for children who like convincing and realistic fantasy.
Magicborn by Peter Bunzl
In 1726, being Magicborn is dangerous enough to attract the attention of the Royal Sorcerer of England. When Tempest is captured and taken to Kensington Palace with Thomas, another child with magic, she is drawn into a world of court secrets, fear and hidden power. For 9+ year olds who enjoy historical fantasy, this series opener combines the atmosphere of Georgian London with a lively magical conspiracy and two children trying to understand what has been done to them.
Dragonborn by Struan Murray
Alex Evans is dealing with grief, anger and an overprotective mother when something impossible happens – she breathes fire. Taken to the island of Skralla by Oliphos, Alex discovers she is a dragon and begins training with others like her. As tensions rise and Drak Midna moves towards war with humans, Alex has to learn control, loyalty and where she belongs in a world she never knew existed, in this spectacular and epic fantasy novel for 9–14 year olds.
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu
Onyeka’s hair doesn’t just make people stop and look, but it gives her supernatural powers. Can she harness her gift and become the superhero she’s destined to be? Only the Academy of the Sun can teach her, and other Solari children, what she needs to know. A cracking magical fantasy adventure set in Nigeria.
Greenwild: The World Behind The Door by Pari Thomson
Daisy Thistledown’s search for her missing mother leads her out of boarding school, across London and through a hidden doorway into the Greenwild, a world alive with plants and magic. With a botanical genius, a boy who can talk to animals and a cat with plenty of attitude, Daisy must face a threat to green magic on both sides of the door. Richly imagined and full of ecological wonder, this award-winning adventure fantasy is a powerful pick for 9-11 year olds.
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A. F. Steadman
400 pages of epic, engaging, and highly absorbing reading will take youngsters to a magical world of unicorns that they will not want to leave. Don’t be surprised if it’s on permanent loan from the school library. An excellent novel for sparking inventive creative writing ideas, it’s also ideal for reading aloud and discussing in groups. Skandar is a fantasy novel that every KS2 classroom should have.
The Kingdom Over the Sea by Zohra Nabi
Yara’s journey begins with questions about her mother’s past and grows into a magical adventure about identity, courage and finding a place in an unfamiliar world. As she uncovers hidden truths, she has to decide what kind of person she wants to be and how much she is willing to risk. A thoughtful, sweeping fantasy for 8+ year olds, it will suit children who enjoy portal-like worlds, family mysteries and heroines with real heart.
The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings
On the frozen Thames in the Great Frost of 1683, Thomasina and Anne sell sweets while rumours spread of a magical Frost Fair that wakes at night. Thomasina longs for Father Winter to grant an impossible wish and bring back her twin brother Arthur, but the girls soon learn that wishes in this glittering kingdom carry a cost. For 9-12 year olds, this wintry fantasy handles grief and friendship with a subtle, fairy-tale edge.
Royal Institute of Magic: Elizabeth’s Legacy by Victor Kloss
When Ben Greenwood’s parents vanish without warning, a strange letter hints at their connection to a secret group beneath London: the Royal Institute of Magic. Following its clues, Ben stumbles into a hidden world where spells are currency, magical creatures lurk in plain sight, and his family’s past is more powerful than he ever imagined. As danger closes in, he’s pulled into a conflict rooted in old rivalries. Elizabeth’s Legacy launches Victor Kloss’s fast-paced fantasy series with a burst of modern magic. 9-12 year olds will be glued to every page.
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell transports readers to the Archipelago, a realm where mythical creatures thrive. When Christopher stumbles upon this hidden world, he joins Mal, a girl with a flying coat and a baby griffin, on a quest to uncover the cause of the declining magical essence, or glimourie. As they navigate dangers and dark forces threatening the islands, their journey reveals broader themes of environmental crisis and sacrifice. Rundell’s imaginative storytelling and richly detailed world is perfect for readers aged 10+.
