If You Liked Harry Potter, You Might Like…
Kids are always asking us—who am I fooling? people of all ages are always asking us—for books similar to the Harry Potter series. While there aren’t any series exactly as captivating as those of JK Rowling’s we can still recommend many other titles and authors to help satisfy the thirst for worlds similar to those of magical Harry.
Here are our recommendations:
Books similar to Harry Potter:
Young Wizards series by Diane Duane
Ender’s Saga series by Orson Scott Card
The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper
Discworld series by Terry Pratchett (Young Adult)
Earthsea cycle by Ursula K LeGuin
Books of Magic series by Neil Gaiman
The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander
The Sword in the Stone by T H White
The following authors are similar to JK Rowling although not necessarily writers of magic and wizardry, they still shine in their own way:
Cornelia Funke is a German writer whose books have been translated into over 30 languages. Her novels include stories of fantastic creatures (including dragons), secret portals into other worlds, and books coming to life. You are bound to find something you like by this amazing fantasy writer. Our favorites are the Inkheart series, Dragon Rider series and the Thief Lord.
Australian-born, Garth Nix, knows a lot about supernatural creatures and magic. His Abhorsen series features spells gone wrong, refugees and rebels and children fighting for their parents. One of our favorites is Sabriel.
Another author who writes about orphans shrouded in mystery and magic in a world that is just a bit quirky. We loved Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and we’re looking forward to reading the sequels.
You’ve probably already been exposed to his books, but if not, Riordan’s books are great. The Percy Jackson series stars a young boy living out a destiny largely unknown to him. Percy has the fate of the world lying on his shoulders but with loyal friends to help, he shines in every heroic quest he pursues. Our personal favorite is the Lightning Thief series but his others are great, too!
The Chronicles of Narnia series especially reminds me of the Harry Potter series. It’s chockful of brave children, loving mentors, daring adventures, mythical creatures, and epic battles of good against evil.
Although she’s not a fantasy writer, her stories are moving, uplifting, sometimes heartbreaking, and always worth the read. The Giver is a favorite.
If you like stories that are full of moral battles, adventure and world-building, Philip Pullman’s books are epic. His Dark Materials series is fantastic and after a long break between, his new series, The Book of Dust was well worth the wait.
The Time series is epic. Starting with a Wrinkle in Time, L’engle follows the Murray family as they travel through time, where they meet fantastical creatures, extraordinary beings and evil dictators. A great series for fans of magic and mystery.
Other Authors of Note:
Cressida Crowell
Eric Kahn Gale
Django Wexler
Diana Wynne Jones
Ed Masessa
Marissa Burt
Angie Sage
Diane Zahler
Tamora Peirce
Toby Forward
Sage Blackwood
Sarah Prineas
Derek Landy
Brandon Mull
Ursula LeGuin
T.A. Barron
Eoin Colfer
Roald Dahl
Tony Abbott
Frank L Baum
Lemony Snicket