DD (8) is about to finish the Harry Potter series and be bereft- what next?

[BoogleMcGroogle]

The bug bit her in February, having been a keen but not avid reader before then. Now she's about to finish the seventh and I think she'll be bereft. She says she'll just start reading them all again (although has conceded to giving War Horse a try), which is frankly lame. What can we suggest to her next? She's eyeing up my Skellig, but as I only read it last month, I'd like to think it is a bit too sophisticated for her (?!)

[Sleeperandthespindle]

I haven't let my almost 8 year old DD read past The Goblet of Fire. She is loving some of the Terry Pratchett books, liked Charlie Bone and we are thinking of Northern Lights (but not the rest of the trilogy for now).

[babyhamish]

Either his dark materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman or eragon series. Either quite similar age range to last few harry potter books and both equally amazing!

[Sleeperandthespindle]

I love Skellig. Probably my favourite children's book ever, but I don't think I've read it below Year 5 (was a primary teacher).
The Hobbit?

[ScarlettDarling]

Ah I know what you mean, my 10 year old finished the HP books last month and was utterly bereft. She sobbed 'I can't believe it's all over' and was really reluctant to give anything else a try.

She doesn't like Michael Morpurgo at all, (I'm not keen either,) so War Horse wouldn't work for her. She has read and loved the Philip Pullman Dark materials trilogy (maybe a bit too old for an 8 year old?)and is currently enjoying (but not loving,) the Percy Jackson books.

Ive just ordered "The cursed child" for her. I've read it and have warned her it may take a little while to get into it but I know she'll enjoy it.

[BoogleMcGroogle]

Thanks for the suggestions. I didn't think she should read the whole series, as they do get quite dark. But then my mum reminded me of the sorts of things I used to get out of the library at that age, and it made HP seem quite tame. Terry Pratchett is a great idea- any particular books your daughter has enjoyed? I will also look up Eragon, I've not heard of that one.

I think that His Dark Materials is amazing, they are amongst my favourite books, but I do wonder if they are too much for her. I found them quite deeply affecting when I read them (although that might have been more to do with my own mid-twenties inner turmoil at the time).

Skellig's brilliant. I'm sort of saving it to read with her too, as I know she'll love it and I want to share that with her. My Dad read to me until I was into my teens, I remember that so fondly now (Madame Bovary was my favourite ;)

[yomellamoHelly]

I was going to say the Philip Pullman books too. Lemony Snicket books are a good read (feed into each other). David Walliams if it doesn't matter about that. Terry Pratchett books (the ones for kids) are funny too.

[BoogleMcGroogle]

Oooh, Percy Jackson. She told me that some of the girls at after-school club are into that, so I might have a way in there. Thanks for that!

[ImYourMama]

Hunger games books

Lemony snickers a series of unfortunate events

Jacqueline Wilson

Lord of the rings & the hobbit

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Gosh! Only 8 and she's read all the Harry Potters in 3 months!

[DitchCamille]

My dd1 enjoyed the wrinkle in time series and dealing with dragons series.

[BramblyHedge]

I second Percy Jackson. My son likes to run through a whole series and there are quite a few Percy Jackson books to keep them going.

[Etymology23]

I know a few people who enjoyed H.I.V.E (fantasy/young genius criminals) at that age, and cherub (spy) might be good once she's a bit older. Also loved Alex rider, and young bond but bond might be a bit old for your dd. The mysterious benedict society was also super, and I used to love the books by Diana wynne jones which are more actively fantasy (eg witches and wizards) than the others, especially the Chrestomancy series.

[Etymology23]

Yy to Percy Jackson as well! Fantastic series!

[Sleeperandthespindle]

I love Lemony Snickett too. I was teaching a wonderful year 3/4 class years ago when lots of these books first came out, and habe great memories of some fabulous kids who loved them, long before children of my own.

Terry Pratchett recommendations: The Amazing Maurice and the Tiffany Aching series are what we've read so far. We still read to her - then she likes to read the same book to herself afterwards.

She is also fully immersed in the world of Enid Blyton...

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

I think you should let her read them all again if she wants! There's something to be gained from getting to know a work really well, as well as from wide reading.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

I think you should let her read them all again if she wants! There's something to be gained from getting to know a work really well, as well as from wide reading.

[BoogleMcGroogle]

bibbity - she has indeed. But to be fair she has done very little else. And the glow of the kindle under the duvet suggests she's been clocking up the hours at night

[Somerville]

I agree OP - HDM too dark for most 8YO.

Some more series that got my DC out of the post-Potter slump were the Oksa Pollock series. Rose series by holly Webb. The School of Good and Evil series. A Wrinkle in Time and sequels.

And yes to Percy Jackson, though more aged 10+ than 8 (read the first one yourself to see what you think - PJ's mum is the victim of domestic abuse that my DC would have found upsetting at 8.) Also the superb Artemis Fowl series at about 10+.

[skincarejunkie]

I'm dreading this. We're almost at this point. I was bereft too and I was 27!!!

[KERALA1]

Hobbit

School of good and evil

Diana Wynne jones witch week chrestomanci series

[Somerville]

Also, take her to your nearest library and set her free in the 8-12 section. She's clearly a great reader, and post-Potter there has been so much fantastic children's fiction published. I read a lot, but even so I struggle to keep up with what's come out lately. My kids stagger home under piles of library books every week and discover new stuff constantly.

[Daffydil]

Definitely Dianna Wynne Jones

And how about the Dark is Rising? Or some Alan Garner?

[Loopsdefruits]

Gosh! I'm glad she's got so into reading, but realistically the HP books were written for people who were 7 (or older) at the release of PS, and then by the time the last book came out most of us were at least 16 :/ and they do get darker in an age-appropriate for teens/adults way.

But, if she coped well with those then a couple of the Robin Jarvis trilogies are excellent (Whitby Witches, Thorn Ogres of Hagwood, Wyrd Museum).

If she likes 'school stories' then the St Clares or Malory Towers books are fun, as are Famous Five (infinitely better than Secret Seven :P)

101 Dalmatians, by Dodie Smith (NOT a disney companion book)

If it's witches and wizards, then The Worst Witch, maybe even Sabriel although I did find that challenging to read at times.

[Loopsdefruits]

OH GOD of course Dianna Wynne Jones

[BoogleMcGroogle]

Isn't it amazing just how much more ( and better) there is for a keen mid- childhood reader there is out there now? I remember going straight from The Magic Faraway Tree to my mum's Jean Plaidy and Agatha Cristie( and not much later, Jilly Cooper) with not much in between. I'm going to try a few of these suggestions myself now- so pleased I skied. You guys are proper bookworms!