Mal ,'Bushwhacked'
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Tamora Pierce has a few different sets of books, most set in the same "world". You could probably start her either with the "Song of the Lioness" quartet ("Alanna: The First Adventure" being the first book in it, then "In the Hand of the Goddess", "Woman Who Rides Like a Man" and "Lioness Rampant").
The other quartet of hers that's a good intro to her characters would be the Keladry books--First Test, Page, Squire, and Lady Knight.
What meara said.
Although I'd put in a good word for the Oz books too. With the proper illustrations. Classic fantasy for the win!
I was going to recommend the Song of the Lioness quartet as a good start, but on rethink it might make sense to go with the Circle of Magic series. They're aimed at a slightly younger set, so might be a better intro to the author for even a very precocious 8-year-old. If she likes them, but wishes for something a tad older-feeling, then she's ready to jump into the Alanna and Keladry series (which do include some very fade-to-black love-making scenes as the characters get older, as a warning.)
Does anyone else remember Miss Pigglewiggle?
Mrs. PiggleWiggle. And,. yes, they are wonderful books.
Laga, YES! I still remember the story of the girl who wouldn't bathe who got tomatoes planted on her skin!
There's also a book called "Red Moon, Black Mountain" by Joy Chant - several children in a family step from their trip in the English countryside into a different world with all kinds of adventures. Possibly for an older audience than the Narnia books, but well written.
Went with "A Wrinkle in Time". Actually never read it because I heard it many times read out loud by "Uncle Ruthie" on KPFK. Which now that I think of it is a great way to absorb it. But I'm keeping the other suggestions for the future, because I'm friends with her father and her Grandma, and I strongly suspect there are more gifts from me in her future.
Oh, sorry, didn't catch that we were suggesting for an 8 year old. In that case, yeah, the Circle of Magic ones might be a better intro, Gris is right.
Have the literistas here put together a Big List of Cool Kids' Books, ie, a compliation of all the posts on that subject?