By Karyne Norton, Author
When I was an Usborne consultant, I heard one complaint over and over from homeschool moms: My teen’s reading comprehension is too high for these books, and I don’t have time to pre-read every novel they want to read.
And now that my own kids are reaching that stage, I’ve experienced the problem first hand. My current solution? Finding short stories that give me a taste of the author’s style, quality, and content level.
Here are some of my favorite clean fantasy short stories for your teens to read this summer - you can snag them all for free by signing up for the author’s newsletter:
1. The Black Horn by JA Andrews: This epic fantasy is filled with friendship and hope, and shares the story of a young woman desperate to save those she loves as enemy hordes approach. It connects to her larger Keeper Chronicles series, but can be enjoyed without having read any of her other books.
2. The Lily Gate by Hanna Sandvig: This sweet romantic fantasy is a retelling of The Frog Prince, and it’s a stand-alone novella in the Faerie Tale Romances series. It has fae, pastries, and sassy animal sidekicks, and a princess on the hunt for a prince worthy to be her co-ruler and husband.
3. Of Summer and Stormlarks by Constance Lopez: This sweet romantic fantasy tells the story of a couple’s last chance to make amends after broken childhood friendships. It’s a prequel short story set in the world of the Kasmian Chronicles.
4. River of Reversal by SG Prince: This fairy tale fantasy has a story within a story about a young maiden, a cursed prince, and a river that has the power to save them… for a price. It’s a prequel to her full length novel, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone.
5. Beneath the Knowe by Anthea Sharp: This faerie tale shares one young woman’s story as she journeys beneath the faerie hill to save a child, armed with only a penny whistle and the music of her bard-gifted blood.
If you have an especially voracious reader, these short stories are available for the month of July. The authors all submitted their stories with the suggested ratings: G for language, PG for romance, and no more than PG-13 for violence: Clean Fantasy in 1 Hour or Less
Most indie authors provide some type of free short story (or even a full length novel) on their website, so don’t stop hunting here. Check the websites of authors your kids already love for more. Then check the websites of authors you haven’t had time to pre-read.
Bonus tip: Don’t be too quick to unsubscribe from the emails you receive. Author emails usually include book recommendations for similar authors, which is exactly what you’re looking for.
Happy hunting!
