Kid's Fiction Recommendation: Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl

The first of many

Are you looking for an offbeat fantasy adventure to read with your kids? Do you find the idea of a 12 year old evil genius pulling the wool over the eyes of the police, both human and otherwise, to be an appealing idea? Do you want action, adventure and daring heists? Then the first book of Colfer's Artemis Fowl series may be for you.

Artemis, the titular main character and antagonist, has hatched a scheme to kidnap a fairy in order to gain a king's ransom in gold. And unless Captain Holly Short, the first female Captain of the Lower Elements Police Recon force can think very quickly, everything could be looking quite dim for the future of law abiding fairies and associates of one Artemis Fowl...

Written by Irish author Eoin (pronounced 'Owen', if you were wondering) Colfer and with 6 sequels and a final 7th book on the way, this series is great fun for parents and kids alike. The humor and characters are clever enough that anyone should be able to find something to love, with parents appreciated the subtler humor laced throughout. Definitely something to check out.