I gotta say, I was on the subway last night with a gang of 13-year-old boys fresh from the Harry Potter movie, they were arguing about plot points and characters as loudly as they could for about 60 blocks. Probably the most obnoxious people I've ever encountered on the subway. And, needless to say, the subway is populated almost entirely with obnoxious people. I don't know, maybe I'd stick them with McCarthy's The Road. That might shut them up. Certainly would give them fewer characters to yell about.

I think that my 9 year old HP fanatic would still love to read if there was no Harry Potter books to read. But she probably wouldn't be a good of a reader -- she was so determined to read HP 6 when she was 7 and her daddy and I weren't reading it fast enough to her, she started reading it herself. And hasn't stopped reading since. Our local library has a comprehensive brochure on reading suggestions for those who like HP books, which my daughter has been poring over. I think if parents, teachers, and librarians keep the momentum going by suggesting other books for children to read, they'll keep on reading after they've finished HP.

The one great thing that the Harry Potter phenomenom has accomplished is that is is OKAY to write for the YA market in new and exciting ways. When I was a kid, the choices were extremely limited. The Hardy Boys, Roald Dahl, E.B. White, etc.. Nothing wrong with thost at all, but the variety that exists for my children is astounding. Post Harry books.. Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson" series is outstanding and you have to keep an eye out for a new series that will begin in October. "Alcatraz Smedry and the Evil Librarians". It is very clever. Adults will like it just as much as young adults, even though Scholastic has tried their best to "Harry Potterize" the look of the book (bad mistake) it is far from Harry and Co.

Young people will read if they are engaged by the book and J.K. Rowling is a master at engagement for young readers. I don't think it can get any better than Harry Potter. But it can get as good! Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series is a heck of a lot of fun, albeit very derivative of the Potter books, but that's not a bad thing. Why not emulate the best? And, OK, I have a hidden agenda. I have a new book out that is a fantasy adventure that young readers love and can't put down and any reader who enjoyed Harry Potter of the Narnia books will love The Call to Shakabaz. If you don't believe me, check out the customer reviews on Amazon. Visit my website at www.wozabooks.com. Everyone who reads this book loves it. My challenge? Getting the word out. So please tell someone about this book. It's a great read-aloud because adults have a terrific time with it too. Lloyd Alexander said that the issues we face in fantasy books are the same issues we face in real life. The Call to Shakabaz is not just a heap of fun but inspires young readers to think about some of the tough issues in new ways. I promise you, it doesn't get much better than this, even at Hogwarts!

