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20 Must-Read Fantasy Adventure Tales for 8- to 12-Year-Olds

by Kari Ness Riedel

Photography by Seana Williamson

My 14-year-old son has devoured fantasy adventure novels since reading Harry Potter in elementary school. When asked why he keeps coming back to this story genre, he explained they are a great way to get immersed in another world, and they provide inspiring role models. The heroes or heroines often have some flaws, but at their core, they are kind, brave, and want to do good in the world. Simply put, he said, “Reading these types of stories gets my imagination going, which makes me think more broadly about my world and the person I want to be.”

Here are 20 fantasy adventure tales that will get tweens reading and thinking.

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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2022 and updated in 2025.