The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold

Rudger is Amanda Shuffleup's imaginary friend. No one else can see Rudger, but he and Amanda spend marvelous hours playing all kinds of imaginary games. Life is perfect until the evil Mr. Bunting arrives. He can see Rudger and he wants him, because Mr. Bunting eats Imaginaries. When an accident takes Amanda away, Rudger has to strike out on his own. Will he be strong enough to exist when no one is there to imagine him?

The Imaginary is an enchanting story of friendship and personal strength. Harrold's writing and Emily Gravett's illustrations bring a magical world to life. This is a great book for middle grade readers to enjoy on their own, but would also make a great family or class read aloud.

Recommended ages--9 and up

Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater

Pip Bartlett can talk to magical creatures, but no one believes her. Also, her ability often leads to trouble. After a Unicorn Incident at her school, Pip is spending her summer with her Aunt Emma at the Cloverton Clinic for Magical Creatures. Pip enjoys her time walking the Silky Griffin and counseling a neurotic Unicorn. However, when huge groups of Fuzzles appear, bursting into flame in the most inconvenient places, real trouble begins. It is up to Pip and her new friend Tomas to solve the Fuzzle problem before the townspeople have the creatures exterminated.

Pip is a spunky character accompanied by a whole cast of both familiar and entirely new magical creatures. Her entertaining adventures are filled with humor and depth. Pip's world of magical creatures will capture the attention of young readers and the illustrations help bring those creatures to life. This new series is as wonderful as I expected and I can't wait for more Pip adventures.

Recommended ages--8 and up

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Forced out of Ireland because of the potato famine, Molly and her brother Kip have nowhere to go. They find themselves working for a strange family at an even stranger house in the middle of the English countryside. Both Molly and Kip realize the Windsor family is hiding a dark secret and it is centered around the giant black tree growing into the side of their house. Soon Molly and Kip are also caught by the curse that haunts the Windsors. Will they be able to stop the evil that threatens them all?

This dark tale is carefully crafted for lovers of mystery and ghosts. Auxier develops complex characters with a captivating conflict. The Night Gardener is well-written, but only for readers who appreciate a spin chilling tale. The story is not violent or inappropriate, but only good for kids who want a more frightening type of adventure.

Recommended ages--10 and up