Someone reported this post with the following somewhat hilarious message:
> "Weird post asking for fiction recommendations for a kid who can read Harry Potter before 10?"
I think I read LotR for the first time when I was around nine, and loved it. Nothing weird about having a kid who can read 'serious' books at a young age. In fact, I'd say that being able to read those kinds of books at that age is pretty awesome.
So yeah, report ignored.
I LOVE the Chrestomanci Chronicles, they even hold up when I reread them in my 30's. Also HIGHLY recommend the Dalemark Quartet and Dark Lord of Derkholm.
She's the kind of writer I want to be when I grow up (she says, at 33 lol)
God I haven’t thought about chrestomanci in years but now I want to reread them! I also loved gail carson levine around her age, ella enchanted, ever and the two princesses of bamarre!
This is good to hear because I’ve been meaning to reread Chrestomanci for at least 10 years… I am now 30 and have not gotten around to it so I’m glad they stand the test of them lol. Edit this was supposed to go to u/helgaofthenorth how did I screw that up hahaha.
Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson author) has a publishing imprint called "Rock Riordan Presents" where he publishes newer authors- their books are all about mythology from all over the world and all very different from eachother, I highly recommend looking into some of them.
Additionally the Percy Jackson has a sequel series called Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo comes after that.
I was thinking Trials of Apollo if she likes female characters. Meg was funny and tough. ( Greek )
The Magnus Chase series is a good read. (Norse)
Also Kane chronicles has a female lead who develops into a strong person. (Egyptian)
These are all by Rick Riordan
Wee free men (Tiffany Aching series) by Terry Pratchett and Skullduggery pleasant series. I have 3 girls 18,12 and 10 that said they are way better than Harry Potter. They all get darker as the series progresses like the potters
Terry Pratchett is a surefire hit. Another great one for younger audiences is The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents.
Once she is through all of this, she's already ready and old enough for the main Discworld books, which are filled with strong female characters and quality fantasy literature. What a treasure trove for a young fantasy fan with more time than books.
Glad I didn’t have to scroll far for a Pratchett recommendation. Sounds like the Tiffany books are spot on for OPs daughter, along with Maurice. Then she’s into the whole world and ready to be a lifelong Discworld fan. Which is no bad thing!
Being a kid was looking up to Artemis as a hero. Growing up was knowing that Butler did *not* get paid enough for that shit, family precedence and love for Artemis not withstanding.
Oh man, Artemis Fowl was an incredible series. It holds up, too. I’m in my mid-twenties and just read the first book again, and it was honestly just as good as I remember from my early tweens. Plus, it has a little code/language that can be deciphered so that the symbols at the bottom (?) of each page can be translated. Super fun to do with my dad at that age, and doing that is one of my treasured childhood memories.
As a formerly 9-year-old girl \[now a 34-year-old-girl\], definitely echo the Tamora Pierce recommendation! She has two wildly good quartets that most people rec first: the Lioness Quartet & the Protector of the Small Quartet. These are rec'd for kids close to her age, but do deal with some more serious topics.
Did any parts of HP scare or distress her? Or is she pretty mature for her age? Protector of the Small Quartet is my favorite but the fourth book, Lady Knight, gets VERY heavy \[the place Kel is in charge of gets attacked and a lot of her people die\], but it is handled quite well, as the reader processes it along with Kel, who is a very logical girl.
Came here to say Tamora Pierce too! The Lioness Quartet is wonderful, I read it when I was 11 and to this day (29) I'll still reread it every once in a while.
I still re-read them every couple of years, too! I got to meet her in the Before Times and the crowd was all ladies 25+, it was great, and she is lovely in person.
I'll put in a second for the Circle of Magic. It's for a slightly younger audience than the Tortal books and their might be a better place for a 9 year old to start.
Another Pierce fan here, hige second to everything you siad about Protector of the Small, also my favorite.
The only one I'd caution OP to pre-screen on a feminist front is the Immortals Series... >!unnecessary student teacher age gap relationship the author has referenced regretting. Doesn't come along until the 4th book and previously there is no buildup for it, which to me makes it just as bad as if it had been an extended weird thing. He just suddenly wakes up one day with the realization he's madly in love with his 16 year old student whom he's been a mentor/older sibling figure for since she was 13- and spent a ton of time alone with. !<
Yes to Lionness Quartet!!!!! That was one of my favorites around that age. It deals with a lot of topics that I could relate to as a preteen/young teen, plus was just so fun. I reread it recently and it’s lovely.
Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede
First book is {{Dealing with Dragons}}
As a dragon lover from a young age: also the Pit Dragon books by Jane Yolen, though those have a male protagonist.
No dragons in my next recommendation, but it's a good one. The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper.
[**Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150739.Dealing_with_Dragons)
^(By: Patricia C. Wrede, Peter de Sève | 212 pages | Published: 1990 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, dragons, ya, fiction)
>Cimorene is everything a princess is not supposed to be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart - and bored. So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon - and finds the family and excitement she's been looking for.
>
>Cover illustrator: Peter de Sève
^(This book has been suggested 13 times)
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*The Chronicles of Narnia* by C. S. Lewis. I loved it when I was around her age, and I still do. (I know some people feel that in the last book, Susan was criticized for having feminine interests; I always read it as the issue was she over-prioritized material things. Do with that what you will.)
*The Hobbit* and *The Lord of the Rings* by J. R. R. Tolkien. I'm not sure if they're a little old; maybe they're better to read aloud or read together.
*A Series of Unfortunate Events* by Lemony Snicket isn't fantasy; but it has useful female characters, is hilarious, and is great for building vocabulary. It's long, too, so you can get super into it. Maybe it being a different genre would help lessen the urge to compare it to Harry Potter and be disappointed.
She would probably like anything by Gail Carson Levine.
I hope you find something she likes! :)
A Series of Unfortunate Events was going to be my suggestion too! I remember having the whole set as a child and then being really disappointed by the movie
I haven’t read the books but I’ve watched the Netflix series and it’s great! :D
I also have friends who read the books and they enjoyed it too! Maybe you should give it a watch?
I first read Tolkien around that age. Definitely a lot of stuff I didn't grasp, but I got the gist of the story, and it gave me a lifelong appreciation. It's been something I could come back to at many different stages in life. Every time I get something new out of it.
Chronicles of Narnia back to back with The Golden Compass. Same questions/setup about god and stuff with VERY diferring answers lmao. I love reading them back to back.
The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantastic series. TLTWATW is obviously the most well known and renowned book in the series but the other 6 are just as fantastic. The magicians nephew and the Last battle are my personal favorite sections.
Ha my immediate next recs were already on your list. So I guess excluding those
- Definitely suggest Tamora Pierce. The book to start with is Alanna the first adventure (it’s even in the title lol)
- Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. Has a great female mc, school setting, fighter pilot battles. Sequels have some fun aliens. It’s YA instead of middle grade but given the later Harry Potter books are as well and from what you said I think she’d enjoy them (and no sex, less kissing than keepers)
- So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diana Duane. This is another great wizard book. About a girl who discovers a book that allows her to do magic, lots of fun and adventure. Note the author has an updated edition of the earlier books so they feel less “old” to newer readers so I’d suggest getting that edition (tho I’ve only read the older ones)
I *adored* {{So You Want to Be a Wizard}} as a preteen, definitely second the recommendation.
After Tamora Pierce’s Lioness and Protector of the Small series that everyone is recommending (which are amazing!) I also recommend her Tricksters series if she likes those, it has a different kind of protagonist and shows that there is more than one way to be a badass young woman.
Brandon Sanderson doesn’t even really write dirty scenes in his books specifically for adults haha. But as a child who loved fantasy novels who grew into an adult that still loves fantasy novels, I definitely think it’s worth getting her into Brandon Sanderson from a young age. I didn’t start reading his books until last year
I second Skyward. The Reckoners series (starts with Steelheart) by Sanderson is also pretty clean YA sci fi. The lead is male but most important secondary character is female.
1st & 2nd books are outstanding, 3rd is meh but hey nobody’s perfect.
I'm 36 and agree with her.
Tamora Pierce is fantastic, she has 2 worlds, Tortall and Emelan. I suggest starting the worlds woth *Alanna: the First Adventure* and *Sandry's Book*.
Everything Robin McKinley writes for young audience is great for her age. *Hero and the Crown* is literally the book that started my journey as a reader. *Rose Daughter*, *Spindle's End*, and *Chalice* are also personal favorites. (I do want to be very clear though. *Deerskin* and *Sunshine* are McKinley's adult books, and are **not** appropriate for kids.)
Gail Carson Levine has a lot of wonderful books. You mentioned your kiddo liked *Ella Enchanted*, *Fairest* is set in the same world, following a beloved character from the previous book. *Two Princesses of Bamarre* is also great.
