by Heather Tomasello

Created on: January 11, 2009

Are you (or a child in your life) an avid Harry Potter fan? Want book suggestions to fill the void, now that the Potter series has ended? Long before J.K. Rowling began her Harry Potter series, J. R. R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Madeleine L'Engle wrote excellent fantasy stories with mystical creatures and magical elements, reflecting the triumph of good over evil. Check out these titles:

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien Trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves are a few of the creatures that inhabit Tolkien's created world, Middle Earth. It should be noted that many scholars believe Tolkien wrote these as an expression of his Christian faith. "How is God revealed amid elves, dwarves, wizards and magic rings?" Kurt Bruner, the author of Finding God in the Lord of the Rings explains, "The man who created hobbits and Middle-earth did so as an expression of imagination baptized in Christian faith."

The Hobbit describes how Bilbo Baggins acquires the magical Ring of Power and helps to defeat a terrible dragon. In The Fellowship of the Ring, the Ring is passed to Bilbo's cousin Frodo, who sets out on a dangerous quest to destroy it. He is accompanied by a fellowship of elves, dwarves, men, hobbits and the wizard, Gandalf. In The Two Towers, the fellowship is splintered as they are engaged by the enemy. The Return of the King chronicles the final battles and fate of the Ring.

These books are dense reads. Middle-Earth, has a rich history, alluded to throughout the books in songs, poetry, and legends. However, readers ages 10 and up will find these books well worth wading through.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the most well-known book in this seven-book set. Four children travel through a wardrobe to Narnia, a magical world with talking animals, an evil witch, and the good yet "terrible" lion, Aslan.

Throughout the series, Lewis addresses themes like death and resurrection, the triumph of good over evil, faith, and the creation and the end of the world. Readers ages eight and up will enjoy these books, which are also easy to read aloud as a family.

A Wrinkle in Time quartet by Madeleine L'Engle The first book, A Wrinkle in Time, won the Newbery Medal in 1963. Meg Murry travels through time and space as she tries to save her family and ultimately the very universe.

All of the books challenge the reader to consider the unseen world, and to choose love over hate. Young adults will find these compelling, imaginative reads.

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