Fantasy is a popular genre, partly because its fans love to be whisked away to join forces with talking animals, majestic unicorns, and kindly knights. These stories fulfill a desire to be brave and fight dungeon-dwelling monsters, mysterious animatronic pirates, or powerful sorceresses. Is there a more fascinating way to analyze character development than by exploring immersive fantasy worlds?
Understanding a character’s internal and external traits, motivations, and relationships to other characters and situations in the text invites the reader to bond with the characters, immerse themselves in the setting, and have a deeper understanding of the author’s intentions.
Young readers begin their exploration of characterization by identifying and describing the main characters through an analysis of their internal and external traits, and their motivations. As readers mature, they are encouraged to evaluate how characters respond to their surroundings, other characters, and the challenges they face throughout the story. Advanced readers can delve deeper into how the author develops each character, analyzing how their growth (or lack thereof) impacts the plot and moves the story forward.
The exploration of the protagonists in fantasy stories invites readers to embrace the idea that anything is possible, in settings they’ll be excited to return to again and again. Our Fantastic Fantasy Reads list travels to otherworlds and magical realms, featuring dragons, fairies, and magical quests — all guaranteed to send readers of all ages on fantastical adventures they’ll never forget.
YOUNG READERS
The Whiskers Sisters: Book 1: May’s Wild Walk by Miss Paty (Lerner)
A vibrant fantasy that takes the reader deep into the woods where three sisters — Maya, Mia, and May — live with their grandfather, The Guardian of the Forest. Reminiscent of Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Capstone), we meet the girls as they wake up for the day, each one in a bed that is ‘just right.’ From this first pastel-influenced image of the girls, the reader becomes aware that the sisters have unique external traits, providing a wonderful opportunity for open discussion about how they are used to develop each character. For deeper character analysis, encourage readers to study each of the panels depicting the characters’ rooms, looking for details that hint at their internal traits and distinct personalities.
As the day unfolds, the girls receive a letter from Mrs. Owl, the forest mail carrier. Maya and Mia excitedly read it and immediately start planning a party. Frustrated because she is unable to read, little May is left out of the excitement as her older sisters utilize their talents and knowledge to hastily prepare for the upcoming party, forgetting all about May. Throughout the story, Maya and Mia have obvious talents, but the real character development lesson is hidden in little May’s adventure! She is carried away to a land of talking creatures, where readers discover alongside her, the uniqueness and wonder that is May.
Miss Paty uses a beautiful pastel palette to highlight each girls’ unique personality, and throughout the story, there are many opportunities to compare and contrast the characteristics and personalities of this wondrous trio!
Trapped in Pirate Park: The Adventure Begins #1 by Johanna Gohmann and Chloe Dijon (ABDO)
This is the story of Max and Phoebe’s trip to Doubloons Pirate Park, which takes an unexpected turn when a storm hits, leaving them stranded and at the mercy of an animatronic pirate. Offering the perfect blend of fantasy and adventure, young readers can examine Max and Phoebe’s external traits, such as their appearance and actions, as well as their internal traits, including their motivations, fears, and hopes.
Doubloons Pirate Park’s setting plays a crucial role in shaping the characters’ experiences and the story’s overall tone, too. Readers can discuss how the park’s atmosphere and attractions contribute to the development of the plot and the characters’ personalities. By analyzing the importance of the setting, readers can gain a deeper understanding of how a specific environment can influence a character’s choices and actions.
Fans of Max and Phoebe can continue to follow their adventures in several additional volumes!
MIDDLE GRADE
Canto Volume 1: If I Only Had a Heart by David M. Booher and Drew Zucker (Dark Horse)
Bravery and heroism are on display in Canto, a tale of a small knight with a clock for a heart. He begins his journey enslaved by monsters but guided by determination and love. With little time left on his own clock, he embarks on a selfless quest to save someone he loves. Fearless, compassionate, and determined despite his small size, Canto transforms from a downtrodden worker into a courageous leader.
As the story unfolds, Canto’s character development is intricately tied to his relationships and challenges. His bond with his beloved motivates him to undertake a perilous journey, and along the way, he encounters allies and fiends who test his view of the world. Through these interactions, Canto realizes the depths of his resolve. With each challenge, he grows in physical strength and emotional resilience, learning that sacrifice and perseverance are necessary to achieve his goals. His development reflects themes of hope, love, and the power of the individual to create change, even in the most dire circumstances.
Afro Unicorn: The Land of Afronia, Vol. 1 by April Showers (Andrews McMeel)
Afro Unicorns Divine and Unique are preparing for their first Festival of Crowns. Their excitement quickly turns into a quest when they discover that one of the crowns is missing. As they embark on their journey, readers are treated to a story with a lighthearted tone, vibrant illustrations, and a dyslexic-friendly font.
As readers examine the characters, they can identify the key traits of Divine and Unique, such as their kindness, bravery, and friendship. Then, they can discuss how these traits contribute to their personalities and actions throughout the story, and analyze why they embark on their quest to find the missing crown and what drives their determination. By examining how each character responds to challenges, readers can gain valuable insights into their own character.
