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Quick answer: If your 10-year-old loves Harry Potter, try Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Nevermoor, Amari and the Night Brothers, The Wizards of Once, Fablehaven and Keeper of the Lost Cities. They share magic schools, hidden worlds and brave young heroes.
Ten is a great age to read the first Potter books, and many kids finish the series quickly and ask what is next. The best follow-ups match the length and the magic, with friendship, secrets and a clear fight between good and evil. These 15 books suit ages 8 to 12 and give a smooth path from Hogwarts to other worlds.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | the top pick |
| Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow | Jessica Townsend | 9-13 | readers who like magic school stories |
| Amari and the Night Brothers | B.B. Alston | 9-13 | readers who like secret worlds |
| The Wizards of Once | Cressida Cowell | 8-12 | readers who like humor |
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 9-13 | readers who like creatures |
| Keeper of the Lost Cities | Shannon Messenger | 9-13 | readers who want many books |
| The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide | Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi | 7-11 | younger readers |
| Midnight for Charlie Bone | Jenny Nimmo | 8-12 | readers who like school stories |
| Septimus Heap: Magyk | Angie Sage | 8-12 | readers who like long series |
| The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | C.S. Lewis | 7-12 | readers who want a classic |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | 10-14 | readers who like clever heroes |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | readers who like puzzles |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | 9-13 | science-fantasy fans |
| A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning | Lemony Snicket | 8-12 | readers who like dry humor |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | younger readers |
1. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is a demigod and heads to Camp Half-Blood. Funny, fast and full of Greek myth.
Best for: the top pick.
2. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan escapes a curse and joins the Wundrous Society in the city of Nevermoor. Fun and quick.
Best for: readers who like magic school stories.
3. Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Amari discovers a Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and trains to find her missing brother. Fast and fresh.
Best for: readers who like secret worlds.
4. The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
Wish and Xar, a witch girl and a wizard boy, face a world where magic is fading. Funny, illustrated and fast.
Best for: readers who like humor.
5. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Kendra and Seth discover their grandparents' estate is a sanctuary for magical creatures. Many creatures and secrets.
Best for: readers who like creatures.
6. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Sophie learns she is an elf with telepathic powers. A big series with a secret in every book.
Best for: readers who want many books.
7. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
Three kids find a field guide to faeries in their attic. Short and richly illustrated.
Best for: younger readers.
8. Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
Charlie discovers he can hear people in photographs and joins a strange school. Gothic and fun.
Best for: readers who like school stories.
9. Septimus Heap: Magyk by Angie Sage
A baby is found on a doorstep and grows up to discover wizards and a danger. Charming and long.
Best for: readers who like long series.
10. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Four siblings find a wardrobe that leads to Narnia. A short classic.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
11. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A twelve-year-old criminal genius kidnaps a fairy. Clever and high-tech.
Best for: readers who like clever heroes.
12. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids go on a secret mission. Puzzles and teamwork.
Best for: readers who like puzzles.
13. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Meg Murry travels through space to rescue her father. Imaginative and classic.
Best for: science-fantasy fans.
14. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
The Baudelaire orphans face Count Olaf. Dark, funny and clever.
Best for: readers who like dry humor.
15. Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda, a girl with telekinetic powers, outsmarts cruel adults. A short, funny classic.
Best for: younger readers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Harry Potter: 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
If your child is new to fantasy, start with Percy Jackson, Nevermoor or The Wizards of Once. For younger readers, read The Spiderwick Chronicles, Matilda or Narnia. For long series, try Keeper of the Lost Cities, Fablehaven or Septimus Heap. Most are suitable for ages 8 to 12, but check Artemis Fowl and A Series of Unfortunate Events for tone.
Related: All 7 Harry Potter Books Ranked in Chronological Order · 10 Top Ten Books for 10 Year Olds That Spark Adventure
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harry Potter okay for a 10-year-old?
The first three books are generally fine for ages 8 to 10. The later books are darker.
What should we read while waiting to start the later Potter books?
Try Percy Jackson or Nevermoor for a similar sense of adventure.
Are there audiobooks?
Yes. Most of these series have well-regarded audiobooks.
Is Percy Jackson too scary for 10?
It has monsters and fights but is generally suitable for ages 9 and up.