If there was ever a present I looked forward to getting most, it was books. I would treasure a good novel for years after I got it. Books are pretty timeless as far as presents go, and whether you’re a giver wondering what sort of book to give to a friend or you’re just looking for a few things to add to your wish list, this roundup of the best 25 books I’ve ever read will give you plenty of ideas.
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#1 Extension Squad by Rachel Scheller
Age Range: 14+ (According to the author) Although I think younger ages can read it too depending on their maturity. The book series deals with a lot of hard topics that some readers may need more maturity to handle. Check out rmscheller.com for all of the content warnings.
Genre: Action-Adventure YA, with a bit of a dystopian flip to it.
What It’s About: In a world where murderers do the grunt work for the superheroes, hero-in-training Austin Alejos is thrown into death row for taking a life while trying to save his sister. As it stands in Hamekyl, only those with police badges or hero certificates can legally kill without being prosecuted. Anyone else, no matter the circumstances, end up on death row.
I absolutely love this book series to no end. Book 3 is supposed to come out in January. If you’re a fan of shows like Ninjago that have that utterly satisfying character interactions in a team setting, or if you like superhero stories with fantastic twists, definitely check it out!
Where to Find It: Currently, they are just being offered as Kindle-print editions. But paperbacks are being released in March. Check out the books on Amazon: Extension Squad (2 book series) Kindle Edition (amazon.com)
#2 Fawkes by Nadine Brandes
Age Range: YA, definitely. There are some gruesome descriptions of injuries that might be a little too intense for those younger than 14.
Genre: Historical fantasy
What It’s About: Thomas Fawkes is dying of the Stone Plague. In seventeenth century England, the world is torn between Igniters and Keepers, each who believe that killing the other is the key to stopping the plague. Igniters believe that everyone should have access to all of the color powers and Keepers believe that you should only be able to control one color.
Denied of a mask– and therefore of an inheritance– Thomas Fawkes sets out to find his father and demand that his infamous sire, Guy Fawkes, give him a mask. But things get a lot more complicated when he’s roped into a plot to kill the King if he wants to cure his plague and get his mask. Not to mention there’s Emma, an unusual woman whose strong color powers and unusual ideals challenge Thomas to no end.
Intense, witty, and charming, Fawkes was my first dip into historical fantasy, and I fell head over heels in love.
Where to Find It: It’s free as a Kindle Ebook on Unlimited. Currently it’s only available as a hardback. Amazon.com: Fawkes: A Novel eBook : Brandes, Nadine: Kindle Store
#3 The Phantom Stallion Series by Terri Farley
Age Range: I’d say MG for this, although the main character is thirteen. 8+
Genre: Contemporary Middle Grade Western
What It’s About: Sam Forster hasn’t been back to her family’s Nevada ranch in two years– not since the riding accident that almost took her life and her beloved horse Black was lost to the wild. Now that she’s back from San Francisco, she’s finding it hard to figure out how to fit in. She grew up on River Bend Ranch, but she also feels a bit like the city slicker.
Then she finds a silver stallion, a leader of a majestic band of wild horses on the range. He seems to know her, but does she know him? Is he Blackie all grown up?
This 24+ book series will delight any horse lover. Unlike a lot of modern horse book series, this actually doesn’t have any ridiculous romance drama in it. It’s got wholesome family dynamics and a fantastic explanation of the argument on mustangs from all sides.
Where to Find It: Recently, the books have been reprinted into hardbacks. The best place to find all of the books is on the author’s website: Terri Farley
#4 Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Age Range: MG Up. 7+
Genre: Historical Fiction, today. It was Contemporary when it was published in the 1880s.
What It’s About: Black Beauty, a gentle English-bred horse, sees all of the ups and downs of a horse’s life as he comes across owners both good and cruel. Told from Beauty’s POV and full of sweet dialogue between him and the other horses, Black Beauty was meant to be cherished by generations. A definite classic needed for any horse lover’s shelf.
Where to Find It: You can pretty much find it almost anywhere books are sold.
#5 Misty of Chincoteague Series by Marguerite Henry
Age Range: 7+
Genre: Historical Fiction.
