(4) 4-6 Animas series. Illustrated by Jim Madsen. Having Awakened to his Animas--Taleth, the last of the white tigers--Bailey discovers that he's the prophesied Child of War, "who will herald a new king for Aldermere." But enemies claim the throne for themselves. While the series doesn't stand out in the genre, its combination of classic fantasy tropes and a boarding-school setting should appeal to Harry Potter fans.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) 4-6 Animas series. Twelve-year-old Bailey has a disturbing problem: while all the other Fairmount Academy students his age have already bonded with their animal counterparts, Bailey has not yet Awakened to his Animas. There's little to make this book unique, but its combination of classic fantasy tropes, a boarding-school setting, and an outsider protagonist should appeal to middle-grade readers seeking a follow-up to Harry Potter.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano