Sabriel (Abhorsen Triology)

Sabriel(Book One) by Garth Nix

Sabriel, the Abhorsen-in-waiting must one day succeed his father (the current Abhorsen)in the task of keeping the dead out of the world of the living in a world of uncontrolled magic and dangerous creatures. The book starts in Alcesterre, a modern country south yo the Old Kingdom and away form its dangers where Sabriel is studying a variety of subjects. But her father suddenly disappears and it is revealed that he is trapped somewhere in the Wold of the Dead. Sabriel must endure a long and nearly impossible journey to rescue his father and stop the dead from crossing over to the world of the living.