Dara LaPorte, children's books manager at the Politics & Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C., suggests these series; the first title in each collection is in parentheses.
Fantasy Series, Classic and Contemporary
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, ages 10-14 (The Book of Three)
Percy and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, ages 8-12 (The Lightning Thief)
Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda, ages 8-11 (Rowan of Rin)
Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz, ages 9-14 (Stormbreaker)
Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan, ages 10-14 (The Ruins of Gorlan)
Chet Gecko Mysteries by Bruce Hale, ages 7-10 (The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse)
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, ages 10-14 (Raising Cain)
Chapter-Book Series (for Younger Readers)
Aurora County by Deborah Wiles, ages 9-13 (Love, Ruby Lavender)
Casson Family by Hilary McKay, ages 9-14 (Saffy's Angel)
D.J. Schwenk by Catherine Gilbert Murdock, ages 13-16 (Dairy Queen)
And Some Kids Just Don't Want Magic
Winnie by Jennifer Richard Jacobson (Winnie Dancing on Her Own)
Jenny Archer by Ellen Conford (A Job for Jenny Archer)
Cobble Street Cousins by Cynthia Rylant (In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen)
Akimbo by Alexander McCall Smith (Akimbo and the Lions)
Jenny the Cat by Esther Averill (Jenny and the Cat Club)
Secrets of Dripping Fang by Dan Greenburg (The Onts)
Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo (Mercy Watson to the Rescue)
Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs by Sharon M. Draper (The Buried Bones Mystery)
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