J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series took the world by storm. Kimball and I actually went to one of the midnight releases and stood in a long line full of people dressed up like Gryffindors as we excitedly awaited the official release time. I stood looking around myself in amazement and delight...this was all for a book!!!
It felt incredible to me that other people were finally getting as excited about books as I always had been. (Yes, I was the kid who would take my book out on the playground at recess because Nancy Drew was in another scrape and I just had to see how she would get out of it.)
After talking to a few friends whose kids don't know what to do with themselves once they finish reading Harry Potter, I decided to make a list of my other favorite series written for that same audience which, it turns out, is everyone.
1. The Underland Chronicles (5 books) by Suzanne Collins
2. Fablehaven (5 books) by Brandon Mull
3. The Tapestry (4 books so far) by Henry H. Neff
4. Artemis Fowl (8 books) by Eoin Colfer
5. The Chronicles of Prydain (5 books) by Lloyd Alexander
6. Falcon Quinn (2 books so far) by Jennifer Finney Boylan
7. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (5 books) by Rick Riordan
8. The Candy Shop War (2 books) by Brandon Mull
9. Charlie Bone (7books) by Jenny Nimmo**
10.Deltora Quest (8 books) by Emily Rodda**
**These two series are enjoyable for everyone, but they target an even younger audience than those ready to read Harry Potter, so if you have kids that aren't quite ready to read Harry Potter, I'd start with Deltora Quest and then go to Charlie Bone.
