You’ve just read 4,224 pages of wizarding magnificence. That’s if you read the US editions of the Harry Potter series. And I know what you’re thinking: it’s about 4,224 pages short. You have questions that need answers. NEED answers. Where was Harry in the 24 hours from Voldemort’s attack and Hagrid delivering him to the Dursley’s? What’s the deal with Professor McGonagall? Backstory, please? What about after? Sure there’s the 11 years later epilog, but a few minutes on a train platform doesn’t give answers. And you want more Harry! Or Luna. Or even Scabbers.
Don’t worry; Jo loves the readers more than that. You needn’t resort to the movies (please, don’t), or be flippendo’d by the video games. There are more books. The wizarding world didn’t end on Platform 9 3/4.
But what to read next? Oh, I’ve used affiliate links for each book. If you purchase I get a tiny percentage and you don’t pay any more for it.
The Screenplays
While these are before and after the main books, consider them optional. Or see the play and movie instead of reading the screenplays.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2 (Harry Potter, #8) by John Tiffany, J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on July 31, 2016
ISBN: 1338099132
Genres: Harry Potter
Pages: 309
Format: Hardcover
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This one is controversial. Jo co-wrote it with Jack Thorne and John Tiffany. As such, and because plays read weird in a script, many refuse to accept it as real. If you do read it, you’ll learn what jobs the trio went on to have, more about their children and post-war life at Hogwarts and that Ron is even more of a jerk. The play’s in London, and opening in New York City and Melbourne, Australia in the next year or so.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
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Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on November 18, 2016
ISBN: 9781338109061
Genres: Harry Potter
Pages: 293
Format: ebook
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This one’s a little more accessible as a movie. It’s not a prequel but is early Wizarding world. The 1920s, so for wizarding it’s not that early. This movie script was written by JK Rowling, and is magnificent, as a movie. After the weirdness of reading Cursed Child, I waited and saw the Fantastic Beasts movie before reading the script. It’s an amazing telling of Grindelwald’s rise and an introduction to the American wizarding community. Oh, and nifflers.
The Books
Presented in no particular order, these are the auxiliary reference books that answer some questions you may have after reading the main seven books but probably create even more. Hey, JK Rowling created a detailed, amazing world. The boy wizard is just the start.
The first three of these have been released in print and electronic, raising nearly £20 million for Comedy Relief in England and Lumos. The latter three are only ebooks.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander, J.K. Rowling Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on March 14, 2017
ISBN: 9781408880715
Genres: Harry Potter
Pages: 128
Format: Hardcover
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Before it was a movie series, it was a Hogwarts textbook by Newt Scamander. Yes, a textbook. Of course, it’s rather dry reading the types of dragons, and how dangerous each one is (Hungarian Horntails eat children, and Dumbledore let one in the SCHOOL!) The early print editions have Ron and Harry’s notes they scribbled in class. I agree Ron, acromantula need a higher rating. The 2017 release includes the American creatures and a new foreword from Newt explaining how previously he agreed not to mention the American creatures for their protection.
Quidditch Through the Ages
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Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling, Kennilworthy Whisp Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on March 14, 2017
ISBN: 9781338125740
Genres: Harry Potter
Pages: 128
Format: Hardcover
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This is literally a history and rulebook of a made-up sport. And paired with Fantastic Beasts has raised millions for charity. The first mention of QTtA is when Hermione borrows it from the Hogwarts library for flying tips before her first lesson. It doesn’t help her, but she also didn’t need to know the significant change to the sport in 1884 or what a snidget is. Before anyone tells me that Quidditch now is a sport, I know. I shot this picture at the 2014 Global Games in Canada. Isn’t it ingenious what Muggles will do?
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
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The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on March 14, 2017
ISBN: 9781338125689
Genres: Harry Potter
Pages: 128
Format: Hardcover
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If you made it to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, then you know about The Tales of Beedle the Bard. It’s the collection of five wizarding fairy tales, including The Tale of the Three Brothers. Jo decided to handwrite and illustrate all the stories as a thank you to six of the people who helped her most while writing the books. She did regret that a little but the results were beautiful. Amazon bought the seventh copy (with the money going to charity), and made a limited edition deluxe copy and smaller ones, all raising funds for orphans in Romania. Just like with Muggle fairy tales, they teach morals. I particularly like Warlock’s Hairy Heart. You won’t learn anything more directly about Harry’s life or the wizarding world, but the stories are sweet and entertaining.
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide
Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide (Pottermore Presents, #3) by J.K. Rowling
Published by Pottermore Limited on September 6, 2016
ASIN: B01JLXET7G
Genres: Harry Potter
Pages: 79
Format: ebook
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Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts. An entire 91 pages of just our favorite school. It starts at King’s Cross Station and platform nine and three-quarters, and the sorting hat, going through classes and ghosts, all the way to the secrets of Hogwarts. We know a fair bit of the Mirror of Erised, but what about the Sword of Gryffindor. It’s all here in your… ebook.
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists (Pottermore Presents, #2) by J.K. Rowling
Published by Pottermore Limited on September 6, 2016
ASIN: B01JLXET6C
Genres: Harry Potter
Pages: 64
Format: ebook
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Was Professor Umbridge always evil? Did you know her ornamental cat plate collection is from Frolicsome Feline? Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists is the tidbits on the not-as-nice section of the Wizarding World. We learn the history of the Ministry of Magic, well the line of Ministers, if Azkaban still operates (it does), Horace Slughorn’s history, and more. It’s a quick and useful 78 pages.
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship, and Dangerous Hobbies
Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies (Pottermore Presents, #1) by J.K. Rowling
Published by Pottermore Limited on September 6, 2016
ASIN: B01JLXETNK
Genres: Harry Potter
Pages: 64
Format: ebook
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Finally, we have the Gryffindor, or nice people, book. It contains Professor Minerva McGonagall’s sadness and heartbreak and magical talent (first signs of magic only hours after birth? Amazing!). I’m assuming it’s here because we know of more Gryffindors being animagi, but you get the steps involved. How Remus Lupin became a werewolf is a tearjerker, but you’ll laugh at poor Professor Kettleburn until you wonder who is making his replacement prosthetics since Dumbledore’s death.
There is a heap more information about the Wizarding World. The Pottermore website is the authority on all things Harry Potter.
I didn’t know beetles could be named Bard.