What It’s About: Chincoteague residents Paul and Maureen Beebe desperately want a pony– more specifically, the elusive Phantom. But the Phantom has never been caught, and Paul and Maureen don’t have much money. Yet the biggest surprise comes when Pony Penning Day rolls around and the Phantom is caught– with a filly!
A really sweet book that’s based on a true story, Misty of Chincoteague, in my opinion, is best read on a windy day and is probably one of the best horse books I have ever come across.
Where to Find It: Anywhere books are sold. Misty of Chincoteague: Henry, Marguerite, Amazon.com: Books
#6 Jinxed and Unleashed by Amy McCulloch
Age Range: 10+
Genre: Science Fiction/ Action Adventure
What It’s About: In a world where smartphones are being outdated by cute robotic animals called Bakus, Lacy Chu is out of luck. If she wants to attend the school of her dreams, she needs a Level 3 Baku– and her and her mom are on the lower end of the social classes. She never expects to get a level 3– until she finds a mangled up robotic cat left for scrap. Lacy fixes him up and names him Jinx– and suddenly, everything changes.
But Jinx isn’t like the other Bakus. He’s disobedient and sometimes downright out of control. Not to mention that he gets a lot of unwanted attention from other classmates at her new school. Does Jinx have secrets Lacy isn’t aware of? Why is he so different?
For a modern book, I enjoyed this immensely. It was surprisingly clean and I loved the friend dynamics. And the sequel was just as good, if not better.
Where to Find It: Jinxed (2 book series) Kindle Edition (amazon.com)
#7 Of Fire and Ash and Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams
Age Range: YA. 12+
Genre: Epic equine fantasy
What It’s About: Ceridwen has been banished from her father’s royal household since the day her mistake took her brother’s life. Rafi has been on the run for years from the man who murdered his family. And all Jakim wants is to visit the historical home of his people– but he keeps being captured and treated as trash for his heritage.
And now, a war between nations will bring their tales together.
Three different stories are expertly woven together in this fantasy series made to please. They are longer books, but they are so worth the read.
Where to Find It: The Fireborn Epic (2 book series) Kindle Edition (amazon.com)
#8 King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
Age Range: 7+
Genre: Historical fantasy
What It’s About: Set in the Middle East the seventeenth century, King of the Wind tells the story of the Godolphin Arabian from the eyes of a mute stable boy named Agba. It’s one of Henry’s slower books, but it still sweeps you away. An excellent addition to any horse lover’s bookshelf.
Where to Find It: It’s pretty widespread, so you’ll find it anywhere books are sold.
#9 A Pony Express Christmas by Sigmund Brouwer
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Historical fantasy
What It’s About: A Pony Express rider, hard on getting to the next post before the snowstorm, chances upon a farmer with a broken leg and his teenage son stuck with a broken cart. If he stops, he could lose his job, but the farmer’s wife and three other boys are stuck in their cabin worrying, and the blizzard’s moving in fast. Throw in a few outlaws intent on getting the bank notes in the rider’s saddlebags and you have a story worthy of a read by the fireplace on a cold night.
I chanced upon this book at a relative’s house, and I loved it so much. It’s harder to find, but worth it.
Where to Find It: Amazon.com: Pony Express Christmas eBook : Brouwer, Sigmund: Kindle Store
#10 Inheritance Cycle Series by Christopher Paolini
Age Range: 14+
Genre: Epic fantasy
What It’s About: A farm boy chances upon a blue dragon egg, and when it hatches, he’s thrown into a spiral of events that will change his life forever. Eragon learns of an ancient order of dragon riders, of which he is the first new one in centuries, and the King’s desire to destroy all of the dragon riders and control the dragons for himself. With elves, dwarves, rebellion, magic, and dragons, The Inheritance Cycle is classic fantasy and sure to please.
Where to Find It: Best place to find all the books would be at Works Archive – Paolini
#11 Fairest Son by H.S.J. Williams
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Fairy tale retelling, novella fantasy
What It’s About: A twist on Snow White about a fey prince ruined of his heritage by an evil king and a young human girl given the task to assassinate him. I picked up this short book at a conference and I was pleasantly surprised.
