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For many readers the Harry Potter novels will have sparked within them a love for magical fiction. Once they have finished the final book they may be left craving more. The good news is there are many fantasy novels out there that are similar in numerous ways to the Harry Potter series. They are ideal for people who want to delve even deeper into the genre.

The Worst Witch By Jill Murphy

This children’s series is often compared to Harry Potter. Some fans have even suggested that Rowling was directly influenced by Jill Murphy. The story follows Mildred Hubble, a girl who attends Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches. There are numerous comparisons with Harry Potter. These include a school for magic as the setting, grumpy teachers and eight published volumes of the story. The Worst Witch was adapted for the cinema in 1986 and television in 1998. A new TV series based on the books was released in 2017.

His Dark Materials By Philip Pullman

This fantasy trilogy consists of the books Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. It is about two children named Lyra and Will who journey across multiple parallel universes. The series is one of the most revered fantasies of recent years. It has won numerous accolades including the Carnegie Medal and Whitbread Book of the Year. The story is aimed at young adults and may be too advanced for beginner readers. Instead younger children could check out MentalUP as it will help them to develop their minds. His Dark Materials includes complex themes such as philosophy, theology, governmental power and physics. The books can be seen as a damning indictment of organised religion.

Pennyroyal Academy By M.A. Larson

This book is perfect for people who want to enjoy a world full of knights and princesses. It is most suitable for middle grade readers. Pennyroyal Academy was written by a former writer of kid’s TV shows and therefore has plenty of fun and excitement. The story concerns a young girl whose memory is wiped. She is then thrust into a war between good and evil. Part of the joy of this book is its light-hearted silliness which prevents the tone getting too heavy.

Ella Enchanted By Gail Carson Levine

Ella Enchanted is the ideal book for people who like subversions of classic fairy tales. This one takes the story of Cinderella and retells it in an amusingly inventive way. It went on to become a hit film. However, the original novel is arguably superior thanks to the wonderful prose. Gail Carson Levine knows how to keep the chapters funny whilst still creating a sense of tension. This combines to make a real page turner.

Neverwhere By Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is considered one of the best writers in the genre of fantasy. Neverwhere is a novelized adaption of the TV of the same name. A businessman named Richard is sucked into a strange version of London filled with knights and odd trains. Much like Richard the reader will also find themselves sucked into this wonderful escapist romp.

Harry Potter is undoubtedly the most popular book franchise ever written. It has sold hundreds of millions of copies all over the world. There must be a reason for such a mass appeal. The story manages to enchant reaTeachers could also use MentalUP in theirders from a wide range of different cultures. There are several reasons why Harry Potter is so magical among the general public and critics.

Escapist Fantasy

The world of Harry Potter offers the readers a chance to escape into a world very different from our own. It is filled with a rich history and lore to discover. Fans of the series can very quickly lose themselves in its pages. A Harry Potter book is perfect for entering a fun fantasy world on a dull, gloomy day. For this reason, the prose has been devoured by millions of people.

A Rich Wizarding World to Explore

Like the best fantasy stories, Harry Potter contains a fully formed world within it. There is obvious geography, not just of Hogwarts School but also the populated wizarding areas surrounding it. Harry and his friends visit numerous locations throughout the seven books, including Godric’s Hollow, Grimmauld Place, Little Whinging, and the Burrow. Some readers even like to collect detailed maps of these places.

Encourages Children to Read

It is fair to say that Harry Potter has helped encourage more people to read than any other modern book series. The novels are frequently studied within schools. A range of assignments, including this one, have been utilized by educational establishments. Teachers could also use MentalUP in their classes to help children further develop their reading skills. Harry Potter is simple and easy to read. Book one was written for a young readership. As the stories progress, they become more advanced. Therefore the franchise could be used as a continuous reading aid as the child grows up.

Memorable Characters

While Harry is the main focus of the story, dozens of other characters fill the wizarding and muggle world. There are so many that several popular ones did not even make it into the film adaptions. Outside of the novels are expanded universe writings from Rowling herself. They delve deeper into the personalities and stories of the more minor characters. In this way, the magical tales of Harry Potter continue to endure years after the release of the final book.

Allusions to Social and Political Issues

Even though there are fantastical elements, these stories have a core that refers to our own world. Hidden within Harry Potter is subtext on a wide range of social and political issues. These include racism, war, totalitarianism, and class. Many academic papers have been written on the subject. The themes of Harry Potter are subjective enough to have multiple interpretations.

Sparks the Imagination

Perhaps the most magical aspect of Harry Potter is the fact it can inspire young readers to write their own fiction. An entire generation of writers has been directly influenced by Rowling’s work. It is fair to say that Harry Potter has helped to shape the future of fantasy.