"His Dark Materials," to be more exact. They're very well-written, though personally I disagree with the sentiments expressed in them. Okay, here's my list. Some middle-grade books may have slipped on the list, as I read it all. If I recommend it, it's a great story, period, no matter what age group it's marketed to.
Retellings of folk and fairy tales:
Maguire, Gregory. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
Levine, Gail Carson. Ella Enchanted. New York: HarperCollins, 1997.
Napoli, Donna Jo. Beast. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.
McKinley, Robin. Rose Daughter. New York: Greenwillow, 1997.
McKinley, Robin. Beauty. New York: HarperCollins, 1978.
Napoli, Donna Jo. The Magic Circle. New York: , 1993.
Napoli, Donna Jo. Zel. New York: Penguin Putnam, 1996.
Yolen, Jane. Briar Rose. New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 1992.
McKinley, Robin. Spindle's End. New York: Penguin Putnam, 2000.
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Just Ella. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999.
Levine, Gail Carson. Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
Levine, Gail Carson. The Fairy's Mistake. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
Levine, Gail Carson. The Princess Test. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.