A Select list of recommended series books

Introduction

Series books come and go with alarming speed and regularity. Just when you think you know what’s hot with your readers, a new series appears with tie-in to a TV show or movie. However, series books are worth including in your intermediate/young adult collection because they:

• May used to tempt reluctant or bored readers and
•  Will improve circulation statistics

Consider purchasing series books with lasting value in hardcover. Those series that will not be so popular in two to three years should be purchased as paperbacks which can be discarded when they no longer circulate.

It’s also worth noting that many authors, especially in the fantasy/science fiction genre, have published more than one series. Young readers will often methodically read every book in a series and ask for more by the same author.

 

 

 

Also, a series may be continued by another author. Check these books carefully, sometimes a new author takes a series in a different direction. The recommended ages noted in the list are a combination of a young person’s reading ability, the grade level and the interest level of the book. Many young readers will try a book that challenges their reading ability if they are interested in the subject/genre. Some of the books included also make great read-aloud choices from about grade 4 to about grade 8.

Criteria for inclusion in the list:

1. I, or my intrepid reviewer, have read at least one book in the series.
2. Series is considered to be of lasting value.
3. There must be four or more novels in the series.

Realistic fiction: older readers

Author	Title of series (number of books)	Age
Phyllis Reynolds Nayer	Alice (16)	11+
L. M. Montgomery	Anne of Green Gables (10)	10+
Cynthia Voigt	Tillerman Family Cycle (7)	11+
Don Trembath	Harper Winslow	10+

Fantasy and Science fiction: younger readers

Author	Title of series (number of books)	Age
T. A. Barron	Lost years of Merlin (5)	6+
Bruce Colville	My teacher (4)	8+
Lloyd Alexander	Prydain chronicles (5)	10+
John Christopher	Tripods (4)	10+
Susan Cooper	The Dark is rising (5)	10+
Brian Jacques	Redwall (16)	10+
Madeline L’Engle	Murry Family series (6)	10+
Mary Norton	The Borrowers (6)	8+
Garth Nix	Seventh tower (6)	6+
Tamara Pix	Circle of magic (4)	10+
J. R. R. Tolkien	Lord of the rings (3)	9+
C. S. Lewis	The Chronicles of Narnia (7)	9+
James Gurney	Dinotopia (20)	9+

Fantasy and Science fiction: older readers

Author	Title of series (number of books)	Age
Douglas Adams	Hitchhiker (5)	12+
Piers Anthony	Xanth (5)	12+
L. Frank Baum	Oz (7)	10+
Terry Brooks	Sannara (4)	12+
Marion Zimmer Bradley	Darkover (23)	12+
Orson Scott Card	Ender (6)	12+
David Eddings	Belguard (5)	12+
Robert Jordan	Wheel of time (11)	12+
Mercedes Lackey	Bardic voices (4)	12+
Anne McCaffrey	Dragonriders of Pern  (4)	12+
Frank Herbert	Dune

Historical fiction: older readers

Author	Title of series (number of books)	Age
Various authors	The Canadian girl (20)	10+
Various authors	Dear Canada (9)	12+
Jean Auel	Earth's children (5)	12+
Mildred Taylor	Logan family (8)	12+
Lawrence Yep	Golden Mountain chronicles (7)	10+
	History of China