Top Ten Classic Children's Fantasy/Science Fiction Books

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the bloggers of The Broke and the Bookish. This week is a freebie week, so I decided to create my own topic. 

I chose to share what I consider to be some of the best classic children's fantasy/science fiction books. A lot of these I actually read for school or book clubs, but the fact that I have reread most of them and still think back on my experiences with them fondly speaks volumes — they're not classics in the musty irrelevant old book sort of way, but in the fact that they've created lasting commentaries on childhood that are still very much applicable in today's world.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle — The Last Unicorn is such a beautiful story. Reading it made me go through such a range of emotions. It details a unicorn's journey to know that she's not the last of her kind, that other unicorns are still out there. This story is full of enchantment about self-discovery and is so lyrical in its writing.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien — Tolkien originally created The Hobbit as a story for his children, and the story is a lot lighter than The Lord of the Rings is. As this is Tolkien, there's still some serious world-building and lots of side stories and extra material in here, but it doesn't detract from the main story at all. I remember first becoming immersed in Tolkien's Middle-earth for the first time when I was 11 and I've never regretted it since.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card — Although I had owned this book for years, I only just read it last year for a class. I wish I had had someone tell me to just go and read the book, because it's such a wonderful book. It's about the super gifted kids who are humanity's last hope in the intergalactic war against an alien race. The book is very clever and touches upon some eternal questions of guilt, responsibility, power, and justice.

The Giver by Lois Lowry — Before The Hunger Games popularized the dystopian genre in common culture, there was The Giver. The Giver depicts a society where people's age and intellect determine every aspect of their lives, from when they'll get their first bike to what sort of job they'll hold in their society. It's creepy from the beginning. And then the protagonist Jonas learns that life used to be more spontaneous, filled with emotions and memories and purpose. The evolution of Jonas' character as he grapples with these hard truths is just amazing.

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander — Although this is the second book in a series, it is the most well-known and stands on its own. The characters in Alexander's The Chronicles of Prydain series really are some of the best. There's Taran, the assistant pig keeper, Eilonwy, the spoiled but brave princess, Fflewddur Fflam, the bard whose harp strings break every time he lies, Doli, the dwarf whose powers of invisibilty cause his ears to ring, and so many more. Through the book they partake in a classic struggle of good versus evil. This is Lloyd Alexander at his best.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle — Meg Murray is the absolute perfect protagonist for any girl nearing her teen years (and any boy, too). Her glasses, braces, and mousy hair convince her that she's nothing special. Yet she's determined and resourceful and ultimately the only one who can save her father and an entire world. This is truly one of the best stories about a child maturing and learning how to come into her own, and about how easily the ordinary has the potential to become extraordinary.  

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll — I read this one quite recently. I'm familiar with both the animated Disney film and Tim Burton's live-action film. I just love the sense of wonder that was instilled in me as I read this book. What can't happen in Wonderland? It's just so wonderful and magical. Who can read this book and not want to fall down the rabbit hole? I also loved the little rhymes and songs that Carroll created in the book. 

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt — Before Twilight sensationalized the idea of eternal youth, there was Tuck Everlasting. Winnie meets the Tuck family, who has become immortal after drinking water from a secret spring. After discovering such a big secret, Winnie then has to decide what to do with the information, and what the price of immortality really is. Once again, this is just a beautifully written story.

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster — I adore this modern fairy tale about a bored boy who discovers a tollbooth that takes him to a magical realm. There are so many instances where he discovers new meanings behind "ordinary" aspects of his own life. I loved Juster's use of puns and clever witticisms throughout. It's a classic for a reason, and reading the book made me desperately wish that I could visit the Kingdom of Wisdom.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White —And who can forget the story of the amazing pig Wilbur and his spider friend Charlotte? When I was little I was a sucker for animal stories, and White's interpretation of how animals could act while the humans were gone is so interesting. The book definitely made me think of the extraordinary power of friendships in a completely new way. 

What do you think? Have any other books that should be added to this list?