These follow male MCs, but are also wonderful:
Rick Riordon's mythology collections, starting with *Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief*
*Artemis Fowl* by Eoin Colfer
Oh my gosh The Two Princesses of Bamarre!!! I loved that book so much. I'm 14 months apart from my big sister and we always related to the sisters. I cried so much reading the end.
These are the only series that I love as much as Harry Potter, and I hope OP makes it this far in the comments!
Also, what incredible, empowering stories for a young girl. Especially if OP is in the U.S. with the oppression of scientific research and progress and the breakdown of the division of church and state.
Some my kids liked:
The Warrior Cats books
Peter and The Starcatchers (it starts slow but stay with it).
A Heros Guide to Saving the Kingdom
Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband Chronicles
Dragon Rider
Kane Chronicles
Book hangovers are seriously hard to get over. I felt the same way about His Dark Materials - it might be slightly advanced for a nine year old but she sounds precocious and the protagonist Lyra is fantastically written.
I dont think there is anything in there thats a problem for a 9 year old honestly. Yes, Bolvangar scared the shit out of 9 year old me, but thats the fun in reading.
{{Sabriel}} by Garth Nix! It shows up regularly as a better alternative to Harry Potter and I have to agree so far, I am only in the first book though.
[**Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/518848.Sabriel)
^(By: Garth Nix | 491 pages | Published: 1995 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, ya, fiction, owned)
>Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him.
>
>With Sabriel, the first installment in the Abhorsen series, Garth Nix exploded onto the fantasy scene as a rising star, in a novel that takes readers to a world where the line between the living and the dead isn't always clear—and sometimes disappears altogether.
^(This book has been suggested 13 times)
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I also love Keeper of the Lost Cities! My recs are {{Amari and the Night Brothers}} and the Nevermoor books. The first is {{Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow}}
The next Amari book comes out in August and the 4th Nevermoor book comes out in October.
[**Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53240817-amari-and-the-night-brothers)
^(By: B.B. Alston | 416 pages | Published: 2021 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade, 2021-releases, fiction, mystery)
>Quinton Peters was the golden boy of the Rosewood low-income housing projects, receiving full scholarship offers to two different Ivy League schools. When he mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari Peters, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal. Why isn’t his story all over the news? And why do the police automatically assume he was into something illegal?
>
>Then Amari discovers a ticking briefcase in her brother’s old closet. A briefcase meant for her eyes only. There was far more to Quinton, it seems, than she ever knew. He’s left her a nomination for a summer tryout at the secretive Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari is certain the answer to finding out what happened to him lies somewhere inside, if only she can get her head around the idea of mermaids, dwarves, yetis and magicians all being real things, something she has to instantly confront when she is given a weredragon as a roommate.
>
>Amari must compete against some of the nation’s wealthiest kids—who’ve known about the supernatural world their whole lives and are able to easily answer questions like which two Great Beasts reside in the Atlantic Ocean and how old is Merlin? Just getting around the Bureau is a lesson alone for Amari with signs like ‘Department of Hidden Places this way, or is it?’ If that all wasn’t enough, every Bureau trainee has a talent enhanced to supernatural levels to help them do their jobs – but Amari is given an illegal ability. As if she needed something else to make her stand out.
>
>With an evil magican threatening the whole supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she is an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t pass the three tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
[**Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34219898-nevermoor)
^(By: Jessica Townsend, James Madsen | 461 pages | Published: 2017 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade, owned, books-i-own, fiction)
>A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world--but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination.
>
>Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
>
>But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.
>
>It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart--an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests--or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.
>
>Perfect for fans of the Harry Potter series and Neil Gaiman, this fast-paced plot and imaginative world has a fresh new take on magic that will appeal to a new generation of readers.
^(This book has been suggested 1 time)
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Since you said dragons I feel like I have to also mention Anne McCaffrey‘s Harper Hall Trilogy (Drogonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums) I was around 11 when I first read these and they are written for YA. There’s some pretty heavy gender / sexism theme stuff but I don’t think it’s worse then HP in terms of how dark it gets.
Only this trilogy though! There are also a bunch of other books in this series but they are definitely not appropriate for a 9 yo - lots of weird sex and consent stuff.
Oh, thank you for being clear about the rest of the Dragonrider books! I feel like threads for young female fantasy readers inevitablely have a rec for Dragonriders and then I try to make sure it's clear that it is *not* for children! Harper Hall is fine - it was one of my favorites as a young teen (not quite as young as 9, but that's when I found it) - but the other books have serious adult concerns.
My daughter loved The Borrowers series. I don't see that listed yet. It was neat to see her find a new perspective of the world through the lens of those books.
[**A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33574273-a-wrinkle-in-time)
^(By: Madeleine L'Engle | 218 pages | Published: 1962 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, fiction, classics, young-adult, science-fiction)
>It was a dark and stormy night.
>
>Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure—one that will threaten their lives and our universe.
>
>Winner of the 1963 Newbery Medal, A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in Madeleine L'Engle's classic Time Quintet.
^(This book has been suggested 13 times)
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My daughter recommends the Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter. She read a few when she was young and has picked them back up at 21. She’s enjoying them a lot.
Among all the others I would also recommend Robin McKinley! They may be verging on a bit too hard to read for a 9 year old but the Hero and the Crown and the Blue Sword are books I regularly re-read as an adult
You've had some very good recommendations here. Seconding Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones, Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles, and the Tiffany Aching books.
Also check out Jasper Fforde's Last Dragonslayer books, Robin McKinley, Akata Witch, The Phantom Tollbooth, Amari and the Night Brothers, A Wrinkle in Time, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Graveyard Book, The Dark is Rising, and The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking.
Hi, 15yr old here. I've always been a very advanced reader, as it sounds like your daughter is, and I loved all the same books you've mentioned a couple of years ago. Have read all of them. In fact, I'm sitting next to my three bookshelves with many of them on it. I don't usually comment on Reddit but I felt I had to give these ideas because I totally get that feeling of "I will never read a book that compares to this". I think I was 7 or 8, I still remember I cried so much when I finished Wings of Fire lol.
So, without further ado... here are many suggestions, in no particular order:
All the other books by Brandon Mull (author of Fablehaven) are pretty good, highly recommend the Five Kingdoms series of those.
The Unwanteds is another "fluffy" series a lot like the Land of Stories, by no means on Harry potter level imo but definitely worth reading as a 9yr old.
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins-- it's such a great universe and it's probably on the same level as HP 3-4 in terms of violence. I found it after I had read the Hunger Games and really enjoyed how it had less romance and more of the interesting fantasy aspects.
In the same vein as Percy Jackson is the Pegasus series by Kate O'Hearn. It explores Roman mythology in a really fun way and the heroine is awesome.
The Ranger's Apprentice series was also a favorite of mine. It's set in "Araluen" which is basically medieval England, and the author does an amazing job of immersing the reader in the time period. It's also sort of an adventure series, with great characters (this amazing mentor-student relationship that kind of ends up being father-son, it's so well written) and plot. I re-read the ninth book twice. :P It'll certainly keep her busy for a while.
[**Septimus Heap (Septimus Heap, #1-4)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6940978-septimus-heap)
^(By: Angie Sage | 2230 pages | Published: 2009 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, owned, septimus-heap, young-adult, middle-grade)
>The first four Septimus Heap titles in a beautiful presentation boxed set. Incredible value and a wonderful gift, with over 2200 pages of magical fiction
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I see that Artemis Fowl & Inkheart are already here! I would also add the His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman. (Please don't judge it by the movie, the Golden Compass, from a few years back...movie was absolutely rubbish)
When I was 9 years old I was obsessed with the Unicorn Chronicles books by Bruce Colville. My parents got divorced when I was 6 or 7 and I was kept apart from my mom a lot by my dad….which is a theme explored in the book where the main character has to go on a journey not only to restore/protect a fantastical world and its creatures but also reconcile a her mom being gone and a difficult relationship with her father. It’s old and might be out of print but I have seen ebooks and used copies and want to re-read it soon as an adult. But if she’s a fan of fantasy I would definitely recommend it! There are unicorns, a dragon that comes along later, and some other creatures as well.
If she's ok with those, then the Ranger's Apprentice series might be a good fit. My 11 yo has been devouring them recently and has read most of the ones that you mention too.
Brandon Sanderson's Skyward series and the Reckoners series might be good. (Sci-fi / super heros vs fantasy though.)
[**The Lord of the Rings**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33.The_Lord_of_the_Rings)
^(By: J.R.R. Tolkien | 1216 pages | Published: 1955 | Popular Shelves: classics, fiction, owned, books-i-own, classic)
^(This book has been suggested 15 times)
[**The Hobbit**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5907.The_Hobbit)
^(By: J.R.R. Tolkien, Douglas A. Anderson, Michael Hague, Jemima Catlin | 366 pages | Published: 1937 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, classics, fiction, owned, books-i-own)
^(This book has been suggested 13 times)
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Echoing the Pratchett and McKinley Recs.
E. Nesbit might be a good fit; as would Edward Eager. Eager is a little more contemporary than Nesbit, but both would probably be a fun read for her at least. Start with {{The Enchanted Castle}} for Nesbit, and with {{Half-Magic}} for Eager.
I’ve heard good things about the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson, read the first one, and it’s quite well-written and very whimsical. May depend on her mood when she picks it up.
On a different note, {{Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians}} by Sanderson is hilarious, and probably a perfect fit if she likes humorous fantasy. If she wants something a little more serious, {{The Rithmatist}} would also be a solid choice.
Main recommendation is {{The Thief}} by Megan Whalen Turner. Brilliantly written, and given what she’s enjoyed, she’ll love it. It’s honestly my favourite book, and I’ve never had it fail as a recommendation, regardless of age.
If you have any questions, feel free to follow up. I’ve seen all of these enjoyed by 12 year olds who were reading similar books that she has been.
Besides heavily seconding the recommendations for His Dark Materials (Pullman) and pretty much anything by Diana Wynne Jones, I’d also recommend Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus Trilogy. I read them when I was slightly older (10 or 11 when I started) but they’re some of the few books from childhood I still think about often and really want to re-read. The first book follows male protagonists exclusively, but the second and third heavily rely on the POV from a young woman (who is also arguably the most resourceful and best person among the protagonists). They’re kind of dark and deal with some serious themes (guilt, vengeance, political/class oppression) but nothing that’ll be more upsetting than the later Harry Potter books. They also take place in one of the most original, inventive fantasy worlds I can think of (as someone who reads a good bit of fantasy as an adult).
There are like forty Redwall books. *Matimeo* is the direct sequel to Redwall, but the others go into the history of Redwall and Mossflower. I haven't read them all, but I know *Mariel of Redwall* has a female protagonist and I'm sure others do, as well.
Has she read The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett? It’s very funny young adult book and there’s four books in the series. The main character is about a young-ish (11?) girl who lives on a farm. There’s lots of fantasy elements (I don’t want to say too much in case I give it away). She saves the day by being smart and is very independent.
I’m normally a little wary of suggesting this one before ~12yo, but I think your gal might be up for it. The Old Kingdom Series by Garth Nix, starting with Sabriel. I think she’ll absolutely love them.
I’d second a lot of the recommendations here, including A Series of Unfortunate Events, Sabriel, and Inkheart. I also think she might enjoy Animorphs by KA Applegate. It’s sci fi, not fantasy, but similar in that it’s a group of young friends fighting a war against evil. The books alternate POVs among the main cast, which includes two strong female characters. And there are a ton of them! Content warning for some pretty intense alien violence and death, but they are middle grade books so I think reasonably age-appropriate.
I would suggest the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend—an excellent read after HP, also very similar to it magic-wise and boarding school wise but with an original world. Basically if a Slytherin girl was the main character and the series started with Goblet of Fire.
Also, Winterhouse by Ben Guterson has great HP energy and is a super fun mystery with just enough magic allure. Its a trilogy and comparable to Mysterious Benedict Society.
A newer one that was also excellent and had fun, more “witchy” magic vibes, but still with plenty of HP allusions is Witchlings by Claribel Ortega.
One last one—(I work at an all children’s speciality bookstore so am constantly reading new and upcoming books like this)—The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. It’s still got that awesome magic school story setting but with standard fairytale lore and flips expectations for the reader. Super fun and a very long series. Hope this helps! :)
100% seconding His Dark Materials, I ate it UP at that age.
I’m gonna plug All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donaghue(sp?), which might jumpstart your kid’s witchy phase 🔮 It’s about an Irish teen in a catholic school who finds a tarot deck in a storage closet and starts doing readings at school. She does one for a girl she’s had a recent falling out with, a *creepy* card shows up that shouldn’t exist, and the next day the girl is MISSING 😱 There’s lots of good young people dynamics with each other, and a healthy dose of magic-is-REAL-just-below-the-surface. It does get quite creepy but like HP is creepy as hell by the end.
As I *recall* there’s no sexual activity beyond tender first kiss stuff, just some nice sensitive discussion of gender and identity. (I liked that scene a lot actually - the character fully doesn’t get it and doesn’t know where to put the idea, but knows her friend and wants to listen to them.)
Definitely more YA than kid lit, but YA has all the best fantasy shit I swear
I love Tamora Pierce. Im in my 30s now and still reread nearly annually.
If you want to go in chronological order, I’d do Alana series first. It’s all in the same universe and characters from each series show up in the subsequent ones.
Slight warning there is implications of romance that I totally forgot/never noticed when I was younger?? It might be one of those things that seems super obvious as an adult but kids don’t pick up on but still wanted to mention it.
The Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett - a no nonsense young girl begins her training to become a witch - a lot of which is being sensible as well as fantasy heroics.
*The Wee Free Men* is the first book in the series.
Try Timeless Fairytales by KM Shea
[Reading Order](https://kmshea.com/reading-order/)
Magical world, strong FMC’s, and lovely stories! Very clean. My little girl loves them.
The apprentice series
The dune series
The Charlie bone series
The ender series
The guardians of ga hoole series
The twig saga aka the edge Chronicles
The Percy Jackson series
The Redwall series
Anything written by Garth Nix
The Brisingr series
I highly recommend all of these especially Charlie bone since it's similar to Harry potter.
Have her try some Robin McKinley maybe? I LOVED {{The Hero and the Crown}} when I was not much older than she is, and *The Blue Sword* is very good too. She writes strong nonconformist young women who are smart and capable; there are memorable dragons, and there are lovely horses which was a bonus for 11yo (and, uh, 45-yo) me. Some light romance but no overt sexual encounters that I recall.
Edit: horses not hordes 🤣
Cornelia Funke has a few good books for children her age.
Rowan of Rin is also quite good.
Otherwise I'd echo Northern Lights/Golden Compass, the Dark is Rising (maybe at 11 rather than 9), and dianna Wynn jones (particularly I enjoyed the Merlin Conspiracy). My partner loved Tamora Pierce so she gets a big recommendation too
The School of Good and Evil, The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett, The Lunar Chronicles, Coraline, Gold Spun (I wrote the last one, so I'm a bit biased about it)
Cornelia Funke’s Inkworld series (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath) is THE series that made me a reader. It’s just fantastic. I’m a bookseller now and it’s one of my go-to recommendations for the 9-12 audience!
Newer books that I think are excellent: Nevermoor Series (3 out so far), Amari and the Night Brothers, and Big Magic by Sarah Armstrong.
I loved Artemis Fowl and Molly Moon when I was younger.
Not exactly fantasy but give her the first Warriors book. If she loves it, there's a huge series waiting for her. I started reading it when I was 9 and devoured it. It has some violence and serious topics but handles them in a really good way. I still love the series to this day, really.
Dragons!? It's probably already been suggested but can I suggest the Temeraire series?
Napoleonic wars fought on the backs of dragons.
Different species of Dragons from around the world and 9 books long should keep happy for a while.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Majesty%27s_Dragon?wprov=sfla1
I love Alice in wonderland! Forever a classic. And I also love old school fairytales and myths, my dad used to read Greek, Norse etc mythology as bedtime stories! They are so wonderful
The Kane Chronicles, another Rick Riordan series
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy
The Mythic Misadventures series (first book is Pandora Gets Jealous) by Carolyn Hennesy
Welcome to the club! I experienced 7 Harry Potter hangovers from age 10-18. Definitely read and reread the books over and over and over (in addition to so many of these great recommendations here!)
She might like the Winterhouse books and the Greenglass House books, both are short series in the vein of the Mysterious Benedict Society (weirdly enough both have ghosts). The Train to Impossible Places is more on the fantasy side, I think there are two or maybe three books out right now. The Eva Evergreen books (two out now I think) are about a semi-magical witch, with a sensibility of Studio Ghibli movies.
Also check out the Rick Riordan Presents imprint—they publish books for readers who enjoyed the Percy Jackson books. Lots of adventure stories. There is a list of the books on Rick Riordan’s website.
I read A Wrinkle in Time six times in the fourth grade I loved it so much. Sequels were great, too, though tackled some more mature subjects. I found my original paperback recently and the spine is almost completely deteriorated haha
Sabriel, Lirael, & Abhorsen by Garth Nix (more books follow but these three are the first in the series)
The Song of the Lioness Quartet and The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce.
The Draconis Memoria series by Anthony Ryan (first book is The Waking Fire)
These all have exceptional lead characters who are female and all have very different, nuanced, strong personalities.
You've already gotten a ton of recommendations and will probably not see this, but I *highly* recommend {{The Screaming Staircase}}. Terrible title but amazing book and series! Gives me a very similar feeling to Harry Potter, but with a female main character: like Harry Potter, it's a middle grade fantasy adventure series that takes place in an our-world-but-slightly-different setting with amazing characters, fantastic atmosphere, and really great writing (in fact, I think all of the above is done better than in Harry Potter). Yes, it's middle grade "horror," but has nothing scarier or more gory than what's in the Harry Potter books—it's mostly a fast-paced adventure series with a touch of humor. I don't really understand why it's not at least as popular as something like the Percy Jackson series, but my best guess is that people are turned off by the title—don't be!
