Other Magic Schools Besides Hogwarts: Un-Problematic Alternatives to "Harry Potter"

 J.K. Rowling’s reputation has taken a hit over the last couple of years. Going from one of the most beloved authors of a generation to a problematic transphobic author, as you can see by her tweets and the the internet’s reaction to her transphobic thoughts, one has to wonder if one can still read “Harry Potter'', knowing that Rowling is so problematic towards the trans community. I believe you can still read “Harry Potter,” as one needs to often separate the artist from the art. However, if you are uncomfortable reading “Harry Potter '' due to J.K. Rowling’s views, here are some unproblematic alternatives.

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan is one of the most obvious alternatives. Percy Jackson is about a boy who discovers he’s a half god and heads off a magic camp for other kids like him. The book is also notable for having a main character having ADHD and dyslexia. Disability inclusion is also something worth noting, and often isn’t talked about enough in literature circles, and this series has that going for it. Also, Riordan is considered one of the most beloved authors in the children’s author community, who has defended the LGBTQ+ community through his various tweets.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger is notable for having a female lead in this fantasy series. Sophia is a normal girl who discovers she is an elf, and is thrown into a magical world she didn’t know about. This series is very Harry Potter-ish, but it’s still a good read. With 11 books, this fast paced series should keep kids reading for a while. And like Hogwarts, the characters all attend a magic school themselves, called FoxFire. 

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is yet another female led series, this one being a trilogy. The story is about a girl named Lara, who discovers a whole kidnapping ring when her friend disappears. This story takes place in an alternative universe where kids have magical animals attached to them. She quickly starts to uncover the conspiracies around this magical world. Pullman’s trilogy is also a good introduction to a subgenre of fantasy called Steampunk, which focuses on alternative worlds that have Victorian scenery mixed with modern technology. It’s a cool thing for younger readers to get into.

Eragon by Christoper Paolini is about a boy named Eragon who finds a magic blue stone in the forest, and soon discovers it’s a dragon egg. This leads him into a magical adventure. The book was self published in 2002 by a then 18 year old Paolini, and became a bestselling sensation. A lot of literary critics have called this series Lord of the Rings meets Star Wars, and have cited it as a good read for younger readers with the magic of a Harry Potter like series. 

Carry On: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow by Rainbow Rowell will be recognizable to anyone who read her novel, Fangirl. Fangirl was about a girl who writes fanfiction of a fictional Harry Potter knock off called Simon Snow and gains a following online, while also dealing with her first year of college. Rowell decided to make this character real, and wrote an actual novel about Simon Snow. Snow isn’t only the chosen one at a magic school, but Rowell adds the twist of inclusion of making Simon Snow bisexual. So, already, this book has good inclusion. Also, on a side note, Rowell is one of the best romantic comedy writers I’ve read recently. Her stories are very witty and very real.

These are good alternatives to Harry Potter. Whether you want something truly magical, or something that is more inclusive, these books should be a good choice for you. While the legacy of “Harry Potter'' will probably go untarnished as a classic of the fantasy genre, it’s also worth noting that if you want to read other books in that genre, these books are good alternatives, and are by authors who support all communities.

Nerdy Novels To Read For Non-Nerds

 

Nerd culture has become mainstream in the last dozen years. From Harry Potter to The Big Bang Theory, un-cool is the new cool. So, what if you want to know about nerd culture? A great way to start understanding it is to read novels that explore this subculture. Here are some great novels to read that explore nerd culture.

The Short Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz is a novel which explores the life of uber nerd Oscar de Leon, and his quest for love and acceptance. Jam packed with references to nerdy things like actual books, anime, and television shows, Oscar Wao is one of the nerdiest books I have ever read. It’s also a brilliant representation of not just nerd culture but American and Domeian culture as well. Even more interesting is if you don’t understand the references presented in this book, the author supplies cliff notes to explain the book further. This novel is a brilliant read, and won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Ready Player One by Ernst Cline is basically what it would be like if Seth MacFarlane wrote a cyberpunk novel. Packed with 80s references, this cyberspace adventure takes place in a future where everyone is addicted to a visual reality game called OASIS. Wade, a nerdy guy, finds solace from his everyday life in this game. However, when a competition is put out by the company which runs OASIS, he finds more than he thought he would. He finds friends, a love interest and a mystery that unlocks the past of the game’s mysterious creator. He also finds that maybe real life isn’t so bad.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell is about a girl named Cath who writes fanfiction on the internet. She is also starting her first year of college with her twin sister, Wren. She writes fanfiction based on her favorite fantasy book series, Simon Snow (an obvious play on Harry Potter). While she does this, she gets a following online, and continues to post more and more chapters. However, as she continues to write, she gets a first boyfriend, a couple more friends and starts to find life beyond her nerdy comforts.

