Book picks similar to
The Light Maze by Joan North
fantasy
-library-no
03-words
childhood-faves
Angelhood
A.J. Cattapan - 2015
But when her dream theater college rejects her and her best friend dies in a terrible accident, Nanette decides the world would be better off without her. Unfortunately, the afterlife offers something less than a heavenly situation. Trapped between alternating periods of utter darkness and light, Nanette is stuck following a high school freshman around. Soon, she learns she’s a guardian angel, and the only way she can earn her wings is to keep her young charge, Vera, from committing the same sin she did—taking her own life.Unfortunately, Nanette is missing more than just her wings. She has no tangible body or voice, either. Frustrated by her inability to reach out to Vera and haunted by memories of her old life, Nanette wants to give up, but then she sees what happens when another Guardian at the high school turns his back on his charge. The shock is enough to supercharge Nanette’s determination. She’s going to find peace in the afterlife…as soon as she can convince Vera that living is what life is all about.
Love Letters
A.R. Gurney - 1989
Romantically attached, they continue to exchange letters through the boarding school and college years—where Andy goes on to excel at Yale and law school, while Melissa flunks out of a series of "good schools." While Andy is off at war Melissa marries, but her attachment to Andy remains strong and she continues to keep in touch as he marries, becomes a successful attorney, gets involved in politics and, eventually, is elected to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, her marriage in tatters, Melissa dabbles in art and gigolos, drinks more than she should, and becomes estranged from her children. Eventually she and Andy do become involved in a brief affair, but it is really too late for both of them. However Andy's last letter, written to her mother after Melissa's untimely death, makes it eloquently clear how much they really meant, and gave to, each other over the years—physically apart, perhaps, but spiritually as close as only true lovers can be.
The Shades
Betty Brock - 1973
Her house is bleak and empty and he keeps seeing shadows when nobody is there. Emily laughs at him. "You'll get used to them," she says. "Everybody does."However, Hollis meets the real shadows, who live in the summerhouse, when he discovers the magic of the dolphin fountain. The Shades are delighted and they welcome Hollis into the family. Each day he roams the garden with the Shades. He makes Emily celebrate his birthday party outside so that the Shades can eat the shadow of his cake. At the end of the summer, an evil force threatens to enslave the Shades and it is Hollis who must work out a plan to save them.(From the inside flap of the dustcover.)
Song of the Gargoyle
Zilpha Keatley Snyder - 1991
In a blink of an eye his father, the court jester of Austerneve, is mysteriously kidnapped and the terrified boy must slip away secretly to avoid capture himself.Hiding in the dreaded forest nearby, Tymmon is adopted by a huge, furry, dog-like creature--a gargoyle--who has the loyalty of a dog and the fearsome powers of an enchanted being.Together, hungry, the two make their way to town, where Tymmon earns a living by playing his flute and learns to be happy. At least as happy as he can be without his father. Will he ever find a way to rescue him and be with him again?
Galactic Warlord
Douglas Arthur Hill - 1979
The only survivor was Keill Randor, a young but highly skilled warrior, who embarks on a quest to find the unknown being who leads the Deathwing. This is the first book in the "Last Legionary" series.
The Girl Who Never Was
Skylar Dorset - 2014
Sure, her father is in an insane asylum, her mother left her on his doorstep—literally—when she was a baby, and she’s being raised by two ancient aunts who spend their time hunting gnomes in their Beacon Hill townhouse. But other than that her life is totally normal! She’s got an adventurous best friend who’s always got her back and an unrequited crush on an older boy named Ben. Just like any other teenager, right?When Selkie goes in search of the mother she’s never known, she gets more than she bargained for. It turns out that her mother is faerie royalty, which would make Selkie a faerie princess—except for the part where her father is an ogre, which makes her only half of anything. Even more confusing, there’s a prophecy that Selkie is going to destroy the tyrannical Seelie Court, which is why her mother actually wants to kill her. Selkie has been kept hidden all her life by her adoring aunts, with the help of a Salem wizard named Will. And Ben. Because the boy she thinks she’s in love with turns out to be a faerie whose enchantment has kept her alive, but also kept her in the dark about her own life.Now, with enchantments dissolved and prophecies swinging into action, Selkie finds herself on a series of mad quests to save the people she’s always loved and a life she’s learning to love. But in a supernatural world of increasingly complex alliances and distressingly complicated deceptions, it’s so hard to know who to trust. Does her mother really wish to kill her? Would Will sacrifice her for the sake of the prophecy? And does Ben really love her or is it all an elaborate ruse? In order to survive, Selkie realizes that the key is learning—and accepting—who she really is.
