Harry Potter Book List - Chicago Public Library

For Teens

Harry Potter Read-alikes

If you liked the Harry Potter series, you might want to try reading some of these books recommended by Chicago Public Library’s Teen Advisory Council.

Quicklinks: Recommended Books | Other Suggested Titles

Recommended Books

The Underland Chronicles series
By Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by Araceli
Gregor, like Harry Potter, is a boy with a destiny in an unknown world. Instead of discovering a place filled with wizards, Gregor finds himself in a land populated with not only humans, but also massive rodents, cockroaches and arachnids. After falling into Underland, Gregor is called to save the Underlanders from a war against manipulating villains. Did I mention the villains are giant talking rats?

Incarceron
By Catherine Fisher
Reviewed by Victoria
Finn battles to escape the prison Incarceron, much like Harry Potter battles against Lord Voldemort. After finding a key made from crystal, Finn discovers that he can use it to contact a girl named Claudia. He begins to talk to her and learns that she lives in the Outside, a place that a majority of the people in the jail don't believe is a real place. Will Finn escape Incarceron? Will the Outside turn out to be true like Claudia says, or a fake paradise like Finn's fellow prisoners think? Continue the story with Sapphique.
Audiobook | eAudiobook | eBook

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
By Rick Riordan
Reviewed by Jeffrey
Percy is a 12-year-old boy with powers of a god. When he finds out he has to save the world, he will find his true destiny.
Also check out Rick Riordan's Author of the Month page.

Septimus Heap series
By Angie Sage
Reviewed by Maxwell
Young Septimus Heap is the seventh son of a seventh son, and therefore a powerful magician. He must train his abilities, and not lose himself in the lost and dark magyks all around him.

Finnikin of the Rock
By Melina Marchetta
Reviewed by Fengdan
The royal family of Lumatere was murdered and a curse was put on Finnikin's kingdom during the five days of the unspeakable. After his escape, Finnikin roamed the lands that surrounded his kingdom for ten years until he came across Evanjalin, who claims to have the power that could lead him back to his kingdom, but should Finnikin trust her? Continue the story with Froi of the Exiles.
Audiobook