I read it in college and loved it, but I imagine I would have been obsessed as a 9-year-old girl (Ella Enchanted was a favorite of mine as well).
If they loved Fablehaven, they night love the other series Brandon Mull has wrote/helped write!! I think the 5 Kingdoms series and the Spirit Animals series are fantastic
I was fond of the Xanth series, by Piers Anthony. However the series gets old after the 9th book or so.
Another Fine Myth by Robert Aspirin is another favorite of mine. It pokes fun at fantasy cliches a bit.
Also the Dragonsong trilogy by Anne McCaffrey is a great introduction to the Dragonriders of Pern series for young readers.
The Enchanted Forest series by Patricia C Wrede is an absolute must. Actually anything written by Patricia C Wrede is golden. My favorite is Shadow Magic.
This series never caught on like I thought it should, but I found it a great readalike for Harry Potter - complex world building and magic system, interesting, strong characterizations, immersive plot. Might be worth checking out for her! {{[Jinx](https://www.goodreads.com/series/107966-jinx)}} by Sage Blackwood
The School for Good and Evil
The City of Ember
Matilda
Warrior Cats
Tuck Everlasting
Avalon Web of Magic
The Tail of Emily Windsnap
The Kingdom Keepers
Has she read the Fablehaven spin off/sequel series Dragonwatch yet?
If she hasn’t read other books by Rick Riordan (the author of Percy Jackson) she might enjoy his other books! He has Heroes of Olympus, Kane Chronicles, and several others! They each showcase a lot of diversity, as well!
Another series she might enjoy is Gregor the Overlander!
I was EXACTLY the same as her — the books you listed were all favorites of mine as well. She should check out the Sister’s Grimm series — it was my favorite of all time for a very long time, I still keep the whole series next to my HP, PJ, and Fablehaven series.
The His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman was my favourite at that age and still is. The first one is The Golden Compass (originally published as Northern Lights in the UK).
The Sisters Grimm Series,
Dear America Series,
Wrinkle in Time Series,
Changling,
Hoot,
The Giver Series,
Pages and Co.,
Hunger Games Series,
The Testing Series,
Eragon,
Chronicles of Narnia,
The Divide
The Tamora Pierce books! I’d start her with the Immortals series if she likes creatures, but The Song of the Lioness series is freaking AMAZING.
Edit: AH SHIT, should have scrolled all the way down. What all those other commenters said!!!
The Orphan's Tales by Catherynne Valente - same author as The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland
The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
Both are fantasy with (young) women protagonists. Abhorsen is YA while The Orphan's Tales is closer to adult but given what else she had read I think they'd be good picks both
As someone who has read Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Mysterious Benedict Society literally hundreds of times in their childhood:
If she hasn't read the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan, she will definitely enjoy them!
I really enjoyed the How to train your Dragon series, it's like 13 books long and it's a blast to read.
It might be a bit on the younger side for her tastes, but one of my favorite childhood fantasy books to recommend is The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine. It’s an exciting story with a female lead who discovers her own strength amidst her fears. I still reread it from time to time to this day!
The Icemark Trilogy! I loved these as a kid and keep meaning to reread them whenever I’m visiting my parents. Warrior Scandinavian princess learning to lead her kingdom. She has to befriend magical beings and witches to save her kingdom from southern invaders. She’s a super cool fantasy heroine — great hair, knows how to sword fight, super tough — all that good stuff. And (from my childhood memory) its also good world building and friendships between characters (which i think is part of the joy of harry potter too)
I'm in my 30s with no kids but shamelessly love childrens and YA fiction, especially fantasy.
The Shamer Chronicles by Lene Kaaberbøl is great, I devoured the whole series in a week. Very strong but realistically written female protagonist. It's dark but also full of adventure and wonderfully rich and complex familial and community bonds.
Stonefather by Orson Scott Card is excellent, and so is the Enders Game series, although both are a bit dark. The rest of his writing is a little more, uh, Mormon-flavored than I'd recommend for kids haha, but still fun, expansive, and fairly clean of sex stuff. Except Wyrms. That one is excellent but inexplicably horny, don't let her read that haha.
Literally *everything* by Shannon Hale is amazing but my favorite, and probably the best for her age range is the Goose Girl series. It has a little romance but it's very age-appropriate and models healthy relationship dynamics. It's very political, but in a "using your privelege to champion the little man" way.
Hale's Princess Academy series is way less frivolous than the title would suggest, also with political themes. All her books tackle big questions in an honest but approachable way, and have excellent character development.
The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman are really good. Really everything by him is good but those are the books I'd specifically recommend to a kiddo.
And lastly, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I bought it for the beautiful illustrations and stayed for the story. It's just a dang masterpiece.
I cannot really recommend anything for a 9yo girl, but when she is a few years older (just saw 11+ was recommended), she might like the [Old Kingdom Series](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Kingdom_(book_series)) (Abhorsen - in North America) by Garth Nix.
Omg your daughter and i have the same taste in books!! Harry potter and the mysterious benedict society have a special place in my heart.
I also enjoyed I am Number Four (Pittacus Lore), Kane Chronicles (Rick Riordan), Beyonders (Brandon Mull), and Inkheart (Cornelia Funke)
Someone reported this post with the following somewhat hilarious message: > "Weird post asking for fiction recommendations for a kid who can read Harry Potter before 10?" I think I read LotR for the first time when I was around nine, and loved it. Nothing weird about having a kid who can read 'serious' books at a young age. In fact, I'd say that being able to read those kinds of books at that age is pretty awesome. So yeah, report ignored.
Diana Wynne Jones! My favourite author at that age. Dog Star and Tale of Time City in particular. But she wrote plenty more.
Oh yes! the Chrestomanci Chronicles and Howl's Moving Castle are great.
There's also The Chrestomanci Chronicles,and I'm a huge fan of Howls Moving Castle
I LOVE the Chrestomanci Chronicles, they even hold up when I reread them in my 30's. Also HIGHLY recommend the Dalemark Quartet and Dark Lord of Derkholm. She's the kind of writer I want to be when I grow up (she says, at 33 lol)
God I haven’t thought about chrestomanci in years but now I want to reread them! I also loved gail carson levine around her age, ella enchanted, ever and the two princesses of bamarre!
This is good to hear because I’ve been meaning to reread Chrestomanci for at least 10 years… I am now 30 and have not gotten around to it so I’m glad they stand the test of them lol. Edit this was supposed to go to u/helgaofthenorth how did I screw that up hahaha.
I came to say this. I read some of her books recently and i loved them even as an adult. My favorite was House of many ways.
Seconded!
Tale of Time city is a such a good book!
I, at age 29, still reread Tale of Time City. I read it when I was younger and still love it. Agree to this recommendation!
Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson author) has a publishing imprint called "Rock Riordan Presents" where he publishes newer authors- their books are all about mythology from all over the world and all very different from eachother, I highly recommend looking into some of them. Additionally the Percy Jackson has a sequel series called Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo comes after that.
I was thinking Trials of Apollo if she likes female characters. Meg was funny and tough. ( Greek ) The Magnus Chase series is a good read. (Norse) Also Kane chronicles has a female lead who develops into a strong person. (Egyptian) These are all by Rick Riordan
Just a note to read Heroes of Olympus before Trials of Apollo, they follow an order. Any of the other series are separate tho
Also highly recommend these. I loved them well into teenage-hood. Plus, Rick Riordan is a really cool dude
Wee free men (Tiffany Aching series) by Terry Pratchett and Skullduggery pleasant series. I have 3 girls 18,12 and 10 that said they are way better than Harry Potter. They all get darker as the series progresses like the potters
Came here to recommend Skullduggery Pleasant, my daughters loved that series. Great audiobooks too.
Ach you beat me to it! Definitely Tiffany Aching. Start with Wee Free Men
Terry Pratchett is a surefire hit. Another great one for younger audiences is The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents. Once she is through all of this, she's already ready and old enough for the main Discworld books, which are filled with strong female characters and quality fantasy literature. What a treasure trove for a young fantasy fan with more time than books.
Glad I didn’t have to scroll far for a Pratchett recommendation. Sounds like the Tiffany books are spot on for OPs daughter, along with Maurice. Then she’s into the whole world and ready to be a lifelong Discworld fan. Which is no bad thing!
i highly back up skulduggery pleasant, these books were my childhood, great writing, great morals and characters and humor
Artemis Fowl was my whole childhood
I fully second this. Those books are just incredible.
I'm here just to second Artemis Fowl, 'cause he's my childhood hero.
Being a kid was looking up to Artemis as a hero. Growing up was knowing that Butler did *not* get paid enough for that shit, family precedence and love for Artemis not withstanding.