This accessible story encourages readers to engage with grade-level text, fostering a deeper understanding of the characters and events.
YOUNG ADULT
Delicious in Dungeon Vol. 1 by Ryoko Kui (Yen Press)
This popular manga series offers an unusual twist on the traditional dungeon-delving adventure, following a group of adventurers led by Laios, a warrior whose party is defeated while exploring a dangerous dungeon. During their retreat, Laios’ sister Falin is swallowed by a dragon. With limited supplies and no money to buy provisions for a rescue mission, Laios and his companions decide to eat the monsters they encounter in the dungeon to survive. The concept of “monster cuisine” becomes a focal point of the series, with detailed depictions of the preparation and cooking of various fantasy monsters.
As the group explores deeper into the dungeon, they are joined by Senshi, a dwarf who is an expert at cooking monsters. His knowledge of the dungeon’s ecosystem proves invaluable as the party navigates the dangers of the sprawling maze of a dungeon while gathering ingredients for their next meal from their enemies. The series emphasizes the creativity and practicality of survival, transforming dangerous situations into opportunities to discover new, exotic dishes. Each chapter typically features the characters preparing meals from the creatures they defeat, blending humor, action, and intricate world-building.
Delicious in Dungeon is a rich blend of comedy, adventure, and thought-provoking themes. The characters’ relationships and backstories are gradually revealed, deepening the narrative and exploring each character’s heart and motivation. Philosophies will be challenged, and characters will explore what it means to eat these monsters and whether self-preservation is worth more than the lives of the slain creatures. Readers will analyze these complex characters and the decisions they make, exploring how they advance the theme.
Would you eat a monster to survive?
Shugo Chara!, Vol. 1 by PeachPit (Kodansha)
How does being your “true self” feel? Amu Hinamori isn’t sure; she is known at school as “cool & spicy” because of her stylish clothes and her ability to do the right thing no matter what. But is that her? She doesn’t think so; she doesn’t feel herself. In fact, she wishes for the courage “to be reborn as the person I want to be…” wearing pink, frilly dresses and being her quiet, shy self. Others stand in her way until she finds three Guardian Eggs that ultimately hatch into characters and, with their extraordinary powers, will help Amu find her “true self”: Ran (athletic Amu), Miki (artistic Amu), and Su (domestic-skilled Amu).
This Bishōjo (cute girl art and story) by PeachPit highlights the conflict between the punk rock outfits Amu’s mother buys for her and her internal feelings about the introvert she longs to be. The artists create the “girly” feel by showering the pages with bubbles, flowers, and lace. Amu’s dual personalities are illustrated in separate panels when she is unsure of herself. Her big eyes, pink hair, and stylish clothes make Amu a favorite at school, and as our protagonist, she is challenged to become who she wants to be. Readers can analyze the complexity of her development through visually distinctive panels. How do Amu’s Guardian Eggs (different aspects of her personality) help build toward her ultimate development? How did the author use these Guardian Eggs to depict the internal struggle of discovering oneself?
Throughout the book, different characters’ points of view are often made clear through a side dialogue of minor characters, Guardian Eggs’s actions, and Amu’s challenges. Readers will enjoy the snarky comments and the supportive remarks that will help Amu reach her full potential in this 10-volume series. And don’t forget the sequel Shugo Chara Chan! (Kodansha), where the Guardian Eggs themselves are highlighted.
Inkblot by Emma Kubert and Rusty Gladd (Image Comics)
Inkblot comes from third-generation comics creator Emma Kubert and the ultra-talented Rusty Gladd. This magical mishap has created the most chaotic force in the known universe… a cat. It is not simply a cat but rather a cat that can open portals through time and numerous dimensions, leading to mischief and mayhem. In pursuit of the cosmic calamity is a powerful sorceress known as Seeker, one in a set of immortal siblings who gained power by slaying magical beasts long ago and broke down the barrier between worlds. Unlike the rest of her adventurous and militaristic family, the Seeker has stayed behind in her people’s stronghold as a scholar. However, her reclusive life is upended when she dozes off and accidentally summons a black cat with the power to traverse planes of existence.
Told through a series of short stories set in several realms, Inkblot slowly peels back its layers to reveal a greater narrative that the reader pieces together over time. The disjointed yet humorous storytelling detours, projecting “cat-like” chaos, leaving the reader guessing where the tale will go next. Dragons, sea monsters, and a massive sphinx imbue this fantasy quest with eye-catching visuals and a frantic pace that will keep the reader turning page after page.
Inkblot allows the reader to study many characters through individual storylines, exploring how the author develops them through multiple short stories vs. an ongoing series. Throughout this collection, different types of heroism and acts of courage lead to deeper discussions of motivation; what it means to be a hero; and whether the ones in charge are best suited for the power they wield. Inkblot is a lighthearted read that uses magic and mischief to open a world of imagination and thought.
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