Fantasy Books for Harry Potter Fans
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
Recommendations from the Association for Library Service to Children
Are you waiting for the new Harry Potter book? Do you want something else to read in the meantime? The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)—a division of the American Library Association (ALA)—has some suggestions. Children's librarians from around the country selected books in two categories: books that are as easy to read as the Potter books and have similar story elements, tone, and flavor; and books that are similar in theme but may be more complex.
Harry-a-Like Books:
These books may have similar story elements to Harry Potter but more importantly replicate the accessibility, tone and flavor.
| Author | Title | Series Name |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander, Lloyd | The Book of Three | The Chronicles of Prydain |
| Baum, L. Frank | The Wizard of Oz | The Oz Series |
| Billingsly, Franny | The Folk Keeper | |
| Black, Holly | The Field Guide | The Spiderwick Chronicles |
| Bode, N.E. | The Anybodies | |
| Colfer, Eoin | Artemis Fowl | |
| Cooper, Susan | The Dark is Rising | Dark is Rising Sequence |
| Duane, Diane | So You Want to Be a Wizard | Young Wizard Series |
| Funke, Cornelia | Inkheart | |
| Griffin, Adele | The Witch Twins | |
| Haptie, Charlotte | Otto and the Flying Twins: The First Book of the Karmidee | |
| Ibbotson, Eva | The Secret of Platform 13 | |
| Jones, Diana Wynne | Witch Week | Chrestomanci Books |
| Nimmo, Jenny | Charlie Bone | |
| Nix, Garth | Mister Monday | Keys to the Kingdom |
| Sage, Angie | Septimus Heap, Book One: Magyk | |
| Skye, Obert | Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo | |
| Snicket, Lemony | The Bad Beginning | A Series of Unfortunate Events |
| Stroud, Jonathan | The Amulet of Samarkand | The Bartimaeus Trilogy |
| Wrede, Patricia | Dealing with Dragons | The Enchanted Forest Chronicles |
| Yolen, Jane | Wizard's Hall |
Source: American Library Association, June 21, 2005.
If You Like Harry Books
Books that may be similar in theme to Harry Potter but are more complex or are great fantasy fiction.
| Author | Title | Series Name |
|---|---|---|
| Avi | Midnight Magic | |
| Barron, T.A. | The Lost Years of Merlin | Lost Years of Merlin |
| Bass, L.G. | Sign of the Qin | Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh |
| Bell, Hilari | The Wizard Test | |
| Collins, Suzanne | Gregor the Overlander | Underland Chronicles |
| Constable, Kate | Singer of All Songs | |
| Doyle, Debra, and James D. Macdonald | School of Wizardry | Circle of Magic |
| Eager, Edward | Half Magic | |
| Ende, Michael | The Neverending Story | |
| Farmer, Nancy | Sea of Trolls | |
| Fisher, Catherine | The Oracle Betrayed | Oracle Prophecies |
| Flanagan, John | Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan | |
| Furlong, Monica | Wise Child | |
| Jones, Diana Wynne | Year of the Griffin | |
| LeGuin, Ursula | A Wizard of Earthsea | Earthsea Cycle |
| L'Engle, Madeline | A Wrinkle in Time | Time Quartet |
| Levine, Gail Carson | Ella Enchanted | |
| Lewis, C.S. | The Magician's Nephew / The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe | The Chronicles of Narnia |
| Mahy, Margaret | The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance | |
| McCaffrey, Anne | Dragonsinger | Harper Hall Trilogy |
| McKinley, Robin | The Hero and the Crown | |
| Nesbit, E. | Five Children and It | |
| Nix, Garth | Sabriel | Abhorsen Trilogy |
| Nodelman, Perry | The Same Place but Different | |
| Oppel, Kenneth | Airborn | |
| Oppel, Kenneth | Silverwing | |
| Paolini, Christopher | Eragon | |
| Pierce, Tamora | Sandry's Book | Circle of Magic |
| Pratchett, Terry | The Wee Free Men | |
| Pullman, Philip | The Golden Compass | His Dark Materials |
| Tolkein, J.R.R. | The Hobbit | |
| Zambreno, Mary Frances | A Plague of Sorcerers |
Source: American Library Association, June 21, 2005.