Suggested by Madison(WI) Public librarians: What to Read While Harry's at Hogwarts: Great Books for Harry Potter Fans Fantasy Books in Series | Individual Fantasy Books | Fantasy Books for Younger Readers Fantasy Books in Series The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman To Lyra, the Gobblers are just imaginary spooks invented to tease and frighten children. Then Lyra's friend disappears and she sets off on a North-bound journey to find him. Along the way she meets witches, an armored bear and other strange beings. Also in the Dark Materials series by Pullman: The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. The Book of Three, by Lloyd Alexander In the first of five Prydain Chronicles, young Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper to a famous oracular sow, finds himself embroiled in a desperate fight against the forces of evil. The final book in the series, The High King, won the Newbery Medal. The Boggart, by Susan Cooper When the Volnik family inherits a tumbledown castle in Scotland, Emily and her younger brother Jessup discover the Boggart. A mischievous spirit, the Boggart has played tricks on the castle's owners for centuries. Also try The Boggart and the Monster. Dealing with Dragons, by Patricia Wrede Bored by the dull routine of her royal position, Princess Climorene runs away from her very proper castle life to become the princess of a powerful dragon named Kazul. Further adventures in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles include Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons. Cart & Cwidder, by Diana Wynne Jones Moril and his family are performers who move from town to town, living out of their cart. Moril's father is a famous singer and storyteller. But then Moril discovers another side to his father as he uncovers the magic of the Cwidder. Other books in the series are: Drowned Ammet, The Spellcoats, and The Crown of Dalemark. The Borrowers, by Mary Norton Pod, Homily and Arrietty Clock, a family of tiny people who live by "borrowing" from humnas, must flee for their lives after Arrietty makes friends with a human boy. Also try other books in the Borrowers series. Alanna: The First Adventure, by Tamora Pierce Eleven-year-old Alanna aspires to be a knight. She disguises herself as a boy to become a royal page, learning many lessons along her path to high adventure. Also try other books in the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce. Individual Fantasy Books Ella Enchanted, by Gail Carson Levine In this Cinderella story with a twist, Faerie Lucinda bestows the gift of obedience on Ella at birth. Ella, now nearly grown, must find Lucinda and break the spell. Kokopelli's Flute, by Will Hobbs When Tepary Jones found the ancient bone flute in the nearby ruins, he felt the warning not to put it to his lips, but his curiosity got the best of him. The Secret of Platform 13, by Eva Ibbotson A young hag, an old wizard, a gentle fey and a giant ogre travel through a magical tunnel to London to rescue their Prince, who had been stolen as an infant. The Castle of Yew, by L. M. Boston When two boys find a castle-shaped yew bush, they are shrunk down to mere inches and find themselves inside the secret castle. The Warnings, by Margaret Buffie Rachel and her new friend, Will, discover that her Aunt has special magical powers and needs Rachel's help to keep an ancient spirit from seizing their stone of power. The Wizard in the Tree, by Lloyd Alexander Irrepressible Mallory, orphan and kitchen maid, rescues a wizard trapped in an old oak and tries to help him return to Vale Innis, the Land of Heart's Desire. The Monster's Ring, by Bruce Coville Russell, eager to frighten the school bully on Halloween night, finds a magic ring with the power to turn himself into a monster. Frankie!, by Willianne Schneider Belden All of the O'Rileys have magical powers, but Frankie is born a griffin. Mostly Magic, by Ruth Chew Emily and her brother, Dick, discover a miniature ladder that can take them anywhere, and a magic pencil that causes anything it writes to happen. Seven Day Magic, by Edward Eager The characters in Susan's library book turn out to be Susan herself and her friends, who share her seven magic adventures. Fifth-Grade Magic, by Beatrice Gormley An apprentice-fairy godmother named Errora bungles the job of granting fifth-grader Gretchen's wish to be the lead in the class play. Mail-Order Wings, by Beatrice Gormley Andrea finds she can actually fly using her Wonda-Wings Kit, but once she's put the wings on, she can't seem to take them off. Travel Far, Pay No Fare, by Anne Lindbergh Owen and his cousin Parsley use a magic bookmark from the library to travel into their favorite books and bring back whatever they can carry. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, by Patricia McKillip A wizard, used to the company of great legendary beasts, is introduced to the human world when a baby comes into her care. Beauty, by Robin McKinley In this retelling of the famous story "Beauty and the Beast," kind Beauty may not be the most beautiful daughter, yet her bravery and compassion lead her to take up residence in the Beast's castle. The Enchanted Castle, by E. Nesbit A magical ring transports Gerald, Jimmy, and Cathy to a garden of stone monsters surrounding a castle. The Magic Book, by Willo Davis Roberts Alex is hopeful that a book called Magic Spells and Potions for the Beginner will help him against the school bully. Fantasy Books for Younger Readers Zoom Upstream, by Tim Wynne-Jones Zoom, the intrepid white kitten, returns with his friend Maria to search for his mysterious uncle, Captain Roy. This time they journey down an underground river and end up in an Eqyptian tomb! A continuation of Zoom's adventures in two earlier books, Zoom at Sea and Zoom Away. My Father's Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett When a stray alley cat tells Elmer about a captive baby dragon, he decides to run away and rescue it. Also try other books by Gannet in the Dragon series. The Bailey School Kids series, by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones Adults are strange creatures, or so it seems to a class of third grade friends at Bailey School, as they try to solve the mystery of the true identities of the adults around them. The Time Warp Trio series, by Jon Scieszka If you're looking for some adventure, travel through time with the Time Warp trio. They'll keep you laughing. You Are Here, by Nina Crews Two girls are stuck indoors on a rainy day, wishing they could go to the park. After the girls create a magical map, they find themselves in a land of Giants. Edward and the Pirates, by David McPhail One night, when Edward falls asleep reading a library book about pirates, he suddenly wakes to find himself surrounded by a rowdy pirate crew! Now what will he do? The Garden of Abdul Gasazi cover The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, by Chris Van Allsburg Alan chases Miss Hester's dog, Fritz, into a magician's gar

C. Dilorio, you win the prize for longest comment ever, LOL. Thanks for the suggestions! Amy, loved seeing you refer to Lloyd Alexander -- he's one of my all-time favorites. TPaulSchulte, your observation is spot on. As my friend YA expert friend K. has often said, the best and freshest writing today can often be found on the YA shelves, and I do think Rowling has helped with that trend, even if she didn't actually start it. ClaireKirch, are you going to let your 9-year-old HP fanatic see the latest movie? Marc Schultz, my sympathies on having been caught with those HP fans...

Bethanne, Rachel saw HP 7 at 1 pm July 11, as soon as we could dump her visiting grandparents from NJ at the airport. She saw it with her daddy, then I met them afterwards, so I could see the 4 pm showing. We all three then met up for pizza afterwards and dissected the movie. Rachel says it was "freaky but not scary." The only scene that frightened her was the scene where Delores Umbrage makes Harry cut his hand -- and it scared Rachel b/c she knew it was coming. All in all, an excellent film adaptation of HP 5. I am alwaya impressed how the actors look exactly how I imagine them to look, as I read the books. I was esp. impressed with Luna Lovegood -- and her last line, in the movie, but not the book: foreshadowing HP 7? We're going to see the movie again Sunday. . .