Chosen
Lauren Chow - 2017
Clara Evans’ needs a fresh start. Exhausted from the taunts of her classmates and the neglect of her careless foster parents, she is counting down the days until graduation when she can move away and leave her miserable life behind. When swoon-worthy Jay Woods transfers to Ford High School, Clara’s eyes are opened to a universe she never knew existed. As the life she once knew shatters and ancient secrets are revealed, Clara must learn to control her newfound powers while defeating a raging darkness that will change the world forever. Could “The Freak” from Ford High be the key to saving the human race?
Lights Out
Peter Abrahams - 1994
Now he has three prison murders under his belt, and comes out a dangerous man. Although he wants to stay clean, Eddie is haunted by the nightmares of his past--corruption, greed, and a stunning betrayal--which are on a collision course with his present. (July)
Oberon Academy: The Complete Series
Wendi L. Wilson - 2019
Offered a scholarship to the prestigious Oberon Academy, December finds herself living in a whole new world. Boundless food, clean clothes, a safe place to sleep, and the potential for true friendship make her new life seem almost too good to be true—but the school has a secret. The Zephyr After a tragic loss, Crispin Jonas took over the role of mentor, pushing December to practice things beyond the standard Oberon Academy lessons on being a good Sylphid. His lessons revolved around her other half—her dark side. Devastated after taking a life, December had a choice to make. She could let her darker half take over and guide her actions, or she could embrace the Sylphid inside her and live on the path of light. But were those her only two choices? The Sylph After surviving another face-off with Queen Sebille and discovering the truth about her past, December Thorne’s life has changed dramatically. With everyone now knowing and accepting what she truly is, and her new relationship with her mentor, her life takes a turn for the better. She finally has what she’s always wanted...or does she? The Queen After so many surprises and truths revealed, December just wants her life to settle down into some sort of normalcy. She has a place at Oberon Academy, an amazing boyfriend, and for the very first time, a real family…but it doesn’t last. When one of her own is taken by the Zephyr queen, December must take action. The time for normalcy is over. It’s time for war.
The Binding
Kate Sparkes - 2014
As the wife of a magistrate, mother to a good family, and an important member of the community, she's never had any reason to defy authority. But when the death of her infant daughter leaves her questioning her people’s beliefs about the origins and evils of magic, Lucilla is forced to defy the laws of God and man in order to save her next child from an unthinkable fate. (A Bound world short story)
Call to Quarters
Honor Raconteur - 2016
In modern times, they are known as the Gældorcræft Forces. They do everything that needs to be done, from disaster relief to keeping giant cities afloat – like Los Angeles. Investigating explosions at Air Force Research Labs are outside of the norm, but this explosion doesn’t follow the rules either. It happens nearly right on top of a leyline and the damage it causes is considerable. Noriko is new to California, new to the GF, and has a brand new partner to boot. She wanted to have an easy first week of work, just to adjust to things, but instead she’s thrown head first into a case that is snowballing in complexity. Time is definitely ticking because if they don’t figure it out, then all of California is going to wind up in the ocean.
Grimbold's Other World
Nicholas Stuart Gray - 1963
Named Muffler, and raised by simple goat herders, Muffler seems all set to lead a perfectly normal and peaceful life- except that he has the power to talk to animals. This leads him into a friendship with Grimbold, a black cat who knows a lot more than he lets on. Enemies in the world of night continue to conspire against Muffler and his long-lost family, and since cats are the only creatures, apart from poets, who can slip between the mundane and magical realms, Grimbold soon emerges as Muffler's ally in a struggle beyond his wildest dreams.
The Uninvited
Cat Winters - 2015
For she sees the uninvited ones—ghosts of loved ones who appear to her, unasked, unwelcomed, for they always herald impending death. On that October evening in 1918 she sees the spirit of her grandmother, rocking in her mother’s chair. An hour later, she learns her younger brother and father have killed a young German out of retaliation for the death of Ivy’s older brother Billy in the Great War.Horrified, she leaves home, to discover the flu has caused utter panic and the rules governing society have broken down. Ivy is drawn into this new world of jazz, passion, and freedom, where people live for the day, because they could be stricken by nightfall. But as her ‘uninvited guests’ begin to appear to her more often, she knows her life will be torn apart once more, but Ivy has no inkling of the other-worldly revelations about to unfold.
The Dubious Hills
Pamela Dean - 1994
Receiving an enormous responsibility as Physici for her people, the only individual in the Dubious Hills capable of experiencing and understanding pain, fourteen-year-old Arry seeks to protect her world from a wolf invasion.