Classics Corner: Harry Potter, Part 2

5 recommendations that hit the spot like the Harry Potter series

I’m so wowed by the great discussion in the comments of Part 1 of the Classics Corner: Harry Potter article. It opened up my eyes to other points I hadn’t even considered. Again, I’m so grateful to Rey Katz (they/them) of the wonderful Amplify Respect newsletter for stopping by and providing their thoughts on how to navigate what can feel like a murky situation: how do you treasure a beloved book from childhood and also recognize that its author is transphobic?

Following up on that are some recommendations from Rey and me as alternatives or additions to the Harry Potter series that your kids might find interesting. The books are suitable for readers from elementary-aged to teens. Let us know what you think and please drop some other recommendations in the comments!

Alternatives / Additions to Harry Potter

Here are some books that Rey and I recommend for kids who enjoy Harry Potter:

The Castle in the Attic series

Written by Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop

Recommended Ages: 6+ years old

Sri: This is one of my favorite medieval fantasy children’s books. William, a young boy playing with—you guessed it—a castle in the attic, finds himself miniaturized and transported to the castle’s medieval world. William and his new friend, Sir Simon, embark on a quest to save the kingdom and undo a mistake William has made. You can read this as a standalone book but if you like what you read (and I think you will), you can continue William’s story in the sequel, Battle for the Castle*.

Find it at your library | Buy now

The World of Howl series

Written by Diana Wynne Jones

Recommended Ages: 8+ years old

Before it was a movie, it was a book!

Rey: I really loved Diana Wynne Jones’ YA novels growing up and continue to recommend them now. My favorite is Howl's Moving Castle.

Sri: Not only is this series excellent but so is Jones’ Chronicles of Chrestomanci* series (which may remind you of the Ministry of Magic)! Many argue that Jones paved the path for J.K. Rowling’s work to shine.

Find it at your library | Buy now*

Percy Jackson & the Olympians series

Written by Rick Riordan

Recommended Ages: 11+ years old

Sri: Almost as famous as Harry Potter, the Percy Jackson series is one of the best-selling kids’ series of all time. Twelve-year-old Perseus “Percy” Jackson is a demigod who embarks on quests in each book. The series brings Greek mythology to life and masterfully blends it with the present-day world.

Find it at your library | Buy now*

The Song of the Lioness series

Written by Tamora Pierce

Recommended Ages: 11+ years old

Rey: This series is about Alanna, a girl who lived as a boy for years to become a knight, spoke to me in ways I didn't yet understand as a child. It's not really a trans book: Alanna is persistently a girl or woman, and also, don't try to bind your breasts with cotton cloth and then go to combat training. You'll crack a rib, no joke. But Pierce’s novels were one of the only times I saw a hint of what I saw as transmasculine representation.

Sri: This is one of my favorite fantasy series. I still have the editions I bought as a pre-teen!

Find it at your library | Buy now*

Cemetery Boys

Written by Aiden Thomas

Recommended Ages: Teen

Rey: A trans Latinx boy, Yadriel, works to prove his gender to his family through magic by summoning a ghost from school. Now, Yadriel is having a tough time getting rid of the ghost and teams up with him to resolve a mystery with a little bit of magic.

Find it at your library | Buy now*

Don’t sleep on fan fiction.

I know fan fiction has this reputation of being poorly written rubbish produced by obsessed teens but give these teens (and—you’d be surprised—adults) a chance! You’d be surprised at just how incredibly well-written fan fiction is and it’s a great way to keep the world of Harry Potter alive without supporting J.K. Rowling. In fact, it could even be perceived as a snub.

If you’re reading this for yourself, have at it! If you’re recommending to kids, I highly suggest you look at the tags and the ratings before sharing with them to determine the suitability for your kid. In general, I’d err on the side of saying that these are probably better suited for teens and young adults.

Here are the ones I’d recommend that would be good places to start (some I’ve read and some are on my TBR list):

• Harry Potter and Seven Years of Chaos series—I’d recommend this for teens as it’s unhinged and fairly liberal with the darkness, trauma, and violence but it’s an epic 1.46 million word rewrite of the original series.

• Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality—This one has its own website (most fanfics are usually on Archive of Our Own) and its own Wiki page! This makes sense because it’s one of the most notable and popular fan fiction of all time. This is at the top of my fan fiction TBR list.

• The Disappearances of Draco Malfoy—This is the redemption arc Draco Malfoy never got. This is a rewrite of Deathly Hallows where Draco joins Harry, Ron, and Hermione on their hunt for horcruxes. Not an eager participant, Draco finds his bigotry challenged as he spends more time with the trio. Eventually, a romance develops between Draco and Hermione but I’d say it’s very much akin to the type of romance featured in the original books. The writing style is impressively similar to J.K. Rowling’s and the characters are pretty accurate too.

Let’s Talk…

• What other books would you recommend for fans of Harry Potter?

• Aside from Harry Potter, what fantasy books have left an impression on you?

*Thank you for using (at no additional cost to you) the affiliate links in this post! :-)