Are you interested in fantasy that deepens your understanding of the Gospel, or that uplifts the church, faith, and the principles of the Bible? Here are some suggestions that might be a good fit for your family.

The Princess and the Goblin/ The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald

Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Early Elementary, Mid-Elementary, Late Elementary, All ages

Two beautiful stories about wisdom, faith, courage, and honor. The author, George MacDonald, served as a sort of mentor to C.S. Lewis, so that should give you a hint of what high quality we’re talking here. For more information, and for discussion questions, check out this more detailed review of The Princess and the Goblin, and here is one for The Princess and Curdie. The classic language admittedly makes this one a little less engaging for young ones; when we read it aloud I needed to stop and explain a few times what was going on to engage the kids.

The Inkwell Chronicles by J.D. Peabody

Rating for Book 1: My bookshelf

Level: Mid-Late Elementary, Middle School

Two children join up with characters representing CS Lewis and Tolkien to rescue their father from evil fantasy creatures. This book lifts up the church as supporting creativity and freedom and honor, and it is refreshing to see such a joyful portrayal of clergy. You can read more details in this review, which links to reviews of other books in the series.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision

Recommended Age: All ages

This classic series has been one of my favorites for 20 years. That said, some aspects surprised me when I read it again as a protective Mama bear. Upon a second read, I saw gods and alcohol and naked breasts and more! However, the biblical themes are clear and the honesty in the writing is charming. Find out more in my reviews, starting with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Landon Snow by R. K. Mortenson

Rating for book 1: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Mid Elementary, Late Elementary

Written by a Lutheran minister, this 5-book series addresses issues such as whether we are here by accident, and the important role of hope. Bible verses are explicitly quoted, and God is referred to as The Auctor, (latin for The Author). The first book is extremely wacky, and Book 3 has some occultist chanting, so check out my reviews to make sure it’s a good fit for your reader.

The Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shirer

Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Mid-Elementary , Late Elementary, Middle School

Written by American Evangelist Priscilla Schirer, this book illustrates spiritual warfare in a fantastic land. I especially like that the characters rely on each other the way the Body of Christ needs each other. An added bonus is that there are positive relationships with adults, which sadly is hard to find these days in books for kids. Here is a more detailed review where you can decide if the possible concerns are a red flag for your family or not.

The Mistmantle Chronicles by M. I. McAllister

Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Late Elementary, Middle School

Honor and courage abound in this fantasy about an island kingdom shrouded in mists. The main characters and squirrels, otters, hedgehogs, and moles who trust in God, whom they call The Heart. The villains do dispose of unwanted babies in child sacrifice, and the author clearly has an agenda of advocating for babies and against societies that dispose of them. It is age appropriate, but worth a parent conversation. Read more in my review.

The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers

Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Middle School, High School

This modern, fantastical retelling of the story of young King David is inspiring and uplifting. If you want to raise up children of character, this book models it for them. Find out more starting here in my review of Book 1: The Bark of the Bog Owl.

The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Middle School, (Mid-late Elementary Needs Parent Supervision)

A boy adventures through a fantastic land and grows into a brave and valiant young man. There are many spiritual parallels, if you can get past the tough first few chapters, and a fortune-telling pig! (Yep, you heard me). Find out what you need to know, including discussion questions, on my review.

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Rating: Needs Parent Supervision, I like it BUT some families may not

Reading Level: Late Elementary, Middle School

Alright, I know I’m going to get some pushback on this one, and I admit this book series is not for every family. There is potty/body humor, many references to a large woman named “Big Boobied Bertha,” and the characters refer to Norse gods. But I find it to be a net gain because the hero, Hiccup, is SOOOO beautifully a humble servant leader. He loves his enemies SOOOO well, the way Jesus loves me, and the way this series illustrates the humble king is worth it to me. You can learn more here.

The Dreamkeeper Saga by Kathryn Butler

Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Late Elementary, Middle School

Its nice to have a heroine for a change. :). This book has dragons and bullying and a missing parent. The Gospel themes are strong. You can find more in my review that can help you decide if it’s a good fit.

The Lost Princess: A Double Story by George MacDonald

Rating: My Bookshelf

Reading Level: Mid-late Elementary, Middle School, High School

I think of this as a hidden gem. Much like Eustace in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the author expertly illustrates horrible, selfish attitudes. I’d recommend this for slightly older ages than The Princess and the Goblin, or The Princess and Curdie, which are by the same author. Here is a review that gives discussion questions and more information.

The Green Ember Series by S.D. Smith

Reading Level: Middle School, High School

Bunnies and other woodland creatures fight against an oppressive Eagle/Wolf alliance. The main characters learn about hope, trusting, right, and wrong.

Don’t be fooled by the cute Beatrix-Potter-esque illustrations. There are some perilous moments that might scare young readers; yes, it’s bunnies but the villains are nasty and ready to tear them to pieces. I have read this but as of this writing haven’t formally reviewed it. I’d recommend checking out a review at RedeemedReader.com.

Tales of the Kingdom by by David and Karen Mains

Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Mid Elementary, Late Elementary, Adults, Everyone

A beautiful allegory about an orphan who finds his way home in the Kingdom of God. Check out my review for possible concerns, including the death of a parent. I have heard that Book 2 in the series can be a bit dark, but I haven’t read it so I can’t say much about it.

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

Reading level: Middle School, High School

I might like this even more than The Chronicles of Narnia, which I never thought would be possible. The Gospel themes are brilliant, but beware: there is child slavery, child abduction, and other peril that for me puts it older than some of the others recommended here. I’d suggest at least maybe age 11 or 12, whereas Wilderking could be more for an 8 year old. I have read the series but haven’t written an official review. Check out other reviews; one is offered by reformedperspective.ca.

The Ascendance Series by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Rating: My bookshelf

Reading Level: Middle School

An orphan boy engages in questions of authority and identity. Brilliant twists with little romance and a lot of action. That said, a boy is shot in one of the near opening scenes, and I’d suggest it for roughly ages 10 and up at least. Read more at this review.

The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Reading Level: The Hobbit can be for late Elementary. I think most kids would struggle with Lord of the Rings before Middle School, but your reader might be more advanced than me. :)

You can’t write about Gospel in Fantasy without Tolkien’s saga, which engages with ideas like sin’s addictive power, friendship and loyalty, the huge impact that can be made by the most surprisingly weak warrior, and war with evil. The Hobbit is much more accessible than the Lord of the Rings, which is great because it should be read first anyways.

More Ideas to Look Into

There are many more fantasy books that illustrate the Gospel but not featured here. Some others to consider are given below. Please check out the reviews; some of them have possible concerns and might not be a good fit for your family.

Popular Fantasy Books that I do *NOT* Recommend

Some popular fantasy books that I have decided are *NOT* a good fit for my family are given below. This isn’t about debates or about making you feel guilty if you let your kids read some of these books; God is stronger, and your family may have different criteria than mine.

Discover more from Jesus loves bookworms

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.