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Quick answer: If you loved Artemis Fowl, try Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Alex Rider: Stormbreaker, H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education and Fablehaven. Each one features a clever hero, high-tech magic and a fast, funny adventure.
Eoin Colfer's first novel introduces Artemis Fowl, a twelve-year-old criminal mastermind who kidnaps a fairy to hold her for ransom, only to discover the fairy world has technology far beyond his own. Readers love its mix of humor, high-tech magic and a brilliant anti-hero. These picks share its fast pace and clever characters.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident | Eoin Colfer | 10-14 | kids who want more Artemis |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | kids who like puzzles |
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | kids who like mythology and humor |
| Alex Rider: Stormbreaker | Anthony Horowitz | 10-14 | kids who like spies |
| H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education | Mark Walden | 10-14 | kids who like villains |
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 9-13 | kids who like hidden creatures |
| The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide | Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black | 7-11 | younger readers |
| Keeper of the Lost Cities | Shannon Messenger | 9-13 | kids who like elves |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J. K. Rowling | 8-12 | kids who like magic |
| The Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan | John Flanagan | 10-14 | kids who like adventure |
| Skulduggery Pleasant | Derek Landy | 10-14 | kids who like humor and magic |
| Inkheart | Cornelia Funke | 10-14 | kids who love books |
| Septimus Heap: Magyk | Angie Sage | 9-13 | kids who like wizards |
| The Bartimaeus Trilogy: The Amulet of Samarkand | Jonathan Stroud | 11-15 | kids who like witty narrators |
| Lockwood & Co.: The Screaming Staircase | Jonathan Stroud | 11-15 | kids who like ghosts |
1. Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer
Artemis teams up with the fairies to rescue his father from the Russian mafia.
Best for: kids who want more Artemis.
2. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Gifted kids go undercover at a sinister institute.
Best for: kids who like puzzles.
3. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
A boy discovers he is a demigod.
Best for: kids who like mythology and humor.
4. Alex Rider: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
A teenage boy is recruited by MI6 after his uncle's death.
Best for: kids who like spies.
5. H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education by Mark Walden
Otto is taken to a secret school for villains.
Best for: kids who like villains.
6. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Siblings discover a preserve for magical creatures.
Best for: kids who like hidden creatures.
7. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Three siblings discover a field guide to fairies.
Best for: younger readers.
8. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Sophie discovers she is an elf.
Best for: kids who like elves.
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
A boy goes to wizard school.
Best for: kids who like magic.
10. The Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
A boy is apprenticed to a mysterious ranger.
Best for: kids who like adventure.
11. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
A girl teams up with a skeleton detective.
Best for: kids who like humor and magic.
12. Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
A girl's father can bring book characters to life.
Best for: kids who love books.
13. Septimus Heap: Magyk by Angie Sage
A baby is switched at birth and grows up in a world of magic.
Best for: kids who like wizards.
14. The Bartimaeus Trilogy: The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
A young magician summons a sarcastic djinni.
Best for: kids who like witty narrators.
15. Lockwood & Co.: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
Teens run a ghost-hunting agency in London.
Best for: kids who like ghosts.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Artemis Fowl: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Artemis, keep reading The Arctic Incident and the rest of the series. For spies, try Alex Rider. If you like anti-heroes and villains, choose H.I.V.E. or The Amulet of Samarkand. For witty fantasy, pick Skulduggery Pleasant or Lockwood & Co. Younger readers can start with Spiderwick. Kids who love long series will find Ranger's Apprentice, Septimus Heap and Fablehaven keep them busy for months, since each has many books.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Artemis Fowl for?
It is usually recommended for ages 10 to 14.
How many Artemis Fowl books are there?
There are eight books in the main series.
Is Artemis Fowl a villain?
He starts as an anti-hero and criminal mastermind, but he grows across the series.
Is the Artemis Fowl movie like the book?
The 2020 Disney film changed many details, and most fans prefer the books.
Is Artemis Fowl good for reluctant readers?
Yes. It is fast, funny and full of gadgets and action.