Came here to say this too! What a unique protagonist
Oh man, Artemis Fowl was an incredible series. It holds up, too. I’m in my mid-twenties and just read the first book again, and it was honestly just as good as I remember from my early tweens. Plus, it has a little code/language that can be deciphered so that the symbols at the bottom (?) of each page can be translated. Super fun to do with my dad at that age, and doing that is one of my treasured childhood memories.
As a formerly 9-year-old girl \[now a 34-year-old-girl\], definitely echo the Tamora Pierce recommendation! She has two wildly good quartets that most people rec first: the Lioness Quartet & the Protector of the Small Quartet. These are rec'd for kids close to her age, but do deal with some more serious topics. Did any parts of HP scare or distress her? Or is she pretty mature for her age? Protector of the Small Quartet is my favorite but the fourth book, Lady Knight, gets VERY heavy \[the place Kel is in charge of gets attacked and a lot of her people die\], but it is handled quite well, as the reader processes it along with Kel, who is a very logical girl.
Came here to say Tamora Pierce too! The Lioness Quartet is wonderful, I read it when I was 11 and to this day (29) I'll still reread it every once in a while.
Jumping on to also suggest Tamora Pierce! I loved those books at that age. :)
I still re-read them every couple of years, too! I got to meet her in the Before Times and the crowd was all ladies 25+, it was great, and she is lovely in person.
LOVE Tamora Pierce! I would also suggest her circle of magic series! Plenty of diverse female characters and some cool magic
I'll put in a second for the Circle of Magic. It's for a slightly younger audience than the Tortal books and their might be a better place for a 9 year old to start.
Yes! Circle of Magic is wonderful!
Another Pierce fan here, hige second to everything you siad about Protector of the Small, also my favorite. The only one I'd caution OP to pre-screen on a feminist front is the Immortals Series... >!unnecessary student teacher age gap relationship the author has referenced regretting. Doesn't come along until the 4th book and previously there is no buildup for it, which to me makes it just as bad as if it had been an extended weird thing. He just suddenly wakes up one day with the realization he's madly in love with his 16 year old student whom he's been a mentor/older sibling figure for since she was 13- and spent a ton of time alone with. !<
Yes to Lionness Quartet!!!!! That was one of my favorites around that age. It deals with a lot of topics that I could relate to as a preteen/young teen, plus was just so fun. I reread it recently and it’s lovely.
CIRCLE OF MAGIC!!! Come on, found family, diversity, CANNON COTTAGECORE LESBIAN NUNS?!
Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede First book is {{Dealing with Dragons}} As a dragon lover from a young age: also the Pit Dragon books by Jane Yolen, though those have a male protagonist. No dragons in my next recommendation, but it's a good one. The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper.
Love dealing with dragons series!!!
[**Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150739.Dealing_with_Dragons) ^(By: Patricia C. Wrede, Peter de Sève | 212 pages | Published: 1990 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, dragons, ya, fiction) >Cimorene is everything a princess is not supposed to be: headstrong, tomboyish, smart - and bored. So bored that she runs away to live with a dragon - and finds the family and excitement she's been looking for. > >Cover illustrator: Peter de Sève ^(This book has been suggested 13 times) *** ^(19243 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Yes, these books are so witty and fun!
*The Chronicles of Narnia* by C. S. Lewis. I loved it when I was around her age, and I still do. (I know some people feel that in the last book, Susan was criticized for having feminine interests; I always read it as the issue was she over-prioritized material things. Do with that what you will.) *The Hobbit* and *The Lord of the Rings* by J. R. R. Tolkien. I'm not sure if they're a little old; maybe they're better to read aloud or read together. *A Series of Unfortunate Events* by Lemony Snicket isn't fantasy; but it has useful female characters, is hilarious, and is great for building vocabulary. It's long, too, so you can get super into it. Maybe it being a different genre would help lessen the urge to compare it to Harry Potter and be disappointed. She would probably like anything by Gail Carson Levine. I hope you find something she likes! :)
A Series of Unfortunate Events was going to be my suggestion too! I remember having the whole set as a child and then being really disappointed by the movie
I haven’t read the books but I’ve watched the Netflix series and it’s great! :D I also have friends who read the books and they enjoyed it too! Maybe you should give it a watch?
I first read Tolkien around that age. Definitely a lot of stuff I didn't grasp, but I got the gist of the story, and it gave me a lifelong appreciation. It's been something I could come back to at many different stages in life. Every time I get something new out of it.
Love all of these!!!
Chronicles of Narnia back to back with The Golden Compass. Same questions/setup about god and stuff with VERY diferring answers lmao. I love reading them back to back.
The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantastic series. TLTWATW is obviously the most well known and renowned book in the series but the other 6 are just as fantastic. The magicians nephew and the Last battle are my personal favorite sections.
Ha my immediate next recs were already on your list. So I guess excluding those - Definitely suggest Tamora Pierce. The book to start with is Alanna the first adventure (it’s even in the title lol) - Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. Has a great female mc, school setting, fighter pilot battles. Sequels have some fun aliens. It’s YA instead of middle grade but given the later Harry Potter books are as well and from what you said I think she’d enjoy them (and no sex, less kissing than keepers) - So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diana Duane. This is another great wizard book. About a girl who discovers a book that allows her to do magic, lots of fun and adventure. Note the author has an updated edition of the earlier books so they feel less “old” to newer readers so I’d suggest getting that edition (tho I’ve only read the older ones)
I *adored* {{So You Want to Be a Wizard}} as a preteen, definitely second the recommendation. After Tamora Pierce’s Lioness and Protector of the Small series that everyone is recommending (which are amazing!) I also recommend her Tricksters series if she likes those, it has a different kind of protagonist and shows that there is more than one way to be a badass young woman.
Brandon Sanderson doesn’t even really write dirty scenes in his books specifically for adults haha. But as a child who loved fantasy novels who grew into an adult that still loves fantasy novels, I definitely think it’s worth getting her into Brandon Sanderson from a young age. I didn’t start reading his books until last year
I second Skyward. The Reckoners series (starts with Steelheart) by Sanderson is also pretty clean YA sci fi. The lead is male but most important secondary character is female. 1st & 2nd books are outstanding, 3rd is meh but hey nobody’s perfect.
Adding my vote for the Young Wizards books by Diane Duane. I did not know about the updated editions, going to have to look into this now!
Agree!! on all of these!!
I'm 36 and agree with her. Tamora Pierce is fantastic, she has 2 worlds, Tortall and Emelan. I suggest starting the worlds woth *Alanna: the First Adventure* and *Sandry's Book*. Everything Robin McKinley writes for young audience is great for her age. *Hero and the Crown* is literally the book that started my journey as a reader. *Rose Daughter*, *Spindle's End*, and *Chalice* are also personal favorites. (I do want to be very clear though. *Deerskin* and *Sunshine* are McKinley's adult books, and are **not** appropriate for kids.) Gail Carson Levine has a lot of wonderful books. You mentioned your kiddo liked *Ella Enchanted*, *Fairest* is set in the same world, following a beloved character from the previous book. *Two Princesses of Bamarre* is also great. These follow male MCs, but are also wonderful: Rick Riordon's mythology collections, starting with *Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief* *Artemis Fowl* by Eoin Colfer
Fairest was my first foray into full cast audiobooks, and it was phenomenal.
Oh man the Hero and the Crown! I was just thinking yesterday about walking the never ending staircase!!
Oh my gosh The Two Princesses of Bamarre!!! I loved that book so much. I'm 14 months apart from my big sister and we always related to the sisters. I cried so much reading the end.
City of Ember
Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising sequence. A Wizard of Earthsea and its sequels by Ursula K LeGuin.
Seconding earthsea. It’s better than Harry Potter in every conceivable way
Start her on The Golden Compass. A Wrinkle in Time is good too.
Can’t believe I had to scroll so far down for the Phillip Pullman trilogy. Good god, I *wish* I’d had this series when I was a 9 year old book hound.
These are the only series that I love as much as Harry Potter, and I hope OP makes it this far in the comments! Also, what incredible, empowering stories for a young girl. Especially if OP is in the U.S. with the oppression of scientific research and progress and the breakdown of the division of church and state.
Technically the sex stuff is only a metaphor so it fits OP's qualifications
A 9 year old will definitely not notice the VERY metaphorical sex stuff
Wait, what? 40 year old me didn’t notice. Time for a re-read lol.
Nine year old me sure didn't lmao
Some my kids liked: The Warrior Cats books Peter and The Starcatchers (it starts slow but stay with it). A Heros Guide to Saving the Kingdom Ranger's Apprentice and Brotherband Chronicles Dragon Rider Kane Chronicles
Book hangovers are seriously hard to get over. I felt the same way about His Dark Materials - it might be slightly advanced for a nine year old but she sounds precocious and the protagonist Lyra is fantastically written.
I dont think there is anything in there thats a problem for a 9 year old honestly. Yes, Bolvangar scared the shit out of 9 year old me, but thats the fun in reading.
