SOLVED. Fantasy/ Magical book for older children but not quite YA. Three kids discover a magical world in the forest behind their houses. [s]

[Mitchell]

The three kids all have a piece of jewelry (one bracelet, one ring, one pendant, i believe) with a magical stone. They also have familiars/magical animals in the other world that they connect to. I remember there being a map at the beginning of the book. I recall that two of the children were friends before finding the magical forest, but the third girl (who is blonde, I recall that specifically) was kind of mean/rude to the other two before they bonded over their magical world. I’m not sure if all three of them lived right next to the forest, but at least one did for sure.

[Atbash (Emma)]

This might not be quite right, but is it the Avalon: Web of Magic series? Main girls were Emily, Adriane, and Kara, and some of their bonded animal partners were Silvermist, a mistwolf, Lyra, a winged leopard, and Ozzie, an elf who was turned into a ferret. They each find magic stones that activate and then help them control their innate magical abilities.

Adriane lived at the nature preserve with her grandmother, bonded with Emily about feeling kind of isolated, and then about her love for animals, and then about finding magic together. Kara was, like you said, rude at first, but grows to care about both of the girls as well as protecting nature/magic.

Lmk if that sounds right!!! I adored this series growing up— I still have all the books *and* a tote bag from the now-defunct website :P

[Mitchell]

I’m not sure how to reply on here or if it’s possible but Atbash did it! Thank you so much. As soon as I saw the cover online I knew it was correct.

[Atbash (Emma)]

Fantastic— so glad I could help!!! :D

[Rainbowheart]

Circles in the Stream for the link to the first book in the series.