Hmm, I remember loving the Chronicles of Prydain as a kid. I need to buy something for a bday for a precocious 8 year old. (Loves the Chronicles of Narnia - I think that is precocius though not unusual among Buffistas). Prydain yes or no? If no, alternatives.

Prydain yes! Adore.

Also, I persist in recommending Tamora Pierce books for kid fantasy fans, especially if the kid in question is a girl.

Tamora Pierce

Ah yes, kid is a girl. Mom not one of the world's great feminist role models. Airheaded and mean. Worry a bit about women's roles in the series. Like I said a long time, but weren't the major female characters an airheaded (though heroic) princess and an evil enchantress? Been a long time, so probably being unjust to the Princess. Also I do remember even the evil enchantress ended up giving good information that saved everybody. And the Princess had the intution to trust her, saying something along the lines of "sometimes when a wasp lands on you it will only sting you if you try to brush it off." It must have been good if that much of it sticks with me after 35 years.

I don't know Prydain. An 8-year-old might like A Wrinkle In Time. And, while they're not exactly fantasy, I'd recommend The Westing Game and From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler to pretty much any kid, but especially precocious girls.

A Wrinkle in Time is lovely, although I do remember liking Prydian. I haven't read Prydian since that age, though, so I don't remember any larger implications. I read Narnia at that age too, as well as The Diary of Anne Frank.

Mom not one of the world's great feminist role models

then Tamora Pierce is a great idea.

Typo, I would say that the Prydain chronicles aren't exemplars of feminist fiction, no, but they're not offensive: Eilonwy saves the day a number of times, and the women do have agency and power.

I suspect Tamora Pierce would be better on the feminism, though, it's true.

I love the Prydain books.

and the controversy begins -- is it too scary for kids.

All the worthwhile Newberry winners have been controversial it seems.

Also would like to note: Have people completely forgotten that the biggest phenomenon in kid's publishing before J.K. Rowling was R.L. Stine?

I'm listening to A Wrinkle in Time on CD when I'm in my car and loving it. I somehow missed reading it as a kid.

Tamora Pierce has written a lot. Anyone want to recommend one book, ideally a standalone, so she does not end up too frustrated if takes a long time for her to get any sequels?