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Quick answer: If you loved Harry Potter as a teen, try Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, A Deadly Education, The Magicians, Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. Each offers hidden worlds, school settings or found families with more mature stakes.
Teens who grew up on Harry Potter want the same pull: a secret world, loyal friends, clear villains and magic with rules. Now they also want sharper plots and characters their own age. The 15 books below range from magical schools to darker high fantasy, so you can find one that matches what your teen loved about Hogwarts.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | teens who want a quick start |
| A Deadly Education | Naomi Novik | 14+ | older teens who like dark twists on school stories |
| Daughter of Smoke & Bone | Laini Taylor | 14+ | readers who like lyrical fantasy |
| The Magicians | Lev Grossman | 16+ | older teens ready for mature fantasy |
| Shadow and Bone | Leigh Bardugo | 13+ | fans of a girl chosen for a destiny |
| Six of Crows | Leigh Bardugo | 14+ | readers who like heists and ensemble casts |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | 15+ | older teens who want a deep story |
| Eragon | Christopher Paolini | 12+ | teens who love dragons |
| The Golden Compass | Philip Pullman | 12+ | readers who want big ideas |
| City of Bones | Cassandra Clare | 13+ | fans of urban fantasy |
| The Hunger Games | Suzanne Collins | 12+ | readers who want intense action |
| Caraval | Stephanie Garber | 13+ | romance and mystery fans |
| An Ember in the Ashes | Sabaa Tahir | 14+ | older teens who like high-stakes fantasy |
| Graceling | Kristin Cashore | 13+ | readers who like independent heroines |
| The Cursed Child | Jack Thorne | 12+ | fans who want more Potter |
1. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Percy learns he is the son of a Greek god and is sent to Camp Half-Blood, then accused of stealing Zeus's lightning bolt. Fast, funny and packed with mythology.
Best for: teens who want a quick start.
2. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
El Lazarus Lake attends the Scholomance, a school where monsters hunt students and no teachers protect them. Sharp narration, strict magic rules and a prickly heroine.
Best for: older teens who like dark twists on school stories.
3. Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Karou, an art student in Prague, runs errands for a monster who collects teeth, and a stranger with burning eyes upends her life. Lush prose, a hidden world and a sweeping romance.
Best for: readers who like lyrical fantasy.
4. The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Quentin Coldwater finds a hidden college of magic in upstate New York, and the story questions what happens after the wonder fades. Darker and more adult than Hogwarts.
Best for: older teens ready for mature fantasy.
5. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Alina Starkov discovers a power that could free her war-torn land from the Fold, a belt of darkness. The Russian-inspired setting and the Grisha magic system give it a fresh feel.
Best for: fans of a girl chosen for a destiny.
6. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Kaz Brekker leads a team of misfits on an impossible heist in the city of Ketterdam. It has a diverse crew, banter, danger and twisty plotting.
Best for: readers who like heists and ensemble casts.
7. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells the story of his life, from orphaned street performer to student at the University, where he studies magic. A long, richly written book for patient readers.
Best for: older teens who want a deep story.
8. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Eragon finds a dragon egg and begins training as a Dragon Rider to challenge the evil king. Classic quest, strong bond between dragon and rider.
Best for: teens who love dragons.
9. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Lyra Belacqua, with her daemon Pantalaimon, searches for kidnapped children in a world where souls take animal form. It has ideas and adventure beyond most school stories.
Best for: readers who want big ideas.
10. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Clary Fray learns she is a Shadowhunter, a warrior who fights demons, and enters hidden New York. It has romance, mystery and many sequels.
Best for: fans of urban fantasy.
11. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place in a televised fight to the death. It is not magic, but its high stakes and quick pace appeal to the same readers.
Best for: readers who want intense action.
12. Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Scarlett and her sister enter a magical performance where the game is real and the stakes are high. Lush, dreamy and full of twists.
Best for: romance and mystery fans.
13. An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Laia, a slave, and Elias, a soldier, face a brutal empire modeled on ancient Rome. Dark and intense, with two points of view.
Best for: older teens who like high-stakes fantasy.
14. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Katsa is born with a Grace that makes her a deadly fighter, and she works for her king until she meets a prince who changes her view. Strong heroine, quiet romance.
Best for: readers who like independent heroines.
15. The Cursed Child by Jack Thorne
This stage play continues the Potter story nineteen years later with Harry's son Albus. Included for fans who want to stay in the same world.
Best for: fans who want more Potter.
How to Choose
Think about what your teen loved most. For school and found friends, pick A Deadly Education or The Magicians. For myth and humor, start with Percy Jackson. For high-stakes quests, try Shadow and Bone, Eragon or Six of Crows. Younger teens can begin with Percy Jackson, Graceling or Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Check the content notes for The Magicians and A Deadly Education, which are darker. Pair a book with its audiobook if your teen likes listening on the commute.
Related: All 7 Harry Potter Books Ranked in Chronological Order · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
What should teens read after Harry Potter?
Many teens move to Percy Jackson, Shadow and Bone or Six of Crows. The right one depends on whether they want humor, romance or darker plots.
Are these books as safe as Harry Potter?
Not all of them. The Magicians and A Deadly Education are more mature, so read the descriptions first if your teen is under 15.
Is there a school like Hogwarts in other books?
Yes. A Deadly Education and The Magicians both have magic schools, while Percy Jackson has Camp Half-Blood.