What to read after harry potter?

[longestlurkerever]

My 8yo dd is an avid reader and loved harry potter. I'd like to encourage her love of books, but i am a bit wary of content that's too old for her. She's just finished northern lights, which i let her read as she was really keen and it didn't feel right to tell her she couldn't, but i wasn't entirely comfortable exposing her to the horror of it, or of the later harry potter books. I am certainly not keen for her to read anything with teenage themes (sex etc). Are there any books that might be a similar level in terms of thought provoking themes but age appropriate?

DD1 also loved the Pure Dead series by Debbie Gliori.

A Pinch of Magic is wonderful. Sorry, can't remember the author but my HP obsessed 9 Yr old loved it. Or the Crestomanci series....

If she's a good reader push her towards the classic rather than into YA books. The language in lots of classics children's novels is way more complex and challenging.

So my favourites. Anything with a map so Narnia (very preachy though but didn't seem to bother DD1), Swallows and Amazons, The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt (I had never read this as a child but DD1 loves it). Also Tom's Midnight Garden, Carrie's War, Little House books (first three every chapter there's a life threatening event, the DC adored it!), When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, Wolves of Willoughby Chase, all the Katherine Rundell books have been very big hits here. Lighter stuff that's popular: Tom Gates, David Walliams, Jaqueline Wilson, Enid Blyton. We like graphic novels as well, The Amulet books are fab.

Eva Ibbotson too - I agree about steering to classics rather than YA, she’s too young emotionally although a lot will go over her head.

Good age for some nice books about Greek myths, Norse myths etc, Beowulf for children, all the fantasy stuff is after all embroidered from myths.

So many books I'd forgotten about - all of @CountFosco suggestions have also been very well received here - Tom's Midnight Garden and Charlotte Sometimes were big hits.

I would also third the thing about the classics - but we are in an 11+ county so building a wide vocabulary and verbal acrobatic ability has been important in this house (without them realising I've been doing it!).

Debi Gliori - Pure Dead Magic
Swallows and Amazons
Michael Morpurgo

Second Cressida Cowell and Lemony Snicket

Archie Greene series

Good age for some nice books about Greek myths, Norse myths etc, Beowulf for children, all the fantasy stuff is after all embroidered from myths.

Good call. My 7yo is obsessed with the Greek Myths at the moment. Had a proud parenting moment in the Pitti Palace in Florence as we looked at the frescos and discussed the story of Hercules.

Gosh, loads of suggestions, thank you so much. I shall take this thread to the library

My HP obsessed DC also loves the Mortal Engines series, Alex Rider books, David Walliams, Artemis Fowl

My ten year old son is loving the Swallows and Amazons books at the moment - though Missy Lee has been sidestepped.

The Morrigan Crow/Wundersmith series.
I’d been hailed as the new Harry Potter.
DD (10 at the time and bereft of HP books) and I were intrigued by the world created in Book 1.
Not so sure about Book 2...
www.amazon.co.uk/Nevermoor-Trials-Morrigan-Jessica-Townsend/dp/1510103821?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

DS1 loved these nosycrow.com/product/witchworld/
Roman Mysteries

The Armourer’s House by Rosemary Sutcliff

Excellent thread, some we've read and some we've not heard of.

I'm adding in pony books for DD as she is already pony mad.

Also Animals of Farthting Wood and the follow on books.

I remember The Fox Cub Bold having a massive impact on me when I was about her age (8).

How old for Watership Down? It's one of my favourite books and we live quite near to where it's set - think look out the window and you can see the downs.

I certainly read the book before I saw the film! I think the story is fine, but the text is quite dense.

Used to love the Silver Brumby series.
Jane Smiley's "Nobody's Horse" also worth a look.