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

Swallows and Amazons, Arthur Ransome.

1. Great wholesome outdoor adventures.
2. Good lessons on risk management & may encourage an appetite for Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
3. Starts the conversation on gender stereotyping.
4. Fine examples of child empowerment, eg Nancy telling of a police officer; a golden scene, Titty's problem solving skills.
5. Perfect excuse for pilgrimages Norfolk & Lake District.
6. It's a set of twelve books, so should keep her busy for a while!

I can relate to being bereft at the end of Harry Potter series :-)
Have a look at
Jonathan Stroud - The Lockwood Series and The Bartimaeus Trilogy
and like mrsmortis would also recommend Garth Nix' Mister Monday series

The Belgariad by David Eddings, 5 books in the series it starts with Pawn of Prophecy
Highly recommended

I started reading HP to my two......then I bought the audio tapes for the rest. They were obsessed. I'd send them up to tidy their room and 3 hours later they'd still be up there laying on their beds completely caught up in it. I think they listened to at least the first 4 twice.
It was hard to get them to listen to other audio books. They did actual reading of other books but none compared to Harry Potter.

Earthsea is brilliant. Quite sophisticated, though, and will not be for every eight-year-old. The plot of the first one, Wizard of Earthsea, is quite similar to HP: boy goes to magic school, etc. However, Ged, the central character, is not as immediately engaging as Harry. You have to get to know him. A recent fantasy writer worth looking out for is Sam Gayton, especially Hercufleas, which has a strong eco theme without being preachy. Spot on for eight to tens.

My dd wasn't overly struck on Percy Jackson but she loved the Magnus Chase books, although there's only two so far with the third out later this year. Can't remember if they're by the same author.

She loves Terry Pratchett. The Tiffany Aching series is excellent, as are the Carpet People and the Johnny books.

Anything by Horrible Histories at the moment too.

We took a break between TOotP and the last two at that age.
Lloyd Alexander's Taran trilogy was appreciated. Welsh legends and magic. A good lead into The Hobbit.

Older kids (11+) lamenting the loss of Harry Potter Should read Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson. An excellent introduction to Quantum theory.

I remember loving the Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin. Excellent books!

I would read the Hunger Games yourself before she does, just to see what you think- IMO the books are much more harrowing than the films with descriptions of torture as well the actual games.
The films were nowhere near as graphic.
Skulduggery Pleasant is a great series.

Diana Wynne Jones, obviously, as others have suggested. Go for Charmed Life first, as it is about an 11year old who discovers he has magical powers, like HP. Its prequel, The Lives of Christopher Chant, is also excellent, as is Witch Week. They have the advantage of being very funny, unlike a lot of fantasy. Dark is Rising ( Susan Cooper) is brilliant. Try also the Goblins series by Philip Reeve. Skulduggery Pleasant could be a bit scary for an 8 year old. Please not Hunger Games until she is a bit older.

I was about her age whilst waiting for the 4th book to be released and I read The Wind Singer series by William Nicholson, Garth Nix, Artemis Fowl, The Edge Chronicles and Darren Shan (definitely not at 8 though!!) I attempted Lord of the Rings after reading The Hobbit but postponed them until secondary school.

She should definitely re-read HP too though, I think I'm on about my 10th go now. I miss how magical they were on my first reading

On a side note I really wish they'd make a Netflix series of The Edge Chronicles!

Argh *found obviously not ground.
Also do not recommend mistborn or stormlight books for an 8 year old.
Check out Victoria Schwab. I haven't read any of her YA books but her adults books are excellent (hence my username)

Ok done now

I loved the Tamora Pierce series as a young teen - the Alanna series is the first and my favourite about a girl who secretly switches places with her twin brother so she can go train to be a knight. There's magic as the series progresses too and the books are not too adult.

We had exactly the same problem after Harry Potter. DS1 basically read them on repeat until he was in Year 7, then read the Hunger Games series.

DS2 (aged 10) is currently completely absorbed in the Edge Chronicles series. I've not read them myself, but he is reading and rereading them.

We did read some classic stuff in between - Five Children and It, CS Lewis etc.

Agree with Skulduggery Pleasant, series of unfortunate events, any Roald Dahl if she hasn't read already, Chris Riddell

Try the measle series of books by Ian ogilvy
Some of Neil Gaiman's kids books may be a bit much for her at 8 (i ground the graveyard book tense as an adult!)

The name of the wind is 100% NOT a kids book - do not let her read it unless you want her to go to the sequel and read lots of elf sex.

Phillip Pullman, his Darkest Material

Pure Dead Magic by Debi Gliori
Green Knowe series by Lucy M Boston

Abi Elphibstone seems to be popular right now with kids suffering from Potter withdrawal.

Alan Garner may also appeal, something like The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.

Try the Last Dragonslayer books by Jasper Fforde (The Last Dragonslayer, Song Of the Quarkbeast and the Eye of Zoltar). They're entertaining/fantasy/dragony.

Or his Thursday Next books (starting with The Eyre Affair).

At 9 I started with Dick Francis, on a family holiday when there was nothing else to read. The one I read then (Nerve) is still one of my favourite books!

My DD is 8 too. She loves HP and is adamant that she's a Ravenclaw. She's currently loving the 'My Story' books. The one about Lady Jane Grey seems to be her favourite. She's also really enjoying the Horrible Histories books.

If you want things along the same lines as Harry Potter then I'd suggest:

The Garth Nix Mr Monday books. They are lighter than the Old Kingdom ones.
Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic books (Not the Lioness ones they are definitely more teen novels)
The Dark is Rising (I was 9 when I first read these and have always loved them)
A Wrinkle in time (there's a film in the planning and I don't know if I should be excited or terrified)

There are also some classic scifi novels aimed at younger readers that she might like. I loved Islands in the Sky by Arthur C Clarke when I was her age. I also loved Asimov's Lucky Starr books. I don't know if they are in print but the may be worth searching out.

DS is 8 and about to finish HP too - some great ideas on here!

DS1 was in the same position last year. These have been enjoyed before and since:

How to Train your Dragon
Series of Unfortunate Events (will read over and over again)
The Dark is Rising (first 3)
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Nobody's Horse
Roman Mysteries
Goth Girl
Archie Greene and the Alchemist's Curse
The Phantom Tollbooth

Gallavich we started reading DS2 The Twig Saga of The Edge Chronicles when he was 5 (at his request) and are now awaiting publication of the 3rd of the Cade saga!