March is Reading Month: Fantasy hooks students

Fantasy 

Books in this genre are written as fiction that has magic or other supernatural elements as a main plot, theme, or setting.

Many of the books that are in this genre have created imaginary worlds that have various types of magical creatures and magic itself.

Here are some favorite fantasy books of teens.

“City Of Bones”

"City of Bones," by Cassandra Clare, was published in 2007.
“City of Bones,” by Cassandra Clare, was published in 2007.

“City of Bones” is the first book in the series the Mortal Instruments written by Cassandra Clare.

The book was published in March of 2007 and is still hooking readers today.

Senior Elisa Tucker feels like the “City of Bones” does a great job at keeping her engaged the whole time.

“It immerses you into a completely different world,” Tucker said.

“City of Bones” is set in modern-day New York City.

It starts off with 15-year-old Clarissa Fray, known as Clary to her friends and family, deciding to go to a nightclub with her best friend Simon Lewis.

While at the nightclub, Clary sees a beautiful boy with blue hair and strange tattoos who disappears into a storage room with an equally beautiful girl.

Clary notices that the two were being followed by two more boys and one of them appears to have a weapon on him. Panicked, Clary decides to take matters into her own hands and follow after them.

There she meets Jace Wayland, Isabelle Lightwood, and Alexander Lightwood, who inform her about this whole new world that she never knew existed.

Clary learns that humans are not the only ones who roam the earth. Fairies, vampires, warlocks, werewolves, “shadowhunters,” and a bunch of other mythical creatures exist, as well.

While learning about this new world, Clary discovers that she herself is a shadowhunter. Shadowhunters make up a secret association that is responsible for tracking down and killing demons to protect the human world.

Tucker recommends “City of Bones” to other readers.

“It is a great mix of different genres: fantasy, history, paranormal,” she said.

“Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter”

"Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter," by Seth Grahame Smith, was published in 2010.
“Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter,” by Seth Grahame Smith, was published in 2010.

“Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter” was written by Seth Grahame-Smith and was published in March of 2010.

Junior Aubrey Scott enjoyed reading this novel.

“It was really captivating and educational,” Scott said. “It added a fun, fictional aspect to an important historical figure’s life.”

The novel was written as a secret diary kept by the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.

When Lincoln turns 11 years old, his father Thomas explained to him that vampires are real and both Lincoln’s grandfather (also named Abraham Lincoln) and his mother Nancy were killed by a vampire.

Lincoln seeks revenge for his mother and vows to himself in his diary that he will kill as many vampires as he can.

In 1825, Lincoln hears that there will be a vampire attack along the Ohio River and investigates, but this time Lincoln is no match for the vampire and is nearly killed because of it.

If it was not for the intervention of a vampire named Henry Struges, Lincoln would not have survived.

Lincoln spends the summer with Struges, learning to sharpen each of his senses and being trained as an expert vampire hunter.

Henry gives Lincoln the names and addresses of all of the evil vampires so that Lincoln can track down and rid the world of one bad vampire at a time.

“I recommend this novel to others,” Scott said. “It is very entertaining, and if I finished it and enjoyed it, anyone can.”

Other fantasy books 

  • “Harry Potter” series by J.K Rowling
  • “Clockwork Angel” by Cassandra Clare
  • “Marked” by P.C. Cast
  • “Vampire Academy” by Richelle Mead
  • “The False Prince” by Jennifer A. Nielsen