Nura and the Immortal Palace by M. T. Khan
Twelve-year-old Nura works in the mica mines of Meerabagh to help support her family, but a mine collapse sends her chasing after her friend Faisal and into a glittering jinn realm where beauty hides danger. This fantasy adventure has real bite, linking wishes, trickery and child labour without losing pace. More confident 8-12 readers will find a bold heroine here, as well as a story that values education, friendship and justice.
The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found by Jordan Lees, illustrated by Vivienne To
Eleven-year-old Benjamiah Creek believes in facts, not fairy tales, until a strange doll pulls him into Wreathenwold, a twisting city where logic does not apply. There he meets Elizabella, who is searching for her missing brother, and together they must navigate a world of hidden dangers, eerie law enforcers known as the Hanged Men, and streets that seem alive. Full of mystery, courage, and unexpected friendship, this darkly imaginative adventure explores what happens when reason meets magic.
The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
Magic school pupil Ella finds herself the prime suspect for a crime she didn’t do in this immersive and original magical school fantasy. Uniquely thrilling and suspenseful, readers will be gripped by the richly imagined world in The Marvellers. This fast-paced first-in-a-series novel is perfect for students in early KS3. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers.
The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron
In this fast-paced and exciting tale of crime, magic, and intrigue, Jude Ripon strives to prove her worth by stealing a rare piece of magic, unaware that it is guarded by a powerful curse. It’s perfect for children seeking excitement and uplifting fantasy adventure.
Read our full review.
Wildheart by Bec Manser
In Twigswick, children are raised on three important rules: stay inside the rune posts, run when the warning bell sounds, and fear spirits! Nettle Sourbud has always lived in the shadow of her sister Fern, so when she finds out that Fern has left the Wildheart Rangers for the Shadow Stalkers, intrepid Nettle steps into Dryda Forest to find her. Only there does she face Hollow Spirits and begin to uncover what Fern is actually doing. Full of atmosphere, relatable characters, inclusivity and spooky changes of pace, Wildheart is a joy to read. The first in a series, it’s a highly original and gripping fantasy story that’s guaranteed to entrance 8+ year olds. Highly recommended for KS2. Read our full review.
Peregrine Quinn and the Cosmic Realm by Ash Bond
Follow twelve-year-old Peregrine on a thrilling adventure as she discovers her godfather’s immortal tales are true. When portals between realms close, Daedalus disappears, prompting Peregrine and her new ally Rowan to search mystical places for him. The fast-paced middle-grade novel features relatable characters and offers valuable lessons on honesty and secrecy, making it useful for PSHE discussions. The book will appeal to 9 to 14-year-olds who enjoy fantasy, mystery and adventure. Highly recommended. Read our full review.
Quill and the Last Generation by C. M. Lewis
In a world where no children have been born for twelve years, Quill is a rare twelve-year-old. When a shapeshifting raven appears, it draws him into a realm of myth and magic filled with dragons, lost souls, a monstrous hound, and a horse made of water. Some even believe he is the long-awaited hero destined to face the King of Darkness and claim the Light of the World. Steeped in Welsh mythology and folklore, this distinctive fantasy adventure for 9–12 year olds will be hard to put down.
Fantasy books for teens
The Dagger and the Flame by Catherine Doyle
Shade-magic, gangs and dark secrets fuel this thrilling romantasy between rival assassins in the spellbinding kingdom of Fantome. Perfect for 14+ year-old fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, this enemies-to-lovers blockbuster blends vividly described cityscapes with catacombs, delicious revenge and forbidden love. Highly recommended. You might need a shelf of them to satisfy your KS4 readers.
Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber
Two sisters raised in separate worlds are heading for the same throne. Wren Greenrock has been trained to steal her twin’s place and protect the witches she loves, while Princess Rose Valhart is preparing for marriage into a brutal kingdom and discovering that life beyond the palace is not what she was told. For 13+ year olds, this romantic fantasy balances palace intrigue, mistaken identities, magic and sisterhood with a light, pacy touch.
