Books Like Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnats is punished for something he did not do, much as Harry is shut out of the truth. Like Harry, he finds loyalty and courage in an unfair system, and the mystery unfolds with the same satisfying tightness.

Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of a god and is blamed for a crime he did not commit. His fast, wisecracking narration and his fight against powerful adults who keep secrets will feel familiar to Harry fans.

Roald Dahl

Matilda is a clever, outnumbered child who takes on a cruel adult world with quiet determination. Dahl's sharp humour and his fondness for an underdog echo the spirit of Harry's rebellion.

Diana Wynne Jones

Sophie is cursed and drawn into the secret affairs of a wizard and his household. Jones blends sharp wit with a magical world full of rules, rivalries and surprises, much like the wizarding world Harry uncovers.

Madeleine L'Engle

Meg Murry travels through space to rescue her father from a dark, controlling force. Its mix of ordinary family worry and cosmic battle between good and evil matches the emotional stakes of Harry's struggle.

Kelly Barnhill

A witch-raised girl, a lonely enchantress and a secret magic that the adults around her misunderstand create a story of hidden powers. Readers who enjoyed the wizards' secrets in Order of the Phoenix will find its mystery rewarding.

Ellen Raskin

A group of strangers must solve a puzzle set by a dead millionaire, and every clue leads to more suspicion. Its clever plotting and playful tone suit readers who enjoy Harry's sharp friends and the puzzles of the wizarding world.

Norton Juster

Milo travels through a strange land of wordplay and odd characters, learning that the world is more interesting than it first seems. Its quick wit and gentle absurdity offer a lighter change of pace from the darker turns of Order of the Phoenix.

Kenneth Grahame

Toad's reckless schemes and the loyal friendships among Mole, Ratty and Badger give a cosy, warm-hearted story. Readers who love the friendships at the heart of Harry's world will enjoy its affection and comic charm.

Lois Lowry

A boy discovers that his controlled community hides painful truths behind its calm surface. Its focus on authorities deciding what people may know echoes the Ministry's control of information in Order of the Phoenix.

Markus Zusak

Set in Nazi Germany, this story follows a girl who steals books and secretly resists a regime that lies to its people. Its emotional weight and themes of truth, courage and loyalty will appeal to readers who valued the darker chapters of Harry's story.

Neil Gaiman

Nobody Owens is raised by ghosts in a graveyard after his family is murdered, and must face a dangerous threat from outside. Gaiman's blend of gentle humour and eerie danger resembles Harry's mix of everyday school life and deadly peril.