My six year old son is listening to the Lightning Thief, so there's one vote. He loves the Narnia books as well. The Artemis Fowl series and Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom appeal to this old kid at heart. Looking forward to Mariah Mundi by GP Taylor (he's a friend, so I'm biased.) His post-Shadowmancer books have been hits in the UK, but not so much here.

Bethanne, is there any way to compare sales of young adult books before and after Harry Potter (and somehow control for Harry Potter sales.) Surveys can be notoriously inaccurate.

The Pendragon series by D. J. McHale is good reading, especially for boys who are reluctant readers.

I'm apart of the Harry Potter generation, I began reading the books when I was 14 and I can't wait for book 7 at age 21! The books that I loved to read between HP books are: the Artimes Fowl series, everything written by Tamora Pierce, Fire Bringer, the Redwall series, and the Pendragon series--which I think is as good for girls as it is for boys and of which I could hardly put down. My cousin and brother who read Harry Potter also love the Series of Unfortunate Events series. So take it from some Harry Potter fans on some books to read!

Nothing to recommend here that would top any of the previous, but I would observe that Harry Potter et. al. are popular mostly because they're fun, a rather unpopular concept in some quarters of the juvie publishing world, (Newbury Medal judges, for instance)which has been sneaking more and more castor-oilish books about gloomy social problems onto the scene, which of course most kids hate... Let 'em enjoy themselves, for crying out loud! (Some other nut made an observation of this sort on some blog or other awhile back, so I'm not the first to say it)

I agree with Kevin that a key to Harry Potter's success is that they are fun to read, but they also teach important lessons. I think particularly Book 5 (which is in theaters now) is important to our days of terrorism where President Bush, ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimer Putin, et. al tell us that to keep us safe our freedoms must be taken away, but the lesson of book 5 is our freedoms are what keep us safe. I think that is a very important lesson and it just happens to be put in a fun and entertaining way with Dumbldor's Army and Fred and George leaving Hogwarts by blowing up fireworks in the Great Hall.

True, and I agree-it's only humorless, plodding sermons that I was referring too; God forbid that kid's book's be nothing but sugar-coating Honey-O's...

Spelling & punctuation on that last?! I'm sending myself to sit in the corner for the rest of the day....

My daughter just discovered a fantastic new book called "The Questory of Root Karbunkulus" by Kamilla Reid (new writer who came to her school). She absolutely loved it and is, in fact reading it again while she waits for the next book...six in the series, I think. It has an amazing website that she is constantly checking out and book trailer, too! www.rootkarbunkulus.com. In the meantime, I still cling to my HP7 and hope to finish it today! :)

I have run across a lot of different lists and displays of suggested reading at local bookshops and our library. Books I didn't notice above could include (although some are for young youngsters and some for older): The Hero and the Crown and the Blue Sword; The New Policeman; Fire and Hemlock (or other dianne wynne jones books); The Dark is Rising Series; Charlie Bone; Patricia Wrede's books; shamer's secret; Flora Segunda; Inkheart.. I do think that one of lesser explored avenues of suggestion include non-fantasy titles. We all know the feeling of realizing that you are holding one of those books that you just can't put down and THAT's what we are trying to duplicate. And it's impossible to make a suggestion that works for everyone. My 6 year old was reading, really reading, but not really engaged yet. She's completely hooked on American Girl books. Now, I swore to myself when I was 20 and had read over 15 Star Trek novelizations that I would never again have the right (of course I had never had it!) to even secretly criticize anyone's reading choice, but still there was that tiny part of me that wanted to push her toward the magic tree house or the secret of the greene knowe. But really, she's caught. She's so little still, just a baby to me sometimes, but she DOESN'T HEAR ME when I talk when she's reading those books. That's what we are looking for, right? So while I love Percy Jackson and read each one avidly, and even though I spent the night locked in our town library reading HP7 on July 21st, I need to be ready to help her find the books that catch her attention and suck her in. Right? Anyway, thanks for such a lively discussion... Best wishes, Michele

I adored Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George. It takes fairy tale elements and turns them enough to make a fresh and interesting story. Skullduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy is jam-packed with magic, action, and witty banter. The audio book is outstanding. Clare Dunkle's Hollow Kingdom series is engrossing as well. An English girl is kidnapped by the king of the goblins to be his wife. Older readers might enjoy Naomi Novik's Temeraire series starting with His Majesty's Dragon. The Strictest School in the World by Howard Whitehouse is charming. There are flying machines, a boy who doesn't break, an eccentric aunt, a mad scientist, and numerous madcap escapes. I hate to see a kid give up after HP or LOTR. There is so much more out there.