Edward Eager, Magic by the Lake
On vacation with their mother and stepfather, Jane, Mark, Katharine, and Martha find themselves overwhelmed with a lake full of magical creatures after Mark captures an ancient turtle that seems to have extraordinary powers.  Sequel to Half Magic.

Eva Ibbotson, Secret of Platform 13
A young hag accompanies an old wizard, a gentle fey, and a giant ogre through a magical tunnel from their Island to London. Their mission is to rescue their King and Queen's son, who had been stolen as an infant,before the tunnel disappears.

Brian Jacques, Redwall
When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, attempts to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior in an effort to defeat the enemy. The first book in the Redwall series.

Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's  Moving Castle
When the wicked Witch of the Waste turns Sophie Hatter into an ugly crone, the girl seeks refuge in wizard Howl's moving castle.

Tim Kennemore, Circle of Doom
When Lizzie concocts a potion to cast a spell on her neighbors, the unbearable Potwards, Mrs. Potward breaks her hip and the couple disappear forever.  Lizzie is convinced of her own magical powers, and all three Sharp children soon become ridiculously entangled in a web of secrets, conspiracies, and misunderstanding.

Madeline L'Engle, A Wrinkle In Time
Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack on a dark and stormy night when an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course, and goes on to tell them that there is such a thing as a "tesseract," which, if you didn't know, is a wrinkle in time. The first book in the Time Quartet.

Gail Carson Levine, The Two Princesses of Bamarre
With her adventurous sister, Meryl, suffering from the Grey Death, meek and timid Princess Addie sets out to find a cure - armed with the seven-league boots and magic spyglass left to her by her mother and the enchanted tablecloth and cloak given to her by the young sorcerer Rhys.

Robin McKinley, The Blue Sword
Harry Crewe, bored with her sheltered life in the remote orange-growing colony of Daria, discovers magic in herself when she is kidnapped by a native king with mysterious powers.

Nimmo, Jenny, Midnight for Charlie Bone
Charlie doesn't want to believe it when he discovers that he can hear the thoughts of people in photographs.  This means that he is one of the chosen and must attend a school for gifted children.  Once there, he realizes that he is not the only one with mysterious powers.

Tamora Pierce, Sandry's Book
Sandry and friends discover that each of them has special powers when tragedy strikes and they must use their magic to survive.  First book in the Circle of Magic.

Philip Pullman, The Amber Spyglass
Lyra and Will find themselves at the center of a battle between the forces of the Authority and those gathered by Lyra's father, Lord Asriel.  Sequel to The Subtle Knife.

Nancy Springer, Rowan Hood
In her quest to connect with Robin Hood, the father she has never met, thirteen-year-old Rosemary disguises herself as a boy, befriends a half-wolf, half-dog, a runaway princess, and an overgrown boy whose singing is hypnotic, and makes peace with her elfin heritage.

Patricia C. Wrede, Dealing With Dragons
Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to become Chief Cook and Librarian to a dragon. Princess Cimorene helps to defeat some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragon's kingdom. The first book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.

Jane Yolen, Wizard's Hall
A young apprentice wizard saves the wizard's training hall by trusting and believing in himself.