P.B. Kerr is best remembered for the Children of the Lamp books, a series that blends djinn mythology, globe-trotting adventure, sibling dynamics, puzzles, and a brisk middle-grade fantasy style. His fiction often combines ancient magic with modern settings, giving readers stories that feel both imaginative and accessible.
If you enjoyed the magical artifacts, clever humor, mythic elements, and fast-moving plots in P.B. Kerr’s books, these authors are excellent next reads:
Rick Riordan is one of the most natural recommendations for P.B. Kerr fans because he also excels at turning ancient myths into energetic, contemporary adventures. His novels are packed with humor, danger, and young protagonists who discover that the world is far stranger than it first appears.
His book, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, follows Percy Jackson as he learns he is the son of Poseidon and is thrust into a quest involving Greek gods, monsters, and a stolen master weapon. If you liked how Kerr made old legends feel exciting and immediate, Riordan offers that same page-turning appeal.
Jonathan Stroud is an especially good match if what you loved most about P.B. Kerr was the presence of djinn and magical intrigue. Stroud’s fantasy has a darker edge than Kerr’s, but it shares the same fascination with summoning, supernatural beings, and smart, witty storytelling.
In The Amulet of Samarkand, the first Bartimaeus novel, a young magician summons a sharp-tongued, powerful djinni and becomes entangled in political conspiracies and dangerous magic. The banter, magical worldbuilding, and clever plotting make this an ideal follow-up for readers who wanted more stories involving djinn.
Eoin Colfer writes with wit, speed, and invention, creating books that feel constantly in motion. Like P.B. Kerr, he enjoys mixing the fantastical with the modern, and he has a gift for making high-concept premises feel fun rather than heavy.
The book Artemis Fowl introduces a teenage criminal mastermind who targets the hidden world of fairies, only to discover that magic and technology can be equally formidable. Readers who liked Kerr’s blend of exotic magic, secret worlds, and quick pacing will likely find Colfer irresistible.
J.K. Rowling is a strong choice for readers who appreciate immersive magical worlds, mysteries woven into adventure plots, and memorable young characters growing into their powers. Her writing has a strong sense of wonder, but it is also built around suspense, loyalty, and discovery.
You might enjoy her popular book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, in which Harry learns he is a wizard and enters Hogwarts, a school full of hidden passages, dangerous secrets, and magical history. If you enjoyed P.B. Kerr’s combination of fantasy and mystery, Rowling offers a similarly addictive reading experience.
Brandon Mull specializes in adventurous middle-grade fantasy with imaginative creatures, strong sibling and friendship dynamics, and a clear sense of escalating danger. His books have the same welcoming, accessible feel that makes P.B. Kerr so easy to recommend to younger fantasy readers.
Try his book Fablehaven, where Kendra and Seth discover that their grandparents run a hidden preserve for magical beings. What begins as discovery quickly becomes a high-stakes story involving ancient rules, magical artifacts, and creatures that are not always friendly.
Michael Scott is a great pick for readers who enjoy mythology, relics, and ancient powers resurfacing in the modern world. His fantasy tends to be broader in scope than P.B. Kerr’s, but it shares that same excitement about secret histories and legendary figures.
His novel The Alchemyst opens The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series and follows twins Sophie and Josh as they become caught in a conflict involving alchemy, prophecy, and immortals drawn from myth and legend. If Kerr’s blend of old magic and contemporary adventure appealed to you, Scott is well worth reading.
Derek Landy writes fantasy with a distinctive mix of action, sarcasm, and supernatural mystery. His books are often funnier and punchier than many in the genre, making them a strong recommendation for readers who enjoyed the lighter, playful side of P.B. Kerr.
One of his best-known novels, Skulduggery Pleasant, pairs a young girl with a wisecracking skeletal detective in a magical conflict full of monsters, secret organizations, and explosive confrontations. The snappy dialogue and nonstop momentum make Landy especially easy to fall into.
Angie Sage brings warmth, eccentricity, and richly layered magical settings to her fiction. Her stories feel whimsical without losing their sense of danger, which makes them appealing to readers who liked the wonder and family-centered storytelling in Kerr’s work.
Her novel Magyk, the opening book in the Septimus Heap series, follows an extraordinary child, a family with hidden ties to magic, and a kingdom full of secrets and enchantments. It’s a satisfying choice if you want fantasy that is playful, imaginative, and full of charm.
Cornelia Funke is ideal for readers who want fantasy that feels lush, atmospheric, and emotionally engaging. Like P.B. Kerr, she writes books that invite younger readers into imaginative worlds without talking down to them.
In Inkheart, books themselves become dangerous when characters can literally be read in and out of stories. Funke’s gift for wonder, suspense, and literary magic makes her a strong recommendation for anyone who enjoys fantasy driven by imagination and discovery.
Garth Nix is a good fit for P.B. Kerr readers who want more elaborate magical systems and a slightly darker tone. His books often focus on duty, identity, and hidden realms, while still delivering exciting, accessible adventure.
His novel Sabriel follows a young woman who must cross into the realm of Death using bells and necromantic magic to rescue her father. While it is more intense than Children of the Lamp, it offers the same thrill of uncovering strange magical rules and confronting ancient forces.
Ransom Riggs blends mystery, fantasy, and eerie atmosphere in a way that makes his books feel distinctive from the first page. Readers who liked Kerr’s use of unusual powers and hidden magical histories may find Riggs especially compelling.
In Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Jacob follows clues left by his grandfather to an isolated place connected to children with extraordinary abilities. The novel’s strange photographs, secrets, and sense of slowly unfolding danger give it a memorable, haunting charm.
Catherine Fisher is a smart recommendation for readers who enjoy imaginative settings and stories built around hidden truths. Her work often sits at the boundary between fantasy and science fiction, but it shares Kerr’s love of mystery and layered worldbuilding.
Her novel Incarceron centers on a vast, sentient prison and a girl on the outside who may hold the key to escape. Fisher writes with intensity and originality, making her a strong choice if you want something imaginative and suspenseful after P.B. Kerr.
N.D. Wilson writes adventurous fantasy with a classic storybook feel, often centered on ordinary children discovering extraordinary doors into other realities. His books carry a similar sense of wonder and escalating peril to Kerr’s middle-grade adventures.
In 100 Cupboards, Henry York uncovers a wall filled with mysterious cupboard doors, each leading somewhere impossible. The novel has mystery, imagination, and a steady pull toward deeper secrets, making it an appealing next read for fantasy-loving younger readers.
Trenton Lee Stewart is less focused on overt magic than some of the authors here, but he is a terrific recommendation for readers who loved the puzzle-solving, secretive plots, and gifted children at the center of P.B. Kerr’s books. His stories reward curiosity and close attention.
In The Mysterious Benedict Society, a group of exceptionally talented children is recruited for a covert mission involving riddles, tests, and an unusual enemy. If your favorite part of Kerr was the cleverness of the young protagonists, Stewart is a very satisfying next step.
Pseudonymous Bosch is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy quirky narration, hidden codes, and stories that seem to wink at the audience while still building genuine suspense. His books feel playful, secretive, and delightfully odd.
His novel The Name of This Book Is Secret follows two children investigating a mysterious box, a missing magician, and a web of unusual clues. Bosch’s direct, conspiratorial style gives his fiction a distinctive voice that many P.B. Kerr fans will appreciate.
