Fantasy Books for Harry Potter Fans

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff

Recommendations from the Association for Library Service to Children

Are you waiting for the new Harry Potter book? Do you want something else to read in the meantime? The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)—a division of the American Library Association (ALA)—has some suggestions. Children's librarians from around the country selected books in two categories: books that are as easy to read as the Potter books and have similar story elements, tone, and flavor; and books that are similar in theme but may be more complex.

Harry-a-Like Books:

These books may have similar story elements to Harry Potter but more importantly replicate the accessibility, tone and flavor.

AuthorTitleSeries Name
Alexander, LloydThe Book of ThreeThe Chronicles of Prydain
Baum, L. FrankThe Wizard of OzThe Oz Series
Billingsly, FrannyThe Folk Keeper 
Black, HollyThe Field GuideThe Spiderwick Chronicles
Bode, N.E.The Anybodies 
Colfer, EoinArtemis Fowl 
Cooper, SusanThe Dark is RisingDark is Rising Sequence
Duane, DianeSo You Want to Be a WizardYoung Wizard Series
Funke, CorneliaInkheart 
Griffin, AdeleThe Witch Twins 
Haptie, CharlotteOtto and the Flying Twins: The First Book of the Karmidee 
Ibbotson, EvaThe Secret of Platform 13 
Jones, Diana WynneWitch WeekChrestomanci Books
Nimmo, JennyCharlie Bone 
Nix, GarthMister MondayKeys to the Kingdom
Sage, AngieSeptimus Heap, Book One: Magyk 
Skye, ObertLeven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo 
Snicket, LemonyThe Bad BeginningA Series of Unfortunate Events
Stroud, JonathanThe Amulet of SamarkandThe Bartimaeus Trilogy
Wrede, PatriciaDealing with DragonsThe Enchanted Forest Chronicles
Yolen, JaneWizard's Hall 
Source: American Library Association, June 21, 2005.

If You Like Harry Books

Books that may be similar in theme to Harry Potter but are more complex or are great fantasy fiction.

AuthorTitleSeries Name
AviMidnight Magic 
Barron, T.A.The Lost Years of MerlinLost Years of Merlin
Bass, L.G.Sign of the QinOutlaws of Moonshadow Marsh
Bell, HilariThe Wizard Test 
Collins, SuzanneGregor the OverlanderUnderland Chronicles
Constable, KateSinger of All Songs 
Doyle, Debra, and James D. MacdonaldSchool of WizardryCircle of Magic
Eager, EdwardHalf Magic 
Ende, MichaelThe Neverending Story 
Farmer, NancySea of Trolls 
Fisher, CatherineThe Oracle BetrayedOracle Prophecies
Flanagan, JohnRanger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan 
Furlong, MonicaWise Child 
Jones, Diana WynneYear of the Griffin 
LeGuin, UrsulaA Wizard of EarthseaEarthsea Cycle
L'Engle, MadelineA Wrinkle in TimeTime Quartet
Levine, Gail CarsonElla Enchanted 
Lewis, C.S.The Magician's Nephew / The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeThe Chronicles of Narnia
Mahy, MargaretThe Changeover: A Supernatural Romance 
McCaffrey, AnneDragonsingerHarper Hall Trilogy
McKinley, RobinThe Hero and the Crown 
Nesbit, E.Five Children and It 
Nix, GarthSabrielAbhorsen Trilogy
Nodelman, PerryThe Same Place but Different 
Oppel, KennethAirborn 
Oppel, KennethSilverwing 
Paolini, ChristopherEragon 
Pierce, TamoraSandry's BookCircle of Magic
Pratchett, TerryThe Wee Free Men 
Pullman, PhilipThe Golden CompassHis Dark Materials
Tolkein, J.R.R.The Hobbit 
Zambreno, Mary FrancesA Plague of Sorcerers 
Source: American Library Association, June 21, 2005.
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