A Language of Dragons by S. F. Williamson
Set in an alternate 1923, A Language of Dragons follows Vivien Featherswallow, a language expert turned codebreaker at Bletchley Park. With her family’s safety at risk, Viv must crack a secret dragon language to survive. A mix of Dark Academia and fantasy, the book weaves themes of class, betrayal, and identity. As Viv uncovers the dragons’ secrets, she faces a choice: where do her true loyalties lie in a world teetering on the edge of civil war?
The Crimson Moth by Kristen Ciccarelli
By day, Rune hides among the fashionable elite; by night, she risks everything as the Crimson Moth, rescuing witches from a republic that hunts them. When a mission goes wrong, she courts Gideon Sharpe, the witch hunter trying to catch her, only to find the deception cutting both ways. A high-stakes 14+ romantasy, it works well for readers who like outlawed magic, sharp secrets and enemies who may understand each other too well.
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
Five years after Faron Vincent helped free San Irie from the dragon-riding Langley Empire, peace proves just as dangerous as war. When her sister Elara bonds with an enemy dragon and the gods demand a brutal sacrifice, Faron has to choose between her country, her faith and the person she loves most. This Caribbean-inspired fantasy for 14+ year olds gives school libraries a gripping sister story shaped by power, colonial history and impossible choices.
The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
In Reino del Sol, ten young semidioses compete in trials that decide who will carry the sun’s light and keep the Obsidian gods at bay. Teo, the 17-year-old trans son of the goddess of birds, expects to watch from the sidelines until he and 13-year-old Xio are chosen against all tradition. A memorable choice for 13+ readers, it combines mythology, competition drama and queer representation with real questions about sacrifice and who systems are built to protect.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
Mina throws herself into the sea to save her brother, taking the place of the girl meant to be sacrificed as the Sea God’s bride. Swept into the Spirit Realm, she finds a sleeping god, a mysterious young man and a city of spirits, demons and lesser gods caught in a storm of their own. A distinctive and lyrical fantasy for ages 13-17, it reworks a Korean legend into a story about courage, family and choosing your own fate.
The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in Otera, where a girl’s worth is judged by the colour of her blood. When hers runs gold, she is condemned as impure and monstrous, then offered a new life among the Alaki, near-immortal girls trained for war. For 14+ readers, this West African-inspired fantasy is powerful, violent and absorbing, with a fierce focus on sisterhood, patriarchy and what happens when girls refuse the roles made for them.
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Zélie remembers a time when Orïsha hummed with magic, before the king’s soldiers killed the maji, including her mother, and left her people powerless. A chance to bring magic back sends her on the run with a rogue princess, while a crown prince hunts them down to stop magic returning for good. For 12+ readers, this is a sweeping fantasy of rebellion, grief and power, told with the momentum of a blockbuster adventure.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
After her mother’s death, 16-year-old Bree Matthews wants distance from home, but an early college programme introduces her to demons, Merlins and a secret society descended from King Arthur’s knights. When a failed memory wipe unlocks Bree’s own magic and a buried memory about her mother, she decides to infiltrate the Legendborn and find the truth. An excellent choice for KS4, it blends Arthurian legend, Southern Black Girl Magic and a moving story of grief and inheritance.
Traitors’ Nest by Frances Hardinge
In the Kingdom of Thaletal, castles can be moved like pieces in a Great Game, leaving ordinary villagers to pay the price. When 15-year-old Burr’s village is disturbed by an ominous new castle, his rebellion draws him into the mystery of the Magpie Maiden. It’s a stunningly original and richly imagined fantasy for early teen readers, with political danger, shifting loyalties and a world where power can literally be moved from place to place. An outstanding read for children in KS3 and KS4. Highly recommended.
Shadow Reaper by Lynette Noni
In the city of Aravell, deadly blackmist and reapers shape everyday life. Seventeen-year-old Viridia Solace hunts reapers, driven by the loss of her parents and a single target: the Reaper Priest. But when she captures his lieutenant, Reeve Ashton, he offers her a route to revenge that comes with serious consequences. Action, shifting loyalties and sharp dialogue drive this stunning opening book of a YA fantasy duology for 14+ year olds, built on danger, tension and uneasy alliances. Highly recommended.
Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya
Angela Montoya’s Carnival Fantástico centres on Esmeralda, who poses as a fortune-teller in a magical travelling carnival, and Ignacio, an army defector searching for evidence against his father. They form an alliance to expose corruption and secure a future in the carnival, all while navigating old feelings and hidden dangers. Set in a magical romantasy world, this unputdownable, fast-moving novel for 14+ year olds weaves magic, secrets and second chances into its unceasingly exciting plot.
Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee
Brenda Nguyen has a 19-step plan for saving the world, but a desperate hunt for Wi-Fi sends her into Sammy’s Coffee and Pick-Me-Ups and into Kat Woo’s parallel universe. Kat is trying to avoid a chosen-one legacy, Brenda is trying to hold her future together, and the two girls have to work out what is happening as their worlds begin to collide. For 14-18 year olds, this cosy sapphic fantasy romance offers magic, science, family pressure and a gentle sense of possibility.
Dangerous Girls by Lisa M. Sylvan
Imogen Brine can grow poisonous flowers with a touch – a rare and dangerous gift. Exiled to a windswept Scottish island with others like her, she’s soon accused when a deer turns up dead. As suspicion builds, Imogen must dig into the island’s secrets and figure out who – or what – is really to blame. A tense blend of fantasy and mystery, this atmospheric teen thriller explores isolation, mistrust, and the fine line between power and danger. A scintillating romantasy for 13+ year olds, Dangerous Girls is highly recommended. Read our full review.
Nightweaver by R. M. Gray
Aster Oberon has always lived at sea, far from the grasp of the Nightweavers. But when her family’s ship is attacked and her brother killed, she’s captured and sent to Bludgrave Manor as a servant. Desperate for answers, she strikes a risky deal with Will Castor, son of a Nightweaver lord. With magic, secrets, and danger at every turn, Aster must choose – stay in the shadows or fight for the truth, no matter the cost. Nightweaver is a compelling and surprising pirate romantasy that will appeal to KS4 students.
Goldenborn by Ama Ofosua Lieb
After a sphere of light leaves her father in a coma, seventeen-year-old Akoma Addo investigates magical crimes in San Francisco’s AfricaTown. More confident 12+ year-old readers can follow this immersive and distinctive fantasy mystery shaped by Ghanaian mythology, modern magic, Anansi’s dangerous bargain and Akoma’s growing connection with Xander, as she weighs family loyalty against the power she has tried to avoid. A memorable and original fantasy, Goldenborn is highly recommended for KS3 and KS4 book clubs.
Fantasy books for sixth formers
The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
An imperial officer is found dead in a mansion at the edge of the Empire, killed in a way that should be impossible: a tree has erupted from his body. Brilliant, unpredictable investigator Ana Dolabra and her new assistant Dinios Kol are sent to uncover the truth, only for the case to widen into corruption, contagion and danger to the Empire itself. A sharp adult fantasy mystery, it gives sixth formers a clever Holmes-and-Watson-style pairing in a strange biopunk world.
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
Opal wants one thing: enough money to get her younger brother out of Eden, a town with a long memory for bad luck. A job at Starling House, the local mansion everyone knows to avoid, brings her close to Arthur, its wary heir, and to secrets that feel too much like home to walk away from. This modern Gothic fantasy mixes haunted-house unease, romance and a sharp sense of poverty and longing.
