Fantasy Books for Harry Potter Fans

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease 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.

AuthorTitleSeries Name
Alexander, LloydThe Book of ThreeThe Chronicles of Prydain
Baum, L. FrankThe Wizard of OzThe Oz Series
Billingsly, FrannyThe Folk Keeper
Black, HollyThe Field GuideThe Spiderwick Chronicles
Bode, N.E.The Anybodies
Colfer, EoinArtemis Fowl
Cooper, SusanThe Dark is RisingDark is Rising Sequence
Duane, DianeSo You Want to Be a WizardYoung Wizard Series
Funke, CorneliaInkheart
Griffin, AdeleThe Witch Twins
Haptie, CharlotteOtto and the Flying Twins: The First Book of the Karmidee
Ibbotson, EvaThe Secret of Platform 13
Jones, Diana WynneWitch WeekChrestomanci Books
Nimmo, JennyCharlie Bone
Nix, GarthMister MondayKeys to the Kingdom
Sage, AngieSeptimus Heap, Book One: Magyk
Skye, ObertLeven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
Snicket, LemonyThe Bad BeginningA Series of Unfortunate Events
Stroud, JonathanThe Amulet of SamarkandThe Bartimaeus Trilogy
Wrede, PatriciaDealing with DragonsThe Enchanted Forest Chronicles
Yolen, JaneWizard'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.

AuthorTitleSeries Name
AviMidnight Magic
Barron, T.A.The Lost Years of MerlinLost Years of Merlin
Bass, L.G.Sign of the QinOutlaws of Moonshadow Marsh
Bell, HilariThe Wizard Test
Collins, SuzanneGregor the OverlanderUnderland Chronicles
Constable, KateSinger of All Songs
Doyle, Debra, and James D. MacdonaldSchool of WizardryCircle of Magic
Eager, EdwardHalf Magic
Ende, MichaelThe Neverending Story
Farmer, NancySea of Trolls
Fisher, CatherineThe Oracle BetrayedOracle Prophecies
Flanagan, JohnRanger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan
Furlong, MonicaWise Child
Jones, Diana WynneYear of the Griffin
LeGuin, UrsulaA Wizard of EarthseaEarthsea Cycle
L'Engle, MadelineA Wrinkle in TimeTime Quartet
Levine, Gail CarsonElla Enchanted
Lewis, C.S.The Magician's Nephew / The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeThe Chronicles of Narnia
Mahy, MargaretThe Changeover: A Supernatural Romance
McCaffrey, AnneDragonsingerHarper Hall Trilogy
McKinley, RobinThe Hero and the Crown
Nesbit, E.Five Children and It
Nix, GarthSabrielAbhorsen Trilogy
Nodelman, PerryThe Same Place but Different
Oppel, KennethAirborn
Oppel, KennethSilverwing
Paolini, ChristopherEragon
Pierce, TamoraSandry's BookCircle of Magic
Pratchett, TerryThe Wee Free Men
Pullman, PhilipThe Golden CompassHis Dark Materials
Tolkein, J.R.R.The Hobbit
Zambreno, Mary FrancesA Plague of Sorcerers
Source: American Library Association, June 21, 2005.

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