Books Like Fablehaven, Keeper of the Lost Cities and The Mysterious Benedict Society
There’s a special kind of sadness that hits a young reader when they finish the last book in a series they love. The world is over. The friends are gone. And nothing on the shelf looks right.
The fix is a good read-alike: a book that scratches the same itch without being a copy. Below are picks organized by the series your reader just finished, with a note on what makes each one a match. All of these are real, widely available books, and most are easy to find at your local library.
If they loved Fablehaven (Brandon Mull)
What they loved: a hidden magical world right next to the normal one, siblings who bicker and team up, and rules that are there for a reason (and get broken anyway).
- Beyonders by Brandon Mull. Same author, bigger world. A boy falls through a hippo enclosure into a land ruled by a cruel emperor.
- The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley. Two sisters discover they’re descendants of the Brothers Grimm, and that fairy-tale creatures live in a small New York town. Funny, fast, and full of mystery.
- The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Three siblings move into an old house and find a field guide to the hidden creatures living around them. Short books, great illustrations.
If they loved Keeper of the Lost Cities (Shannon Messenger)
What they loved: a girl who discovers she belongs to a secret world, special abilities, loyal friends, and a long-running mystery about who she really is.
- Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend. A cursed girl is swept into a magical city where she must compete in trials to earn a place in its most elite society.
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. Amari gets an invitation to a secret summer program for the supernatural while searching for her missing brother.
- Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland. Not elves but dragons, with the same mix of destiny, friendship, and secrets. Kids who love long series will be busy for months.
If they loved The Mysterious Benedict Society (Trenton Lee Stewart)
What they loved: puzzles, gifted kids who succeed by working together, and a story where kindness and cleverness win.
- The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Sixteen heirs, one will, and a puzzle that keeps twisting. A Newbery Medal winner that still holds up.
- Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein. Kids are locked in a fantastical library and must solve its puzzles to get out.
- Greenglass House by Kate Milford. A snowed-in inn, a houseful of mysterious guests, and a boy who decides to solve them all. Cozy and atmospheric.
If they loved The Land of Stories (Chris Colfer)
What they loved: twins, fairy tales come to life, and a sense of humor about it all.
- The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley. Also on the Fablehaven list, because it fits both. Sisters instead of twins, and just as much fairy-tale fun.
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. A clever Cinderella retelling about a girl cursed to always obey. A Newbery Honor book.
- Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George. A princess, a castle that grows new rooms on its own, and a kingdom to save.
If they loved Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan)
What they loved: myths in the modern world, a wisecracking narrator, and nonstop action.
- Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia. African American folk heroes and West African gods, and a seventh-grader who has to save their world.
- Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi. Hindu mythology, a funny heroine, and a world-ending mistake to fix.
- Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. Modern-day secret world, big heart, and a heroine kids root for instantly.
Tips for finding the next favorite
- Ask what they loved, not just what they read. “The magic” and “the friends” lead to very different next books.
- Try the first chapter aloud. If they ask you to keep going, you’ve found it.
- Use your librarian. Read-alikes are what librarians do best, and they know which books are flying off the shelves this year.
- Let them abandon a book. Not every match works. Quitting a book that isn’t clicking is how readers stay readers.
- Turn it into a game. A book character quiz or a word search can spark interest in a new story before page one.
One to watch: The Truth Seekers
If your reader loves siblings with secret gifts, a family mystery, and a hidden book that changes everything, The Truth Seekers may be their next one. It’s Book One of The Adventures of Stella and Rylee, a clean middle-grade fantasy-mystery for ages 9 to 12.
Twins Stella and Rylee Martin move to a small town in Maine, and on their first day a teacher tells them he knew their father, who died when they were five. In the attic they find a book with their own names stamped on the cover. Stella dreams the future. Rylee always knows exactly where to be. And a boy at a crossroads is running out of time.
Fans of The Sisters Grimm and The Land of Stories will feel at home with the sibling banter. Fans of Benedict Society will like that the kids win by working together and telling the truth.
The book is coming soon. Join the pre-launch list to hear the moment it’s ready, and meet the characters while you wait.
FAQ
What age are these books for? Most are written for ages 8 to 12. Wings of Fire and Nevermoor have a few more intense moments and suit readers 9 and up.
What should my child read after Fablehaven? Brandon Mull’s Beyonders is the natural next step. The Sisters Grimm is a great choice if they loved the sibling dynamic.
Is there anything like Keeper of the Lost Cities for younger readers? The Spiderwick Chronicles and Tuesdays at the Castle are shorter and gentler while keeping the sense of a hidden magical world.
Are these books clean? Most of them are widely considered family-friendly, but standards vary. Check a parent review site or read a chapter together if you’re unsure. Our list of clean middle grade fantasy books has more notes.
When does The Truth Seekers come out? It’s coming soon. Join the pre-launch list on the home page to be the first to know.