The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
Violet Everly grows up under a family curse: every generation, one of the Everlys is taken by the ageless Penelope as payment for an old debt. When Violet’s mother disappears while trying to break the curse, Violet follows her trail into a magical underworld of scholars, gods, monsters and hidden doors. This dark standalone fantasy suits sixth formers who enjoy lyrical world-building, family secrets and fairy-tale danger with a sharp edge.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Six extraordinarily gifted magicians are offered a place in the Alexandrian Society, a secretive London institution guarding lost knowledge from ancient civilisations. The catch is simple and brutal: only five places are available, and a year of study, strategy and temptation will decide who survives the process. It will suit sixth formers who enjoy dark academia, rivalry and morally messy characters.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Retired pirate captain Amina al-Sirafi has left danger behind for motherhood and a quieter life, until an offer too lucrative to refuse brings her old crew back together. What begins as one final job soon involves sorcerers, forbidden artefacts, ancient mysteries and a price far higher than money. This page-turning fantasy adventure offers swagger, humour and sea-roving spectacle while keeping Amina’s family responsibilities firmly in view.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
A queendom without an heir, a hidden society of mages and a dragonrider in the East all become part of the same struggle as the Nameless One threatens to return. Queen Sabran, Ead Duryan and Tané stand in different traditions, yet each is drawn into the effort to hold back an ancient enemy. With its scale, politics and layered dragon lore, this epic fantasy is a powerful sixth-form choice for readers ready for a long, immersive standalone.
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
A starving girl in 14th-century China is told her fate is nothing, while her brother is promised greatness. After a raid destroys their home, she takes her dead brother’s identity and begins a ruthless journey through war, rebellion and power under Mongol rule. This compelling historical fantasy is a challenging but rewarding sixth-form option, reimagining the rise of Zhu Yuanzhang with a sharp focus on destiny, gender and ambition.
Babel by R. F Kuang
Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Robin Swift is trained for Babel, Oxford’s Royal Institute of Translation, where language and silver-working power the British Empire. What first looks like academic privilege becomes a prison as Robin sees the violence behind the system he has been asked to serve. A more demanding sixth-form read, it combines dark academia, historical fantasy, translation and colonial resistance with serious political weight.
The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
Red, blue and clear blood decide power, poverty and invisibility in an empire built on hierarchy. Sylah was raised by rebels to infiltrate and destroy that system from within, but loss, addiction and survival have left her far from the weapon she was meant to become. When the Aktibar trials offer a route to power, she is pulled back into the struggle. A bold and immersive fantasy, it will suit sixth formers hell bent on plots of rebellion, political violence and morally complicated heroines. Highly recommended.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
In January 1918, Canadian nurse Laura Iven returns from war wounded, only to receive news that her brother Freddie has died in Belgium. The details do not add up, so Laura heads back to the front, where ghosts, grief and a strange innkeeper blur the line between survival and oblivion. This stunning supernatural historical fantasy gives sixth formers a haunting First World War story about loss, loyalty and what people will bargain away to escape unbearable pain.
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
A captive god escapes the Moon Throne with Jun, a guilt-burdened guard, and Keema, an outcast fighting for a future beyond the empire’s cruelty. Their five-day pilgrimage to end the Moon Throne is framed through myth, memory and performance, giving the quest an unusual storytelling shape. A challenging and complicated fantasy, it is a strong sixth-form option for readers who want epic scale, experimental structure and a story about identity, legacy and belonging.
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
Elspeth Spindle carries a monster in her mind, and that hidden power may be the only way to save her kingdom. As she is drawn into a search for the magical Providence Cards and into an uneasy alliance with Ravyn Yew, the danger around her becomes as personal as it is political. A gripping gothic romantasy, it offers misty woods, bargains, family secrets and a distinctive magic system built around cards and cost.
The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
Sylvia has spent years hiding her identity, her magic and her claim to the destroyed kingdom of Jasad. When Arin, heir to the kingdom that wiped out her people, discovers enough to use her, he forces her into a deadly tournament as Nizahl’s Champion. Their alliance is tactical, dangerous and increasingly complicated. This Egyptian-inspired fantasy gives sixth formers enemies-to-lovers tension, political stakes and a heroine torn between survival and restoration.
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
Marra has watched her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince and finally accepts that no one else is coming to save them. To kill him, she must complete three impossible tasks and gather a strange little company: a gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a former knight and a demon-possessed chicken. A darkly funny fantasy fairy-tale quest, it gives sixth form readers wit, anger and a practical heroine with no interest in waiting politely.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
Sciona finally becomes the first woman admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry, only to be undermined and assigned a janitor rather than the lab assistant her research requires. Thomil, once a nomadic hunter, has his own reasons for wanting answers about the magic that destroyed his people. This dark academia fantasy turns ambition, prejudice and magical discovery into a forceful story about power and complicity.