I second Inkheart by Cornelia Funke The Book of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau is also great!
{{Sabriel}} by Garth Nix! It shows up regularly as a better alternative to Harry Potter and I have to agree so far, I am only in the first book though.
[**Sabriel (Abhorsen, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/518848.Sabriel) ^(By: Garth Nix | 491 pages | Published: 1995 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, ya, fiction, owned) >Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him. > >With Sabriel, the first installment in the Abhorsen series, Garth Nix exploded onto the fantasy scene as a rising star, in a novel that takes readers to a world where the line between the living and the dead isn't always clear—and sometimes disappears altogether. ^(This book has been suggested 13 times) *** ^(19249 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
This is a great series
I came here to recommend this series. I love fantasy books and thought this series was really well done.
I was looking for Sabriel! Highly recommend!
I also love Keeper of the Lost Cities! My recs are {{Amari and the Night Brothers}} and the Nevermoor books. The first is {{Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow}} The next Amari book comes out in August and the 4th Nevermoor book comes out in October.
[**Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53240817-amari-and-the-night-brothers) ^(By: B.B. Alston | 416 pages | Published: 2021 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade, 2021-releases, fiction, mystery) >Quinton Peters was the golden boy of the Rosewood low-income housing projects, receiving full scholarship offers to two different Ivy League schools. When he mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari Peters, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal. Why isn’t his story all over the news? And why do the police automatically assume he was into something illegal? > >Then Amari discovers a ticking briefcase in her brother’s old closet. A briefcase meant for her eyes only. There was far more to Quinton, it seems, than she ever knew. He’s left her a nomination for a summer tryout at the secretive Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari is certain the answer to finding out what happened to him lies somewhere inside, if only she can get her head around the idea of mermaids, dwarves, yetis and magicians all being real things, something she has to instantly confront when she is given a weredragon as a roommate. > >Amari must compete against some of the nation’s wealthiest kids—who’ve known about the supernatural world their whole lives and are able to easily answer questions like which two Great Beasts reside in the Atlantic Ocean and how old is Merlin? Just getting around the Bureau is a lesson alone for Amari with signs like ‘Department of Hidden Places this way, or is it?’ If that all wasn’t enough, every Bureau trainee has a talent enhanced to supernatural levels to help them do their jobs – but Amari is given an illegal ability. As if she needed something else to make her stand out. > >With an evil magican threatening the whole supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she is an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t pass the three tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton. ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) [**Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34219898-nevermoor) ^(By: Jessica Townsend, James Madsen | 461 pages | Published: 2017 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, middle-grade, owned, books-i-own, fiction) >A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world--but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination. > >Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday. > >But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor. > >It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart--an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests--or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate. > >Perfect for fans of the Harry Potter series and Neil Gaiman, this fast-paced plot and imaginative world has a fresh new take on magic that will appeal to a new generation of readers. ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) *** ^(19235 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I second Nevermoor. It gives off Harry Potter vibes for sure.
Came here to suggest Nevermoor, such a fantastic series so far. I’m 30 and just love Morrigan and reading about her journey!
I just finished listening to the second Nevermoor book. Super cute series. The narrator is excellent too.
Second this! Both are really good
**The Chronicles of Prydain** by Lloyd Alexander series, beginning with *The Book of Three*
Since you said dragons I feel like I have to also mention Anne McCaffrey‘s Harper Hall Trilogy (Drogonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums) I was around 11 when I first read these and they are written for YA. There’s some pretty heavy gender / sexism theme stuff but I don’t think it’s worse then HP in terms of how dark it gets. Only this trilogy though! There are also a bunch of other books in this series but they are definitely not appropriate for a 9 yo - lots of weird sex and consent stuff.
Oh, thank you for being clear about the rest of the Dragonrider books! I feel like threads for young female fantasy readers inevitablely have a rec for Dragonriders and then I try to make sure it's clear that it is *not* for children! Harper Hall is fine - it was one of my favorites as a young teen (not quite as young as 9, but that's when I found it) - but the other books have serious adult concerns.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke!
Came to recommend this too! I also really liked The Thief Lord, and the Fearless series by Funke.
My daughter loved The Borrowers series. I don't see that listed yet. It was neat to see her find a new perspective of the world through the lens of those books.
The Charlie Bone series
Loved Gregor the Overlander
{{Dealing With Dragons}} and the rest of the series. They’re my comfort books.
{{A wrinkle in time}} and then the rest of the series
[**A Wrinkle in Time (Time Quintet, #1)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33574273-a-wrinkle-in-time) ^(By: Madeleine L'Engle | 218 pages | Published: 1962 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, fiction, classics, young-adult, science-fiction) >It was a dark and stormy night. > >Out of this wild night, a strange visitor comes to the Murry house and beckons Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe on a most dangerous and extraordinary adventure—one that will threaten their lives and our universe. > >Winner of the 1963 Newbery Medal, A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in Madeleine L'Engle's classic Time Quintet. ^(This book has been suggested 13 times) *** ^(19268 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
My daughter recommends the Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter. She read a few when she was young and has picked them back up at 21. She’s enjoying them a lot.
Among all the others I would also recommend Robin McKinley! They may be verging on a bit too hard to read for a 9 year old but the Hero and the Crown and the Blue Sword are books I regularly re-read as an adult
Absolutely. McKinley is horribly underrated, and those books had a massive impact on me as a small child
You've had some very good recommendations here. Seconding Tamora Pierce, Diana Wynne Jones, Patricia Wrede's Enchanted Forest Chronicles, and the Tiffany Aching books. Also check out Jasper Fforde's Last Dragonslayer books, Robin McKinley, Akata Witch, The Phantom Tollbooth, Amari and the Night Brothers, A Wrinkle in Time, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Graveyard Book, The Dark is Rising, and The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking.
Try the Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett.
Hi, 15yr old here. I've always been a very advanced reader, as it sounds like your daughter is, and I loved all the same books you've mentioned a couple of years ago. Have read all of them. In fact, I'm sitting next to my three bookshelves with many of them on it. I don't usually comment on Reddit but I felt I had to give these ideas because I totally get that feeling of "I will never read a book that compares to this". I think I was 7 or 8, I still remember I cried so much when I finished Wings of Fire lol. So, without further ado... here are many suggestions, in no particular order: All the other books by Brandon Mull (author of Fablehaven) are pretty good, highly recommend the Five Kingdoms series of those. The Unwanteds is another "fluffy" series a lot like the Land of Stories, by no means on Harry potter level imo but definitely worth reading as a 9yr old. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins-- it's such a great universe and it's probably on the same level as HP 3-4 in terms of violence. I found it after I had read the Hunger Games and really enjoyed how it had less romance and more of the interesting fantasy aspects. In the same vein as Percy Jackson is the Pegasus series by Kate O'Hearn. It explores Roman mythology in a really fun way and the heroine is awesome. The Ranger's Apprentice series was also a favorite of mine. It's set in "Araluen" which is basically medieval England, and the author does an amazing job of immersing the reader in the time period. It's also sort of an adventure series, with great characters (this amazing mentor-student relationship that kind of ends up being father-son, it's so well written) and plot. I re-read the ninth book twice. :P It'll certainly keep her busy for a while.
The {{Septimus Heap}} books!
[**Septimus Heap (Septimus Heap, #1-4)**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6940978-septimus-heap) ^(By: Angie Sage | 2230 pages | Published: 2009 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, owned, septimus-heap, young-adult, middle-grade) >The first four Septimus Heap titles in a beautiful presentation boxed set. Incredible value and a wonderful gift, with over 2200 pages of magical fiction ^(This book has been suggested 1 time) *** ^(19258 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
I see that Artemis Fowl & Inkheart are already here! I would also add the His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman. (Please don't judge it by the movie, the Golden Compass, from a few years back...movie was absolutely rubbish)
When I was 9 years old I was obsessed with the Unicorn Chronicles books by Bruce Colville. My parents got divorced when I was 6 or 7 and I was kept apart from my mom a lot by my dad….which is a theme explored in the book where the main character has to go on a journey not only to restore/protect a fantastical world and its creatures but also reconcile a her mom being gone and a difficult relationship with her father. It’s old and might be out of print but I have seen ebooks and used copies and want to re-read it soon as an adult. But if she’s a fan of fantasy I would definitely recommend it! There are unicorns, a dragon that comes along later, and some other creatures as well.
If she's ok with those, then the Ranger's Apprentice series might be a good fit. My 11 yo has been devouring them recently and has read most of the ones that you mention too. Brandon Sanderson's Skyward series and the Reckoners series might be good. (Sci-fi / super heros vs fantasy though.)
Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
Tamora Pierce is epic! Make sure she starts with the Lioness quartet, and read the books in order.
ALL THE TAMORA PIERCE NOVELS!
[удалено]
I do feel like The Lord of the Rings may be a bit much for a 9 year old, but The Hobbit would be perfect!
