Is There Life After Potter?

What ever shall you do, now that you've finished all 700-plus pages of the fourth (and most recent) Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? Will you cry? Gnash your teeth? Sing the Muggles blues? No need -- there are lots of great stories filled with the same adventure and magic that have made Harry Potter a household name!

We took a poll of independent booksellers' favorite fiction for their Harry Potter Deprivation Clubs. Here are the top 10 vote-getters, plus a list of honorable mentions -- all recommended by hundreds of indie booksellers from across the country!

These books will whisk you away to distant lands filled with suspense and mystery, fright and delight. They're rife with fascinating characters that will beguile you... or (gasp!) terrify you. So enjoy some fascinating reading while you await Harry's next adventure, and realize that, page after page, there is life after Potter! (Visit your local independent for advice on which of the books are best for what ages.)

Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
The first in a trilogy (the third book is due out this Fall), Pullman weaves a rich, believable world much like our own -- except that every human has their own animal "daemon" with them at all times. Our heroine, Lyra Belacqua, a 12-year-old orphan, and her daemon, Pantalaimon, take us on a wild, constantly surprising, and action-packed adventure.

Redwall, by Brian Jacques
This is the first of 12(!) books about the peace-loving but mighty mice of Redwall Abbey. Mythical and witty, Jacques provides readers with thrilling, relentless action, as Cluny the Scourge -- an evil, one-eyed rat warlord -- attempts to capture Redwall Abbey. But the brave mice of Redwall are a force to be reckoned with.

The Book of Three, by Lloyd Alexander
Funny and witty with well-rounded characters, this entertaining tale begins the Chronicles of Prydain -- Prydain being the magical land in which the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper takes place. Filled with bards and princesses, this is classic storytelling that has continued to gain adoring fans since its publication in 1964.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis
The timeless tale of four children who step through their wardrobe into a fabulous, enchanted world full of magical, mythical characters, adventure, and suspense. One of the great classics of children's literature, if not all literature. Also available on audiotape.
Half Magic, by Edward Eager
The first in a series that has enthralled readers for 50 years, this book begins the story of the summertime adventures of four children who discover a magical coin that leads them on numerous entertaining adventures.
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle
This dreamy, otherworldly award-winning novel (the first in a quartet) has left an indelible impression on legions of readers since it was first published. Meg Murry and Charles Wallace meet Mrs. Whatsit and Calvin O'Keefe and travel through space behind the shadow of an evil, enigmatic power. Also on audiotape.
The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper
When our young hero, Will Stanton, turns 11, he realizes he has magical powers and an unusual heritage: He is an immortal, an Old One, who must fight to save the world from the forces of evil. Also on audiotape, and the original hardcover is from a small press.
The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet, by Tony Abbott
The first in a new series from the publisher of the Harry Potter books, this title tells the tale of Eric, Julie, and Neal, who are surprised and excited to discover that Eric's basement is in fact the entryway to another world, called Droon! They encounter magical creatures, wizards, and plenty of adventure.
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
A book about "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves," begins one of the greatest adventures ever told. Wizards, elves, good and evil, everything and more than you can imagine in an adventure story -- and soon to be a series of major motion pictures (you can catch a preview at http://www.lordoftherings.net/home.html!

And ... there's always Harry on audio!! Don't miss Jim Dale's fantastic reading of the Harry Potter books. Great for kids who have already read 'em, great for first-timer kids and adults, great for the whole family in the car.