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 (?!)

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 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!

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

Definitely The Wolves of Willoughby Chase books by Joan Aiken. My 8 yo DS is on the third book and they're fab. Brilliant language, exciting stories and all a bit quirky and slightly gothic.

I loved Skellig, I haven't read it in years, think I will get it again, I second suggestions of A series of unfortunate events also I read tonnes of Terry Pratchett, The colour of magic, I shall wear midnight, Witches abroad, The Amazing Maurice and his educated rodents were a few among my favourites, I will be getting them for my dds birthday next year she will be 8. The lord of the rings are very good books, very long too. There are more, et me get back to you once I've had a dig through my old book box, these sorts of threads make me want to read I'm glad my dd has inherited my book worm bug

Oh I forgot to say has she read Fantastic beasts and where to find them?

The Hunger Games is so not suitable for primary school children. The end of the third book is among the most depressing things I've ever read.
There is an upsetting sequence in Tiffany Aching of her dealing with a young pregnant girl beaten by her father and the resultant miscarriage.
On this thread there are some great suggestions for an 8 year old but some seriously odd ones too. Agatha Christie??
There really is no substitute for a parent actually forming their own opinion about books for an 8 year old. Some schools have reading lists of suggested books for different ages. Many librarians and teachers can provide appropriate suggestions. In a library the scruffiest, most dog eared books are the most popular, they are the ones the kids are choosing.

The tales of Beedle the Bard?

I was quite glad when dd ground to a halt when she reached HP5 (i think it was the trial that defeated her-it's incredibly wordy!)
Before that she had zoomed through the others and loved them.

She loved the worst witch and the Enid blyton school stories and has enjoyed some of the 'younger' Jaqueline Wilson books (I think the themes of many are too grown up for a young 8 year old)

Goth girl?

Lemony Snickett, Diana Wynne Jones Crestomanci (sp) series. My boys also loved 'The Ogre downstairs' by her, it's fab. And we LOVE the Mr Gum books which have us in stitches!!

Let her mourn, it's necessary.
Marian Mundi might be worth ago.
Otherwise Joan Aiken books.

Also, although not fantasy, Jan Mark books are fantastic.

*Mariah Mundi

My amazon basket is bursting thanks to this thread!

My daughter enjoyed The Bromeliad ( Pratchett) after Harry Potter.

Brilliant thread