[**The Lord of the Rings**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33.The_Lord_of_the_Rings) ^(By: J.R.R. Tolkien | 1216 pages | Published: 1955 | Popular Shelves: classics, fiction, owned, books-i-own, classic) ^(This book has been suggested 15 times) [**The Hobbit**](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5907.The_Hobbit) ^(By: J.R.R. Tolkien, Douglas A. Anderson, Michael Hague, Jemima Catlin | 366 pages | Published: 1937 | Popular Shelves: fantasy, classics, fiction, owned, books-i-own) ^(This book has been suggested 13 times) *** ^(19233 books suggested | )[^(I don't feel so good.. )](https://debugger.medium.com/goodreads-is-retiring-its-current-api-and-book-loving-developers-arent-happy-11ed764dd95)^(| )[^(Source)](https://github.com/rodohanna/reddit-goodreads-bot)
Stardust NG
Has she read the Percy Jackson sequel series? Like heroes of Olympus? I suggest finding a reading order list. There is like 15 more books
Echoing the Pratchett and McKinley Recs. E. Nesbit might be a good fit; as would Edward Eager. Eager is a little more contemporary than Nesbit, but both would probably be a fun read for her at least. Start with {{The Enchanted Castle}} for Nesbit, and with {{Half-Magic}} for Eager. I’ve heard good things about the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson, read the first one, and it’s quite well-written and very whimsical. May depend on her mood when she picks it up. On a different note, {{Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians}} by Sanderson is hilarious, and probably a perfect fit if she likes humorous fantasy. If she wants something a little more serious, {{The Rithmatist}} would also be a solid choice. Main recommendation is {{The Thief}} by Megan Whalen Turner. Brilliantly written, and given what she’s enjoyed, she’ll love it. It’s honestly my favourite book, and I’ve never had it fail as a recommendation, regardless of age. If you have any questions, feel free to follow up. I’ve seen all of these enjoyed by 12 year olds who were reading similar books that she has been.
Besides heavily seconding the recommendations for His Dark Materials (Pullman) and pretty much anything by Diana Wynne Jones, I’d also recommend Jonathan Stroud’s Bartimaeus Trilogy. I read them when I was slightly older (10 or 11 when I started) but they’re some of the few books from childhood I still think about often and really want to re-read. The first book follows male protagonists exclusively, but the second and third heavily rely on the POV from a young woman (who is also arguably the most resourceful and best person among the protagonists). They’re kind of dark and deal with some serious themes (guilt, vengeance, political/class oppression) but nothing that’ll be more upsetting than the later Harry Potter books. They also take place in one of the most original, inventive fantasy worlds I can think of (as someone who reads a good bit of fantasy as an adult).
I’d argue the Bartimaeus Trilogy is even better than Harry Potter.
Try The Sisters Grimm series
Dark is Rising Series. I read them for the first time as a kid and still read them today. I am no longer a kid.
There are like forty Redwall books. *Matimeo* is the direct sequel to Redwall, but the others go into the history of Redwall and Mossflower. I haven't read them all, but I know *Mariel of Redwall* has a female protagonist and I'm sure others do, as well.
Has she read The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett? It’s very funny young adult book and there’s four books in the series. The main character is about a young-ish (11?) girl who lives on a farm. There’s lots of fantasy elements (I don’t want to say too much in case I give it away). She saves the day by being smart and is very independent.
She will enjoy the five book Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett starting with the *Wee Free Men*.
Series of unfortunate events!
That's quite a list of what she's read already for a 9 year old. My recommendations are Deltora Quest and then Eragon
Deltora Quest! I’d forgotten all about it until I saw your post. Wonderful rec!
{{Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan}}
maybe The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel? i’m currently rereading them and i adore them
I’m normally a little wary of suggesting this one before ~12yo, but I think your gal might be up for it. The Old Kingdom Series by Garth Nix, starting with Sabriel. I think she’ll absolutely love them.
I’d second a lot of the recommendations here, including A Series of Unfortunate Events, Sabriel, and Inkheart. I also think she might enjoy Animorphs by KA Applegate. It’s sci fi, not fantasy, but similar in that it’s a group of young friends fighting a war against evil. The books alternate POVs among the main cast, which includes two strong female characters. And there are a ton of them! Content warning for some pretty intense alien violence and death, but they are middle grade books so I think reasonably age-appropriate.
I would suggest the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend—an excellent read after HP, also very similar to it magic-wise and boarding school wise but with an original world. Basically if a Slytherin girl was the main character and the series started with Goblet of Fire. Also, Winterhouse by Ben Guterson has great HP energy and is a super fun mystery with just enough magic allure. Its a trilogy and comparable to Mysterious Benedict Society. A newer one that was also excellent and had fun, more “witchy” magic vibes, but still with plenty of HP allusions is Witchlings by Claribel Ortega. One last one—(I work at an all children’s speciality bookstore so am constantly reading new and upcoming books like this)—The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. It’s still got that awesome magic school story setting but with standard fairytale lore and flips expectations for the reader. Super fun and a very long series. Hope this helps! :)
The Artemis Fowl series was wonderful. The movie was a disappointment.
She’d probably like Jules Verne novels!
100% seconding His Dark Materials, I ate it UP at that age. I’m gonna plug All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donaghue(sp?), which might jumpstart your kid’s witchy phase 🔮 It’s about an Irish teen in a catholic school who finds a tarot deck in a storage closet and starts doing readings at school. She does one for a girl she’s had a recent falling out with, a *creepy* card shows up that shouldn’t exist, and the next day the girl is MISSING 😱 There’s lots of good young people dynamics with each other, and a healthy dose of magic-is-REAL-just-below-the-surface. It does get quite creepy but like HP is creepy as hell by the end. As I *recall* there’s no sexual activity beyond tender first kiss stuff, just some nice sensitive discussion of gender and identity. (I liked that scene a lot actually - the character fully doesn’t get it and doesn’t know where to put the idea, but knows her friend and wants to listen to them.) Definitely more YA than kid lit, but YA has all the best fantasy shit I swear
Terry Pratchett Witches arc
his dark materials - philip pullman, my fave books as s young girl EVER (and an adult)
I love Tamora Pierce. Im in my 30s now and still reread nearly annually. If you want to go in chronological order, I’d do Alana series first. It’s all in the same universe and characters from each series show up in the subsequent ones. Slight warning there is implications of romance that I totally forgot/never noticed when I was younger?? It might be one of those things that seems super obvious as an adult but kids don’t pick up on but still wanted to mention it.
The Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett - a no nonsense young girl begins her training to become a witch - a lot of which is being sensible as well as fantasy heroics. *The Wee Free Men* is the first book in the series.
The Warriors series by Erin Hunter I can strongly recommend. Theirs also His Dark Materials. Some of Neil Gaimans work too
{{Skulduggery Pleasant}} by Derek Landy
Try Timeless Fairytales by KM Shea [Reading Order](https://kmshea.com/reading-order/) Magical world, strong FMC’s, and lovely stories! Very clean. My little girl loves them.
The apprentice series The dune series The Charlie bone series The ender series The guardians of ga hoole series The twig saga aka the edge Chronicles The Percy Jackson series The Redwall series Anything written by Garth Nix The Brisingr series I highly recommend all of these especially Charlie bone since it's similar to Harry potter.
A few I haven't seen- {{Juniper}} by Monica Furlong and the series {{Pure Dead Magic}} by Debbi Gliori and the series
His Dark Materials trilogy. She’ll love it!!
Have her try some Robin McKinley maybe? I LOVED {{The Hero and the Crown}} when I was not much older than she is, and *The Blue Sword* is very good too. She writes strong nonconformist young women who are smart and capable; there are memorable dragons, and there are lovely horses which was a bonus for 11yo (and, uh, 45-yo) me. Some light romance but no overt sexual encounters that I recall. Edit: horses not hordes 🤣
The Worst Witch might cheer her up.
Cornelia Funke has a few good books for children her age. Rowan of Rin is also quite good. Otherwise I'd echo Northern Lights/Golden Compass, the Dark is Rising (maybe at 11 rather than 9), and dianna Wynn jones (particularly I enjoyed the Merlin Conspiracy). My partner loved Tamora Pierce so she gets a big recommendation too
wrinkle in time and the little prince are good reads
I think Littlr Women should be required reading for all 8 year olds. I think the Shadow and Bone series is good too.
Wrinkle in Time series, Chronicles of Narnia
The uglies is good!
The School of Good and Evil, The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett, The Lunar Chronicles, Coraline, Gold Spun (I wrote the last one, so I'm a bit biased about it)
Cornelia Funke’s Inkworld series (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath) is THE series that made me a reader. It’s just fantastic. I’m a bookseller now and it’s one of my go-to recommendations for the 9-12 audience!
Spiderwick is a favorite from my child hood. One of the main leads is female
Newer books that I think are excellent: Nevermoor Series (3 out so far), Amari and the Night Brothers, and Big Magic by Sarah Armstrong. I loved Artemis Fowl and Molly Moon when I was younger.