Where to Find It: Amazon.com: Fairest Son: Williams, H S J: Books
#12 Dust and Shadow by Kara Swanson
Age Range: 13+
Genre: Fantasy retelling
What It’s About: All Claire Kenton wants is to find her twin brother. But when her search leads to London and a mythical person she thought never existed, she wonders if all the clues have just been for a wild goose chase.
Peter Pan, meanwhile, is stranded in London and being hunted by his own Lost Boys. His own mistakes have led to Neverland slowly crumbling away, and worst of all, he’s beginning to grow up. He needs Neverland magic to get back– magic that he knows can be found from one girl.
I absolutely adored these books and they had me hooked to the very end. Worth the price and the time.
Where to Find It: Heirs of Neverland (2 book series) Paperback Edition (amazon.com)
#13 The Star that Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnston
Age Range: 8+
Genre: Historical fantasy
What It’s About: Norvia Nelson would like nothing more than to be a heroine like the books she reads. But being a heroine is harder than one thinks when there are rumblings about a world war in 1912 and you’re an Ojibwe girl forced to hide her heritage. Set on the banks of Lake Michigan and based on a true story from the author’s own heritage, this book has beats of American Girl that set up the scene for a fantastic book.
Where to Find It: The Star That Always Stays – Kindle edition by Johnson, Anna Rose. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
#14 Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
Age Range: 13+
Genre: Nonfiction
What It’s About: I would whole-heartedly recommend this book for all teens. Alex and Brett talk about how to be Rebelutionaries in a world where the teen years are meant for pleasure and fooling around. But what if instead they could cultivate your dreams and passions into the future?
I absolutely loved this book when I first got it, and I’ve since reread it five times. Worth it, every time.
#15 The Guardian Herd Series by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
Age Range: 10+
Genre: MG Fantasy
What It’s About: Every 100 years, a black foal is born in Anok destined to receive great power to heal or destroy. The power-hungry pegasus tribes fear such a foal, and all five of them plot to kill this year’s foal, Star, by his first birthday.
An excellent book series for any horse or fantasy lover. I fell in love with the plot and characters from the very beginning, and I wish there were more. The Riders of the Realm series wasn’t nearly as good as this one, but still worth checking out.
Where to Find It: The Guardian Herd Series (4 book series) Kindle Edition (amazon.com)
#16 How To Think Like a Horse by Cherry Hill
Age Range: 10+ (It’s an adult’s book but it’s about horses so depends on your reading level)
Genre: Equine nonfiction
What It’s About: This book helped me understand horses so much better. I would recommend it to any horse lover who wants to learn how a horse thinks. With lots of information on both the mental and physical capabilities of horses, any horse lover who wants to understand their equine companions more needs this book.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/How-Think-Like-Horse-Understanding-ebook/dp/B005HN0VQS
#17 The O’Malley Series by Dee Henderson
Age Range: 14+
Genre: Romantic crime thriller
What It’s About: Kate, Marcus, Jack, Lisa, Rachel, Jennifer and Steven all grew up in the same foster home, and when they were older, they took on the same name and adopted each other into their own family. Now they all have different jobs within the first responder world, mostly centered around Chicago. But their whole world shakes when their little sister Jennifer comes down with an aggressive bone cancer– and also brings up a faith that each of them respond to in their own ways. I absolutely love this book series and Dee Henderson is a master of her craft. Worth the read.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/OMalley-6-book-series/dp/B07F7PVKFL
#18 The Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella
Age Range: 13+
Genre: Fantasy
What It’s About: All that Alice wants is to escape her Normal world in Oxford and find her parents who mysteriously disappeared ten years ago. But when her sister Charlotte is arrested for having the Wonder Gene– the infamous quality that helps to create everything fantastic in the world– Alice is thrown into a world of mystery and curiosity. Getting invited to the Wonderland Trials is a dream come true– but it’s also far more dangerous than she bargained for.
