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Quick answer: If your child loves Harry Potter, try Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Fablehaven, Nevermoor and The School for Good and Evil. All are magical adventures about young heroes in hidden worlds, perfect for ages eight to twelve.
Children who finish Harry Potter often want more stories about magic schools, hidden worlds and brave friends. The books below offer exactly that, with humour, mystery and adventures that suit readers aged eight to twelve, and some that stretch to young teens.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | Ages 9-14 | quest adventure |
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | Ages 9-14 | magical preserve |
| Nevermoor | Jessica Townsend | Ages 9-14 | whimsical wonder |
| The School for Good and Evil | Soman Chainani | Ages 10-15 | fairy-tale twists |
| Keeper of the Lost Cities | Shannon Messenger | Ages 9-14 | hidden elf world |
| Magyk | Angie Sage | Ages 8-12 | wizards and castles |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | Ages 10-14 | fairy heists |
| The Wizards of Once | Cressida Cowell | Ages 8-12 | wild fantasy |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | Ages 9-13 | space-time adventure |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | Ages 9-13 | puzzles and teamwork |
| Skulduggery Pleasant | Derek Landy | Ages 11-16 | funny and dark |
| Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy | Tui T. Sutherland | Ages 8-13 | dragon war |
| The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide | Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black | Ages 8-12 | hidden creatures |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 10+ | witty magic |
| Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy | Jenny Nimmo | Ages 8-12 | magic school |
1. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is the son of a god. Funny and fast.
Best for: quest adventure.
2. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Two siblings discover their grandparents' estate is a refuge for magical creatures. Inventive.
Best for: magical preserve.
3. Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow escapes a curse and joins a secret society. Charming and imaginative.
Best for: whimsical wonder.
4. The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Two friends are taken to a school that trains heroes and villains. Dark and clever.
Best for: fairy-tale twists.
5. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
A girl learns she is not entirely human. Mysterious and long-running.
Best for: hidden elf world.
6. Magyk by Angie Sage
The seventh son of a seventh son and a missing princess drive this tale of wizards. Whimsical.
Best for: wizards and castles.
7. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A boy genius kidnaps a fairy. Clever and high-tech.
Best for: fairy heists.
8. The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell
A young wizard and a warrior girl meet in an ancient forest. Funny and illustrated.
Best for: wild fantasy.
9. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Meg searches for her missing father across the universe. A classic.
Best for: space-time adventure.
10. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted children are recruited for a secret mission. Smart and warm.
Best for: puzzles and teamwork.
11. Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
A teenage girl teams with a wisecracking skeleton detective. Sharp humour and action.
Best for: funny and dark.
12. Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
Five young dragons are raised to end a war. Action-packed.
Best for: dragon war.
13. The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Three children find a field guide to faeries. Short and spooky.
Best for: hidden creatures.
14. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
A young woman cursed to old age meets the wizard Howl. Funny and original.
Best for: witty magic.
15. Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy by Jenny Nimmo
A boy with a secret gift attends a strange school. Gothic and gentle.
Best for: magic school.
How to Choose
For quest adventure choose Percy Jackson or Wings of Fire. For hidden worlds pick Fablehaven, Nevermoor or Keeper of the Lost Cities. For funny, quick fantasy read The Wizards of Once or Skulduggery Pleasant. For classic fantasy try A Wrinkle in Time or Howl's Moving Castle. Many of these are long series, so check libraries for the whole run. If your child has finished Harry Potter, a good next step is to ask what they loved most: the school, the friendships or the mystery. Then pick a book that matches. Audiobooks are a good bridge for children who like to listen. Most of these books are part of series, so children can keep reading for months. Libraries often keep the first books at the front, so ask a librarian for the right order. If your child loves audiobooks, try several in the car to see which story clicks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Harry Potter for?
Usually ages 8 and up, with the later books darker.
What should we read after Harry Potter?
Percy Jackson, Nevermoor and Fablehaven are common choices.
Are these books as long as Harry Potter?
Some are, such as Keeper of the Lost Cities.
Which is the scariest?
The Spiderwick Chronicles and Skulduggery Pleasant have spooky moments.
Which is funniest?
The Wizards of Once and Percy Jackson.
Are they good for reluctant readers?
Several, such as Percy Jackson, are fast and funny.
Do I need to read in order?
For series, yes.
What should we read next?
Try Percy Jackson or Nevermoor.
Is Percy Jackson like Harry Potter?
Both feature young heroes in hidden magical worlds, but Percy Jackson draws on Greek myth.
Is Nevermoor too scary?
It has dark moments but is gentle overall.