Magnus Kir is a book by Dean Hardy, a Christian fiction writer who has been compared to C.S. Lewis. In this fantasy tale, 12-year-old Zack longs to know what is outside the high walls of his town, which has been cut off from the rest of the planet for many years. When he discovers a way into the outside world, he decides to go and explore. What he finds is a world far different from the quiet existence he is used to. The outside world is populated by monsters and people who have been banned from Magnus Kir for breaking the laws of the town. He encounters a bad guy he knows, a monster who helps him, and the son of the King who had disappeared from the town earlier. The King, a very humble and loving man, is there to help his people, but they must obey him and ask him for his help if they need it. Zack did ask for help, but the King did not answer because his higher plan for Zack would have been thwarted if he had helped him as he asked at that moment. The rest of the story I will not reveal because don't want to spoil the ending.

My 12-year old granddaughter read this book and has already turned in a book report about it. She loved the book and wants to put it on her shelf with her permanent collection when I am through with it. I enjoyed the book as well, although this is not a genre that I would normally pick up and read. I would recommend this for your middleschooler's reading list, and I feel fairly confident that they will not complain about reading it. Magnus Kir sells on Amazon for about $10. It is a paperback with 156 pages.