I consider Wildwood Chronicles a new classic. Husband-wife duo Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis brought this fantasy series to life with Wildwood in 2011. Book two, Under Wildwood, and book three, Wildwood Imperium, soon followed. Meloy, a singer-songwriter for The Decemberists, and Ellis, a notable illustrator (whose works include the fantastic Mysterious Benedict Society series), merge magic and stories with fiction and folklore into a truly memorable series. The tale begins with friends Prue and Curtis venturing into the forbidden forest of their hometown of Portland to save a baby brother kidnapped by a murder of crows. What happens next encompasses three volumes full of adventure, amusement, trickery, bravery, and challenges. Geared towards older children, these books are just as amusing for middle grade and young adult fiction fans of all ages.