The Rosie Project by Gaeme Simon askes the question: what if Sheldon Cooper starred in his own rom-com? Don Tilman is a professor, who decides it’s finally time for him to find a wife. However, being a nerd and being on the autism spectrum, he isn’t sure where to start. He creates his own questionnaire, and starts a research targeted approach called “the wife project”. He meets a bartender named Rosie, introduced to him by his friend, Gene. However, he finds true love isn’t as simple as filling out a scientific questionnaire. 

It by Stephen King is taking a darker turn here than the lighter novels I just mentioned above. However, it is still about the un-cool kids, and still has a special place in nerd culture, as shown by how much it influenced the uber nerdy Netflix show, Stranger Things. The characters, a group of kids who call themselves the losers, have to battle a mysterious supernatural clown who they blame for all the problems that befall their town of Castle Rock. 

Friendroid by M.M. Vaughan is a middle grade novel, but it’s still a great guide to nerd culture. It is the story of a kid named Danny, who isn’t popular at school. He meets a good looking kid named Eric, who’s new at school. He’s a bit shocked Eric wants to be his friend, and can’t quite figure out why. Who would want to be friends with a nerd like him? As he digs deeper, the novel takes a Stranger Things-like turn as Danny starts to suspect Eric and his parents are actually robots. 

So there are some novels you can read about nerd culture, which aren’t just nerdy, but actually about nerds. There’s a clear difference between simply nerdy books and books actually about nerds. A lot of nerdy books are actually about people who aren’t nerds, like wizards and warriors. However, these books are about people who are actually nerds. So, if you want to know more about nerd culture from nerds themselves, these are good novels to start with.

Author Spotlight: Kurt Vonnegut Jr

 

Kurt Vonnegut Jr is one of the great authors of the second half of the 20th century. While he might not be as well known to younger audiences today, they are missing a treasure trove of great writing. He was an anti war activist, who held a liberal worldview and was an important figure in the counterculture in the 60s, 70s and 80s. His writing was unusual in prose and scope. Other authors, including John Irving, have cited Kurt Vonnegut as an influence and mentor. Where to start with the offbeat world of Kurt Vonnegut Jr? Here’s a beginner’s guide to reading Kurt Vonnegut.

Slaughterhouse Five is Kurt Vonnegut’s most iconic novel. Published in 1963, an anti war themed novel, it follows a character named Billy Pilgrim, who keeps flashing back to his survival during the bombing of Dresden, Germany. It’s simply not a straight flashback novel, though. Billy Pilgrim experiences time travel, meeting aliens, and going back and forth between different eras. This all makes the reader question what is real and what is fantasy. What is in Billy Pilgrim’s mind and what isn’t. However, the undercurrent of the novel can’t be denied. This is one of the best anti war novels ever written. 

Breakfast of Champions is Vonnegut’s 1973 novel which follows the events that lead up to the meeting between Dwayne Hoover and Kilgore Trout, Vonnegut’s iconic recurring character. Hoover is a wealthy businessman who is slowly going insane and Kilgore Trout is a struggling science fiction writer. What follows is a story of two characters who are struggling in their own unusual ways, all told in Vonnegut’s unusual style of writing. There’s even a cameo from Vonnegut himself, talking to his characters. It’s worth a read, as it’s quite a trip.

Mother Night is Vonnegut’s 1962 novel about a Nazi living in New York City. It is framed as the memoir of Howard W. Campbell who is waiting for his trial for crimes as a Nazi propagandist. As he waits for his trial, he flashes back on his entire life. However, he is also a double agent for the United States in the impending world war. Once again, war is a big theme in a Vonnegut book, and the book has an anti war tone to it. 

Vonnegut wrote over 14 novels overall, as well as short story collections, non-fiction and plays. However, these three books I just mentioned are his most iconic. Vonnegut is worth a read, and should not be forgotten in time. He is one of the greatest American writers.