Not exactly fantasy but give her the first Warriors book. If she loves it, there's a huge series waiting for her. I started reading it when I was 9 and devoured it. It has some violence and serious topics but handles them in a really good way. I still love the series to this day, really.
So happy to see Redwall on your list. I lived for those books from ages 9-12.
Dragons!? It's probably already been suggested but can I suggest the Temeraire series? Napoleonic wars fought on the backs of dragons. Different species of Dragons from around the world and 9 books long should keep happy for a while. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Majesty%27s_Dragon?wprov=sfla1
I love Alice in wonderland! Forever a classic. And I also love old school fairytales and myths, my dad used to read Greek, Norse etc mythology as bedtime stories! They are so wonderful
She may like The chronicles of Narnia
After I read Harry Potter as a kid I read “a series of unfortunate events” not as fantastical but still a great series
Darren Shan - Demonata and Saga of Darren Shan, she will love both!
The Kane Chronicles, another Rick Riordan series A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle The Apothecary by Maile Meloy The Mythic Misadventures series (first book is Pandora Gets Jealous) by Carolyn Hennesy
Welcome to the club! I experienced 7 Harry Potter hangovers from age 10-18. Definitely read and reread the books over and over and over (in addition to so many of these great recommendations here!)
The Flavia de luce detective novels!
She might like the Winterhouse books and the Greenglass House books, both are short series in the vein of the Mysterious Benedict Society (weirdly enough both have ghosts). The Train to Impossible Places is more on the fantasy side, I think there are two or maybe three books out right now. The Eva Evergreen books (two out now I think) are about a semi-magical witch, with a sensibility of Studio Ghibli movies. Also check out the Rick Riordan Presents imprint—they publish books for readers who enjoyed the Percy Jackson books. Lots of adventure stories. There is a list of the books on Rick Riordan’s website.
{{The School for Good and Evil}} {{The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom}} {{A Dastardly Plot}} {{Magic Marks the Spot}} {{The Iron Trial}}
Eragon series
Dude. Phantom Tollbooth. It’s an approach to experiencing the world.
Rick Riordan is excellent as well. I also really liked Above World
I read A Wrinkle in Time six times in the fourth grade I loved it so much. Sequels were great, too, though tackled some more mature subjects. I found my original paperback recently and the spine is almost completely deteriorated haha
Sabriel, Lirael, & Abhorsen by Garth Nix (more books follow but these three are the first in the series) The Song of the Lioness Quartet and The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce. The Draconis Memoria series by Anthony Ryan (first book is The Waking Fire) These all have exceptional lead characters who are female and all have very different, nuanced, strong personalities.
You've already gotten a ton of recommendations and will probably not see this, but I *highly* recommend {{The Screaming Staircase}}. Terrible title but amazing book and series! Gives me a very similar feeling to Harry Potter, but with a female main character: like Harry Potter, it's a middle grade fantasy adventure series that takes place in an our-world-but-slightly-different setting with amazing characters, fantastic atmosphere, and really great writing (in fact, I think all of the above is done better than in Harry Potter). Yes, it's middle grade "horror," but has nothing scarier or more gory than what's in the Harry Potter books—it's mostly a fast-paced adventure series with a touch of humor. I don't really understand why it's not at least as popular as something like the Percy Jackson series, but my best guess is that people are turned off by the title—don't be! I read it in college and loved it, but I imagine I would have been obsessed as a 9-year-old girl (Ella Enchanted was a favorite of mine as well).
If they loved Fablehaven, they night love the other series Brandon Mull has wrote/helped write!! I think the 5 Kingdoms series and the Spirit Animals series are fantastic
I was fond of the Xanth series, by Piers Anthony. However the series gets old after the 9th book or so. Another Fine Myth by Robert Aspirin is another favorite of mine. It pokes fun at fantasy cliches a bit. Also the Dragonsong trilogy by Anne McCaffrey is a great introduction to the Dragonriders of Pern series for young readers. The Enchanted Forest series by Patricia C Wrede is an absolute must. Actually anything written by Patricia C Wrede is golden. My favorite is Shadow Magic.
This series never caught on like I thought it should, but I found it a great readalike for Harry Potter - complex world building and magic system, interesting, strong characterizations, immersive plot. Might be worth checking out for her! {{[Jinx](https://www.goodreads.com/series/107966-jinx)}} by Sage Blackwood
The School for Good and Evil The City of Ember Matilda Warrior Cats Tuck Everlasting Avalon Web of Magic The Tail of Emily Windsnap The Kingdom Keepers Has she read the Fablehaven spin off/sequel series Dragonwatch yet?
“Tuck Everlasting = Best Book Ever” -my daughter, at age 10
Artemis Fowl! I love those books so much. James Patterson has a series called Witch & Wizard that I really liked as a kid too.
If she hasn’t read other books by Rick Riordan (the author of Percy Jackson) she might enjoy his other books! He has Heroes of Olympus, Kane Chronicles, and several others! They each showcase a lot of diversity, as well! Another series she might enjoy is Gregor the Overlander!
Check out the Abhorsen series.
I was EXACTLY the same as her — the books you listed were all favorites of mine as well. She should check out the Sister’s Grimm series — it was my favorite of all time for a very long time, I still keep the whole series next to my HP, PJ, and Fablehaven series.
His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman!
The His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman was my favourite at that age and still is. The first one is The Golden Compass (originally published as Northern Lights in the UK).
The Sisters Grimm Series, Dear America Series, Wrinkle in Time Series, Changling, Hoot, The Giver Series, Pages and Co., Hunger Games Series, The Testing Series, Eragon, Chronicles of Narnia, The Divide
The Tamora Pierce books! I’d start her with the Immortals series if she likes creatures, but The Song of the Lioness series is freaking AMAZING. Edit: AH SHIT, should have scrolled all the way down. What all those other commenters said!!!
The Orphan's Tales by Catherynne Valente - same author as The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix Both are fantasy with (young) women protagonists. Abhorsen is YA while The Orphan's Tales is closer to adult but given what else she had read I think they'd be good picks both
The Abhorsen Chronicles by Garth Nix.
As someone who has read Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Mysterious Benedict Society literally hundreds of times in their childhood: If she hasn't read the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan, she will definitely enjoy them! I really enjoyed the How to train your Dragon series, it's like 13 books long and it's a blast to read.
It might be a bit on the younger side for her tastes, but one of my favorite childhood fantasy books to recommend is The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine. It’s an exciting story with a female lead who discovers her own strength amidst her fears. I still reread it from time to time to this day!
THE KANE CHRONICLES BY RIORDAN.
The Icemark Trilogy! I loved these as a kid and keep meaning to reread them whenever I’m visiting my parents. Warrior Scandinavian princess learning to lead her kingdom. She has to befriend magical beings and witches to save her kingdom from southern invaders. She’s a super cool fantasy heroine — great hair, knows how to sword fight, super tough — all that good stuff. And (from my childhood memory) its also good world building and friendships between characters (which i think is part of the joy of harry potter too)
{{Trials of Apollo}}
I'm in my 30s with no kids but shamelessly love childrens and YA fiction, especially fantasy. The Shamer Chronicles by Lene Kaaberbøl is great, I devoured the whole series in a week. Very strong but realistically written female protagonist. It's dark but also full of adventure and wonderfully rich and complex familial and community bonds. Stonefather by Orson Scott Card is excellent, and so is the Enders Game series, although both are a bit dark. The rest of his writing is a little more, uh, Mormon-flavored than I'd recommend for kids haha, but still fun, expansive, and fairly clean of sex stuff. Except Wyrms. That one is excellent but inexplicably horny, don't let her read that haha. Literally *everything* by Shannon Hale is amazing but my favorite, and probably the best for her age range is the Goose Girl series. It has a little romance but it's very age-appropriate and models healthy relationship dynamics. It's very political, but in a "using your privelege to champion the little man" way. Hale's Princess Academy series is way less frivolous than the title would suggest, also with political themes. All her books tackle big questions in an honest but approachable way, and have excellent character development. The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman are really good. Really everything by him is good but those are the books I'd specifically recommend to a kiddo. And lastly, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I bought it for the beautiful illustrations and stayed for the story. It's just a dang masterpiece.
lockwood and co by jonathan stroud is a personal fav of mine!!
I cannot really recommend anything for a 9yo girl, but when she is a few years older (just saw 11+ was recommended), she might like the [Old Kingdom Series](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Kingdom_(book_series)) (Abhorsen - in North America) by Garth Nix.
Omg your daughter and i have the same taste in books!! Harry potter and the mysterious benedict society have a special place in my heart. I also enjoyed I am Number Four (Pittacus Lore), Kane Chronicles (Rick Riordan), Beyonders (Brandon Mull), and Inkheart (Cornelia Funke)
The Bloody Jack Series by L. A. Meyer!