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Quick answer: If your 12-year-old loves Percy Jackson, try The Lost Hero, The Red Pyramid, Aru Shah and the End of Time, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Race to the Sun and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. All mix myth, humor and a hero who is just like them.
Twelve is a great age for mythology adventures. Kids are ready for longer series, bigger worlds and jokes with some bite, and they are often hungry for a new series after finishing Rick Riordan's books. The 15 below include Riordan's own spin-offs, books from his Rick Riordan Presents imprint and other fantasy that moves at the same pace.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lost Hero | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | fans who finished Percy |
| The Red Pyramid | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | readers who want Egyptian myth |
| The Sword of Summer | Rick Riordan | 10-14 | Norse mythology fans |
| Aru Shah and the End of Time | Roshani Chokshi | 9-13 | fans of mythology from India |
| Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky | Kwame Mbalia | 9-13 | readers who like folklore |
| The Storm Runner | J.C. Cervantes | 9-13 | fans of Latin American myth |
| Race to the Sun | Rebecca Roanhorse | 9-13 | readers who like a fast quest |
| Dragon Pearl | Yoon Ha Lee | 9-13 | science-fiction fans |
| Sal and Gabi Break the Universe | Carlos Hernandez | 9-13 | readers who like humor and heart |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J.K. Rowling | 8-13 | a magical classic |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | 10-14 | readers who like clever heroes |
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 9-13 | fantasy readers |
| Keeper of the Lost Cities | Shannon Messenger | 9-13 | readers who want a big series |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | readers who like puzzles |
| Gregor the Overlander | Suzanne Collins | 9-13 | readers who like adventure |
1. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Jason wakes up on a bus with no memory, starting a new series, The Heroes of Olympus, that brings Greek and Roman gods together. The natural next step.
Best for: fans who finished Percy.
2. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Carter and Sadie Kane release the Egyptian god Set and must find a way to stop him. Alternating narrators make it lively.
Best for: readers who want Egyptian myth.
3. The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Magnus Chase dies and wakes in Valhalla, the hall of Norse heroes. Funny and full of Norse lore.
Best for: Norse mythology fans.
4. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Aru lights a cursed lamp and learns she is a reincarnated Pandava from Hindu epics. Clever, quick and fun.
Best for: fans of mythology from India.
5. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
Tristan, grieving his best friend, punches a hole into a world of African American folktales, meeting John Henry and Anansi. Moving and funny.
Best for: readers who like folklore.
6. The Storm Runner by J.C. Cervantes
Zane Obispo, a boy with a limp, learns he is the son of a Maya god. Action and Maya mythology.
Best for: fans of Latin American myth.
7. Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
Nizhoni Begay can spot monsters, and her father is kidnapped by a villain from Diné stories. Written by a Navajo author.
Best for: readers who like a fast quest.
8. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
Min, a fox spirit, goes to space to find her missing brother. Korean myth meets science fiction.
Best for: science-fiction fans.
9. Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
Sal can pull objects from other universes, and a mistake brings his dead mother back. Funny, tender and Cuban American.
Best for: readers who like humor and heart.
10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry learns he is a wizard on his eleventh birthday and heads to Hogwarts. If your child has not read it, now is the time.
Best for: a magical classic.
11. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Twelve-year-old criminal genius Artemis Fowl kidnaps a fairy to steal its gold. Clever and high-tech.
Best for: readers who like clever heroes.
12. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Kendra and Seth discover their grandparents' estate is a sanctuary for magical creatures. Well-paced with many creatures.
Best for: fantasy readers.
13. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Sophie, a girl with a perfect memory and telepathy, learns she is an elf. Long, with a lot of secrets.
Best for: readers who want a big series.
14. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids take on a secret mission to stop a plot to control minds. Puzzles and clever teamwork.
Best for: readers who like puzzles.
15. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Gregor falls into the Underland beneath New York and finds giant rats and bats. The author of The Hunger Games writes a classic adventure.
Best for: readers who like adventure.
How to Choose
If your child has not read all of Riordan's work yet, go to The Lost Hero, The Red Pyramid or The Sword of Summer. For new mythologies, pick Aru Shah, Tristan Strong, The Storm Runner or Race to the Sun. For classic fantasy, try Harry Potter, Fablehaven or Artemis Fowl. Most are suitable for ages 10 and up, and the mythology series often have intense action, so preview them for sensitive readers.
Related: 15 Books Like Percy Jackson You’ll Love: Myths, Monsters and Adventure · What Age Is Percy Jackson Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Riordan's series need to be read in order?
Read Percy Jackson before Heroes of Olympus, but the Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase stand on their own.
What is Rick Riordan Presents?
It is an imprint where Riordan publishes authors who write myths from their own cultures, such as Aru Shah and Race to the Sun.
Is this too young for a 12-year-old?
Not at all. These books are usually listed for ages 9 to 14, and mature readers enjoy them.