Fablehaven is quite refreshing.

Bryce wrote about how the Mistborn series has all the fantasy elements, Master/Student, fighting evil, and prophecy. There are many of those that I am personally tired of (although Sanderson made them different enough to be interesting).

What I like about Fablehaven, though, is it has very few of these. There is nothing outside of the characters themselves that makes them special. There is no prophecy or attribute that was passed on to them from their parents. Everything these characters gain is gained through their own abilities and risk-taking.