When I picked up Clockwork Angel, I wasn’t just looking for a fantasy adventure—I was searching for characters and themes that would connect with my love for complex stories. Cassandra Clare delivers that in this gripping start to The Infernal Devices series.
Set in Victorian London, the novel follows Tessa Gray, a young woman with a mysterious shapeshifting ability, as she uncovers secrets about herself and the shadowy world of the Shadowhunters. What drew me in was Tessa’s resilience. She’s thrust into a world she doesn’t understand, much like moments in my life when I’ve faced new challenges and had to find strength I didn’t know I had.
The dynamic between Will and Jem captivated me. Will’s sharp wit and guarded nature balance Jem’s calm wisdom, and their bond felt raw and genuine. It reminded me of the kind of friendships that stand the test of time, especially when life throws the unexpected your way.
The story is an immersive blend of mystery, romance, and the power of chosen family. If you’re someone who loves exploring themes of identity and courage through fantastical settings, this book is a must-read. For me, Clockwork Angel wasn’t just a story—it was a reminder of how much strength we all carry within.
Book of a Thousand Days is a retelling of the Grimm fairy tale Maid Maleen set in medieval Mongolia. The novel follows Dashti, maid of Lady Saren, as she tries to keep herself and her mistress alive during a seven-year-long imprisonment. After Lady Saren’s refusal to marry an abusive suitor, her father sent both the Lady and her maid to live out 1000 days in recluse. Days blend into nights and weeks become years. But as food supplies quickly diminish with the arrival of rats, Dashti must find a way to break free from their tower and protect her mistress who has long given up hope of ever escaping her prison.
Described as Narnia-like with a Canadian Indigenous twist, The Barren Grounds is a story that follows two Indigenous foster kids living in Winnipeg as they embark on a fantastical adventure while navigating their identity, belonging, and reclaiming lost culture.
The City of Ember is a dystopian/adventure novel that takes place in an underground city called Ember. Ember was created in the past by a group called the builders when the conditions above ground became unfit for people to live in. The story follows two 12-year-old protagonists, Lina and Doon. In the beginning of the book Lina and Doon attend a traditional ceremony in which children their age are randomly selected for various careers in Ember. The two are disappointed with their jobs and decide to switch with each other. One day, Lina finds a box in her closet that belonged to her great-great grandfather who used to be the mayor of Ember. The box contains parts of a paper that she believes will help save the citizens of Ember from their now deteriorating city. As a result, Lina and Doon begin to work together to piece together the message and find a way out of Ember. However, this leads to conflict in the story as the current mayor of Ember wants the people of Ember to believe that Ember is alone in the world and surrounded by darkness as a means to hide essential resources from the population and save himself. In the end, Lina, Doon, and Poppy, Lina’s younger sister, piece together the message and leave Ember via a secret river in the pipeworks designed by the builders to allow the people of Ember to return to the world when the time was right. Doon, Lina, and Poppy escape before they are caught by the mayor and learn about the outside world, seeing sunlight for the first time. They leave exit instructions with their friend in Ember in hopes that the remaining population will one day join them. Overall, I would recommend this book for students in grades 4-6 who enjoy dystopian books with aspects of mystery and adventure. 
tells the story of a young Percy Jackson as he grapples with the news that he is the son of Poseidon, god of the seas. After traveling to a mysterious camp with half-bloods such as himself, he must learn to hone his skills and talents and go on a quest to save his mother from the clutches of Hades, retrieve Zeus’ lightening bold and save the world from a war between the Gods.
Mystery at Lake Placid is the first book in the Screech Owls series by prolific Canadian author Roy MacGregor.
Freak the Mighty is a great novel about the power of friendship. It allows the reader a glimpse into the eventful and challenging lives of the two protagonists, Max and Kevin. Each with their own unique characteristics, the two form an unbreakable friendship from their action packed adventures. This novel is appropriate for intermediate students and highlights the effects that family, friends, bullies and school environments can have.
This New York Times Bestseller Novel, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas takes you on a journey through the eyes of a nine-year old boy from Berlin, Germany.
The Boundless is a thrilling adventure by Toronto’s