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Kissen makes her living killing gods after zealots of a fire god destroyed her family, but Skedi, a god of white lies bound to a young noble, is not so easy to dispatch. With Inara on the run and Elogast carrying his own secret mission, the group heads towards the ruined city of Blenraden as civil war and divine corruption close in. A gritty fantasy, it offers 16+ year olds a fast-moving quest built around faith, revenge and found family.
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Fantasy resources for teachers
- The Carnegies Shadowing scheme is a strong choice for secondary school librarians and English departments. It provides age guidance, author and illustrator videos, book-specific resources, discussion prompts, activities, posters and opportunities for pupils to review books, upload artwork and vote in the Shadowers’ Choice Awards; useful for YA fantasy, speculative fiction and crossover titles whenever they appear on the longlists and shortlists.
- Scottish Book Trust’s teen book discussion guides are designed for secondary book groups and include downloadable PDF and Word packs for pupils aged 12-18. Each guide offers discussion prompts, creative writing tasks and “what to read next” suggestions; recent speculative and folklore-influenced titles include Polly Crosby’s The Vulpine.
- Oak National Academy’s KS3 unit Step into the unknown gives secondary teachers a ready-made sequence for fiction reading and creative writing. Lessons use unseen extracts, including magical realist writing such as Jasbinder Bilan’s Asha and the Spirit Bird, to teach character, setting, language analysis and pupils’ own imaginative writing.
- Teachit English’s Plan your own fantasy story is a KS3 student activity that scaffolds fantasy genre features, setting, characterisation and plot structure. Teachit also has Northern Lights resources for teachers using Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials with lower-secondary classes.
- Hachette Schools’ Cressida Cowell resources include teaching notes, posters and activity sheets for How to Train Your Dragon, The Wizards of Once and Which Way to Anywhere. The materials reach from KS2 into ages 11-14 and cover dragons, fantasy worlds, Vikings, heroes, adventure stories, empathy, creativity and imagination.
- Authorfy’s Kiran Millwood Hargrave masterclass features videos, extracts and downloadable resources for The Girl of Ink & Stars, The Way Past Winter, The Island at the End of Everything and In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen. Particularly useful for upper KS2 and KS3 work on magical realism, maps, myths, islands, lyrical description, world-building and reader engagement.
- The Scottish Book Trust’s A.F. Steadman Authors Live event explores the Skandar series through readings, elemental magic, fantasy world-building and a Curriculum for Excellence-linked “become a unicorn rider” writing activity for pupils aged 9-14. Pair it with their Kiran Millwood Hargrave event, which focuses on the Geomancer trilogy and sensory world-building for secondary creative writing.
- Bloomsbury Children’s teaching resources provide free guided reading notes and classroom worksheets for KS1-KS4. Fantasy and speculative options include Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Foxlight, Ghostlines, The Forbidden Atlas, The Imaginary, The Lost Girl King, Mayowa and the Sea of Words and The Song from Somewhere Else.
- World Book Day’s Skandar and the Secret Element activity pack provides book-chat questions and creative activities around magic, bravery, mythical creatures, heroic choices and island-map making. Its wider resources archive also includes secondary posters, reading-for-pleasure activities, social reading ideas and book club resources for school libraries.
- The National Literacy Trust’s fairy tale and quest story resources offer free printable planners for writing modern fairy tales and magical quest stories. Originally linked to Rainbow Magic and Beast Quest, the activities help pupils identify ingredients of magical and quest narratives and can be adapted for different year groups.
- Puffin Schools’ The Secret of the Moonshard resource pack provides KS2/KS3 lessons around Struan Murray’s fantasy adventure, with extract work, activity sheets and curriculum-linked tasks. It sits well alongside Puffin’s The Last Firefox activity pack and City of Stolen Magic extract for magic, bravery, friendship and historical fantasy.
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