Amulet #1

Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet: Book One — The Stonekeeper opens with a cover that perfectly captures the series' blend of wonder and unease: two wide-eyed kids and a round-eared pink creature peer down at a glowing stone amulet, while below them a small weathered door stands ajar, dark tentacles curling out from the light within. The composition — curious faces above, creeping danger below — sets a tone that's equal parts adventure and genuine suspense. Published by Scholastic in 2008, this graphic novel signals from its very first image that it's built for readers who like their fantasy a little shadowy around the edges.