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Quick answer: If you loved Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians, read Brandon Sanderson's The Rithmatist and Steelheart, then try A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Mysterious Benedict Society and Artemis Fowl. All pair silly humor with clever plots.
Brandon Sanderson's 2007 middle-grade novel follows a boy who inherits a bag of sand and discovers that librarians rule a secret kingdom. It is fast, funny and full of jokes about writing and reading. The books below share that playful tone, with unusual heroes and big adventures. Most are for ages 9 to 14, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rithmatist | Brandon Sanderson | 10–14 | more Sanderson for kids |
| Steelheart | Brandon Sanderson | 13 and up | older readers |
| Skyward | Brandon Sanderson | 13 and up | sci-fi adventure |
| A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning | Lemony Snicket | 8–12 | narrator with attitude |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9–13 | puzzle lovers |
| The Name of This Book Is Secret | Pseudonymous Bosch | 9–13 | jokey narrators |
| The Last Dragonslayer | Jasper Fforde | 10–14 | quirky British fantasy |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | 9–13 | clever schemes |
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 9–13 | creature fantasy fans |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster | 8–12 | wordplay |
| The Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9–13 | myth fans |
| Gregor the Overlander | Suzanne Collins | 9–13 | adventure with heart |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | 10 and up | witty fantasy |
| Larklight | Philip Reeve | 9–13 | steampunk fun |
| Holes | Louis Sachar | 9–13 | reluctant readers |
1. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
A boy at a magical academy studies chalk drawings that come to life. Sanderson's other young-reader fantasy, with a good mystery and a smart magic system.
Best for: more Sanderson for kids.
2. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
Ordinary people fight superhuman tyrants in a ruined Chicago. Fast, funny and darker than Alcatraz.
Best for: older readers.
3. Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
A girl dreams of becoming a starfighter pilot despite her father's reputation. Action-heavy, with warm humor.
Best for: sci-fi adventure.
4. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
The Baudelaire orphans escape the greedy Count Olaf. Dark humor and a narrator who talks to readers.
Best for: narrator with attitude.
5. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Gifted children join a secret mission at a strange school. Puzzles, riddles and friendship.
Best for: puzzle lovers.
6. The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
Two kids chase a mysterious sound-based secret. The narrator keeps telling readers not to read it.
Best for: jokey narrators.
7. The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
A teenage orphan runs a magical employment agency while the last dragon is dying. Offbeat and very British.
Best for: quirky British fantasy.
8. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A young criminal genius kidnaps a fairy. Clever heists and gadgets.
Best for: clever schemes.
9. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Siblings discover that their grandparents' property hides a secret preserve of magical creatures. Rule-based fantasy with real danger.
Best for: creature fantasy fans.
10. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
A bored boy drives through a tollbooth into a kingdom of words and numbers. A classic full of puns.
Best for: wordplay.
11. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson learns he is the son of Poseidon. Snappy narration and quick action.
Best for: myth fans.
12. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
A boy falls into an underground world of giant creatures. Adventure and a prophecy.
Best for: adventure with heart.
13. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
A girl is cursed by a witch and finds refuge in a wizard's walking castle. Witty and warm.
Best for: witty fantasy.
14. Larklight by Philip Reeve
A Victorian family in a space house meets giant spiders. Pulpy fun with beautiful illustrations.
Best for: steampunk fun.
15. Holes by Louis Sachar
Boys dig holes at a desert camp, and a hidden story surfaces. Short and funny, with a clever plot.
Best for: reluctant readers.
How to Choose
For more Sanderson, read The Rithmatist for ages ten and up or Steelheart for teens. For silly narrators, try Lemony Snicket or Pseudonymous Bosch. For puzzle fun, pick The Mysterious Benedict Society. For classics, The Phantom Tollbooth is a joyous read. Many of these books work well as family read-alouds because their narrators speak directly to the reader. A tip for parents: the Alcatraz books work well as a bridge from picture books to novels, since the chapters are short and the jokes land quickly. Try reading the first chapter aloud and let your child decide whether to continue alone. Library audiobooks are another good way to sample the series.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians about?
A boy named Alcatraz Smedry learns that the world is secretly run by librarians who control information, and joins his family to fight them.
What age is it for?
Roughly 9 to 13, though adults who like jokes about writing enjoy it too.
How many Alcatraz books are there?
There are five: Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians, The Scrivener's Bones, The Knights of Crystallia, The Shattered Lens and The Dark Talent.
Is it a good read-aloud?
Yes. The narrator addresses the reader directly and makes frequent jokes.
Is it connected to Sanderson's adult books?
Loosely, since all his stories share one universe called the Cosmere, but you do not need any background.
Is Alcatraz funny for adults?
Yes. Sanderson's jokes about authors, libraries and bad writing amuse many adults as well as kids.
Do I need to read in order?
Yes. The Alcatraz books follow one story across five volumes.