No need to panic now that Harry Potter is on the verge of leaving Hogwarts. If you’re looking for other books that feature fantasy worlds of magic, trolls, children with unusual powers, children with unusual parents, more trolls, children who have misplaced their parents, or any combination of these, here is a selection of the best.

Children of the Red King

Jenny Nimmo; first of six books, Midnight for Charlie Bone

The story: So reminiscent of Potter that you wonder whether Harry hasn’t been kidnapped by Voldemort and cunningly imprisoned in another book. Like Harry, Charlie thinks he’s an ordinary boy but suddenly discovers he has extraordinary powers. In this case, he looks at a photograph and can hear people in the picture speaking. When his family learns about this, he’s packed off to Bloor’s Academy, a special boarding school, where he discovers the truth about his dead father.

Young reader’s verdict:“It’s an easy read, and I really enjoyed it, but it’s not nearly as good as Harry Potter” – Grace, 11

The Edge Chronicles

Paul Stewart, illustrated by Chris Riddell; first of 12 (11 published so far), Beyond the Deepwoods

The story: The Edge is a piece of rock, jutting out from permanent cloud, that seems to be full of asylum-seekers from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. The firstbook introduces young Twig Verginix, who has been raised by wood trolls, but learns that his real parents are glamorous sky pirates. Later books feature Twig’s father, Quint.

Verdict: “The plots are imaginative and clever. It’s more serious than funny, but very immersive. I like how occasionally you have bits that link up with other books in the series” – Ed, 14

Artemis Fowl

Eoin Colfer; first of five, Artemis Fowl

The story: Artemis, 12, comes from a long line of master criminals, and believes there is money to be made out of the fairy underworld. Unfortunately, he makes the mistake of kidnapping Captain Holly Short, an elf with attitude. Described by the author as “Die Hard with fairies”.

Verdict: “The main character is supposed to be an evil criminal mastermind, but he doesn’t seem all that clever. Like Harry Potter, it is set in the real world, but there’s a kind of underground magic thing going on” – Ed, 14

The Power of Five

Anthony Horowitz; first of three, Raven’s Gate

The story: “Would it be possible to write something like The Lord of the Rings,” wondered Horowitz, “but to set it here, now, in the real world?” This is the result. Matt Freeman, 14, an orphan with unusual powers, discovers dark forces are trying to take over the world – starting, for some reason, with Yorkshire – and he’s destined to fight them.

Verdict:“It’s a thriller; quite weird, a bit confusing, but maybe that’s deliberate. All the main characters are boys, but I really enjoyed it just the same. If Harry Potter and a new Power of Five were coming out on the same day, it would be really hard to decide which to read first” – Aislinn, 14

The Measle

Ian Ogilvy (yes, the actor who used to play the Saint); first of five, Measle and the Wrathmonk

The story: Measle Stubbs is the antiPotter. His parents are magical folk, but he’s just an ordinary boy. In the first book, Measle falls out with his guardian, Basil, over a train set. Unfortunately, Basil turns out to be a wrathmonk. This is not good news for Measle.

Verdict: “I don’t like these as much, because they are predictable and don’t have much action or description in them” – Bertie, 12

Chrestomanci

Diana Wynne Jones; first book, Charmed Life

The story: Gwendolen Chant and her brother, Cat, are orphans. Gwendolen is also a gifted witch who makes Hermione Granger look a little dim. So she is delighted when she is invited to study magic at the mysterious Chrestomanci Castle.

Verdict: “The greatest compliment I can give any book is that I read its 600 pages in 5½ hours, including the interruption of bounding periodically out of my room, book in hand, screaming at my brothers to zip it or be beaten” – anonymous Amazon reviewer, 14

Inkheart

Cornelia Funke; first book, Inkheart; third in trilogy due out next year

The story: Meggie’s father is a bookbinder with an unusual talent: when he reads aloud, he can bring characters to life. Unfortunately, not all the fictional characters are pleased about this.

Verdict: “They are full of emotion that makes you hold your breath. The way everything is described makes you feel as if you are really there” – Bryony, 12

Tunnels

Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams; first book out this month

The story: Will Burrows, 14, has lost his father. Honestly, why can’t these children be more careful? So Will and his friend Chester decide to explore the tunnel where Dad was last seen. What they find there – underground world, danger, adventure – will be familiar to all fans of the genre.

Mariah Mundi: The Midas Box

GP Taylor (author of the Shadowmancer series); first book out this autumn

The story: Mariah Mundi, 15, leaves boarding school to work as a magician’s assistant at the mysterious Prince Regent hotel, somewhere on the north coast of England. Described by the publisher as a cross between CS Lewis and Indiana Jones.

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