The beauty of fantasy is that it provides an escape for readers of any age. Often, these fantasy worlds are brimming with magic, adventure, and even romance, so there is something for everybody! Since fantasy is such a staple of storytelling, there is no doubt that we’ve all thought about living somewhere onscreen or in a book that’s more magical than real life. Today, we’ve gathered five fantastical in-book universes that young readers would love to visit.
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Howl’s Moving Castle is probably best known for its Studio Ghibli film adaptation of the same name, where Howl — a powerful wizard from Wales — lives in a home akin to a walking, living creature powered by Calcifer, a fire demon. Lots of young kids who read or watch might love to explore Howl’s Castle and ride along as it travels around Ingary. Both the book and movie follow a teenage Sophie, cursed by an evil witch to become an old woman. She later meets Howl and his mysterious moving home, and they strike an alliance to break Sophie’s curse.
When the book starts, Sophie is living in Market Chipping, a town in Ingary that feels like a fairytale. It’s colorful, with European-inspired architecture and cobblestone streets. Quaint shops line the streets, while the town’s steam-powered transportation and large hats are inspired by the Edwardian era. The town is actually inspired by a real city in France, Colmar, which may be the closest real-world equivalent to Ingary. As Sophie and Howl journey together, imagine being alongside them walking through the lush green valleys, sprawling flowers, and snow-lined mountains. It’s a natural beauty that feels so fantastical even without the magic coursing through the lands.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
Who hasn’t wished to be a young wizard in the wizarding world of Harry Potter at some point? Instead of sitting in a Muggle school, you could be a young student at Hogwarts, finding which house you belong in, playing Quidditch, or in a Defense Against the Dark Arts class. While it’s more classified as a secret, magical society, the Harry Potter series establishes an immersive, magical life hidden from our own, but not so far removed, making us want to visit that much more!
Harry Potter isn’t just limited to Hogwarts! If you ever find yourself at King’s Cross Station at Platform 9 3/4 Quarters, you need to stop and shop at Diagon Alley. The cobbled streets of the alley are bustling with restaurants and shops, like Ollivanders, where you can buy your own wand, and Flourish and Botts to buy any necessary textbooks for the upcoming school term. Maybe you fancy some ice cream from Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour. Another popular place in the Wizarding World is Hogsmeade, which Hogwarts students frequent on weekend trips to the small wizarding village in the Scottish Highlands. There is so much to offer when visiting this magical society. We are just waiting for our acceptance letters!
Camp Half-Blood from Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
Another classic childhood series is the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. Not only is it iconic, but Riordan makes every reader feel like they could have secret demigod parentage and find themselves at Camp Half-Blood on Long Island, New York. Young readers might imagine themselves spending the summer there, being led to the camp by a satyr, meeting Mr. D, and waiting to be claimed by their godly parent. Typical activities include archery, swordfighting, capture the flag, and riding pegasi, just to name a few. Maybe you’ll get summoned on a quest, and an adventure that’s guaranteed to be full of magic and surprises. If you want to venture even further, maybe stop by Camp Jupiter and see how they run things. It’s every kid’s summer dream, just with a bit more magic — albeit more danger, too, since demigods are often targets for monsters.
Gatlon City from Renegades by Marissa Meyer
Gatlon City is home to the Renegades trilogy, where 28% of people are born with superpowers, while others can develop them later in life. If you love superhero stories or anything Marvel and DC, this trilogy and the world within the series are perfect for you. The city houses the Renegades, a superhero syndicate that trains heroes with powers and keeps the city safe. The books follow Nova, an anarchist who has every reason to hate the Renegades. To exact her vengeance, she goes undercover to infiltrate the Renegades, but the more time she spends with them, the harder it will be to betray them in the end.
The potential for abilities in this universe is endless. They range from bringing drawings to life to creating crystals from one’s blood. For kids who love classic superheroes and supervillains, this is the perfect city to visit.
The Shadowhunter Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
The Shadowhunter Chronicles started with City of Bones, one of the YA classics of the 2010s. It features half-human, half-angel soldiers, also known as shadowhunters, who kill demons and protect humanity in the shadows. We follow Clary in the first book, who witnesses a gruesome murder the same night her mother goes missing. When a group of teens who claim they are shadowhunters appear, Clary must dive into this mysterious society if she is to find her mother. But secrets hide at every turn, and Clary comes to realize her role in this new world might be bigger than she ever thought.
Now with five series and several companion anthologies set in this Shadowhunters universe, young readers can get a true sense of this shadow world with all its magic, secret settings, and mystical creatures. While it’s not a separate realm like Howl’s Ingary — it’s more akin to the Harry Potter universe— in this secret society, the faerie realm is just a pond away from our own world, and the creatures that go bump in the night are very much real. Supernatural creatures like vampires, werewolves, and warlocks are hiding in plain sight. While this secret world isn’t safe, it’s definitely guaranteed to be an adventure!
These fantastical places are brimming with magic that young readers would love to dive into, even if it can be a bit more dangerous. But these are only a few of the many incredible, rich worlds in books for kids. Let us know on our socials if there is a book with a magical universe you want to visit.
Looking for more middle grade book recommendations featuring fantastical worlds? Click here!
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