A fun and whimsical read, this book is fantastic for any fans of fantasy retellings– or those who like dystopianish books with a whimsy to them.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/Wonderland-Trials-Curious-Realities-Book-ebook/dp/B09VT7LMN7
#19 Rescue by Jessie Haas
Age Range: 9+
Genre: Equine MG Contemporary fiction
What It’s About: All Joni’s life, she’s lived on her family’s sheep farm, and she hasn’t seen anything wrong with the way her family did things. But when she befriends an animal rights activist named Chess, Joni’s whole world is shifted with a plethora of new questions. Do sheep like being milked? Does her pony Archie have a good life?
With an amazing response to the turmoiled captive animal argument, Jessie Haas’s book is fantastically written and sure to please.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Jessie-Haas/dp/1629798800
#20 The Hungry Place by Jessie Haas
Age Range: 9+
Genre: Equine MG contemporary fiction
What It’s About: Princess has lived a pampered life as a treasured Connemara pony– until the day her owner has a stroke and the greedy trainer and his wife turn her entire life upside down.
Not far away, Rae has always wanted a pony, but her family only makes enough to “get by”. Determined to get a pony for herself, Rae seeks out ways to make money and get the pony experience she craves.
As a once-horseless girl myself, this story hit my heart. I really related to Rae, especially with how little horse experience she gets, and Princess’s POVs add such a spice to the story. Think Black Beauty and Misty of Chincoteague combined. That’s The Hungry Place.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Place-Jessie-Haas/dp/1684377943
#21 Story Thieves by James Riley
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Genre-bender, with a mostly fantasy bloodline
What It’s About: Owen has a very boring life. He’d like to live out some adventures in the stories that he reads, but where can an average kid get adventures? Enter Bethany, a half fictional girl who lost her father years ago in a book and has been looking for him ever since. Bethany can jump into books, and Owen seizes the opportunity to go on an adventure of a lifetime— which of course ends up more than he bargained for. Twisty and fantastic, Story Thieves will delight writers and readers alike.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Thieves-James-Riley/dp/1481409204
#22 Outlaws of Time Series by N.D. Wilson
Age Range: 12+
Genre: Fantasy/Sci Fi
What It’s About: Sam Miracle isn’t anything special— just a normal boy with broken arms that can’t bend. People say he’s too dreamy for his own good and maybe they’re right— he gets lost in his own imagination, staring off into a world so real it might as well be a memory.
Then comes the day that everything changes. It turns out there’s a man named the Vulture trying to steal all of time for himself, and Sam has actually lived a hundred lifetimes before this trying to stop him. But now it’s his last try, and if he fails, the Vulture will steal all of time forever.
Twisty and intriguing, I loved reading Outlaws of Time despite its slightly slow beginning. Definitely check it out.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/Outlaws-Time-Legend-Sam-Miracle/dp/0062327275
#23 The Green Ember Series by S.D. Smith
Age Range: 8+
Genre: MG Fantasy
What It’s About: Heather and Picket’s calm childhood world is torn apart when wolves kidnap their family and they discover an entire rebellion of rabbits waiting for a King holding a Green Ember and trying to rise up against the evil ruler of Natalia, Morbin BlackHawk. Rabbits with swords and a wild adventure await the brave reader who treks into this book.
Where to Find It: https://store.sdsmith.com/
#24 The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
Age Range: 9+
Genre: Historical classic
What It’s About: This classic story about a boy and a wild stallion who end up shipwrecked on the same island and forge an incredible bond is a staple for any horse lover’s library. The book is a little slow and wordy, but still an excellent read.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/Black-Stallion-Walter-Farley/dp/0679813438
#25 A Whisper of Horses by Zillah Bethel
Age Range: 8+
Genre: Dystopian fantasy
What It’s About: Horses disappeared years ago, when the toxic gases scalded the earth and forced humans into strongholds for safety. At least, that’s what Serendipity always heard. But when she finds a map that seems to lead to horses, she decides to escape the safety of the world she knows to find the last horses on earth.
Where to Find It: https://www.amazon.com/Whisper-Horses-Zillah-Bethell-ebook/dp/B01LY4RQRE
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I hope you enjoyed this article! If you have read any of these books, which one would you vote as the biggest must-have?
Oooh awesome! I’ve already asked for a few of these for Christmas (and most of them are on my never-ending TBR cough cough heh) fantabulous list!