Many nine year olds love to read book series. In fact they often reread the series with their favourite characters over and over.
Novels published with nine year olds in mind usually have a main character who is two to three years older. Fantasy and adventure series are very popular, but there are plenty of options if you want to try to interest them in something different.
The list below consists of popular series which have had new books come out in recent years. In addition to fantasy series (including two with dragons), there are mysteries with child detectives, historical novels, horror (balanced with humour), science fiction and graphic novels.
Bear in mind that the age recommendations are approximate, and there is a lot of overlap with book series for both younger and older readers.
School Trip
by Jerry Craft
Want to start at the beginning of the series? The first book is New Kid.
It features in our interview with Krishna Grady on The 2020 Newbery Medal and Honor Winners.
New Kid (book 3). Graphic novels about Jordan and Drew and their school life, with issues of race, class, friendships and bullying for readers age 9+.
Rider of the Storm
by Annelise Gray
Want to start at the beginning? The first book in this series, Race to the Death, made our best books for kids 2021 list.
In our interview with the author, Annelise Gray recommends The Best Classics Books for Children.
Circus Maximus (book 3). Historical novels set in 1st century Rome and Roman North Africa, centred on the dangerous world of chariot racing. Age 9+
Skandar and the Phantom Rider
by A. F. Steadman
Want to start at the beginning? The first book in this series is Skandar and the Unicorn Thief.
Skandar (book 2). Fantasy adventure for readers age 9+.
The Circle Breakers
by Patience Agbabi
Want to start at the beginning of the series? The first book, The Infinite, features in our interview The Best Science Fiction of 2021: The Arthur C Clarke Award Shortlist, one of the few times a children’s book has been shortlisted for this prestigious science fiction book prize.
The Leap Cycle (book 3). Science fiction series with a protagonist who has time travelling powers. Age 9+
Mary Anne's Bad Luck Mystery
by Ann M. Martin & Cynthia Yuan Cheng
The graphic novel version of The Baby-Sitters Club (book 13). This series, which started in the 1980s, is in the top five bestselling series of all time for the 9-12 age range.
There is also The Baby-Sitters Little Sister series, for slightly younger children.
Flock Horror
by Jennifer Killick
Want to start at the beginning of the series? The first book, Dread Wood, made our best books for kids 2022 list.
In our interview with the author, Jennifer Killick recommends the Best Horror Novels for 9-12 Year Olds.
Dread Wood (book 3). Thriller books for kids with the scares well balanced by humour. Age 9+
Dragon Destiny
by Katie & Kevin Tsang
Dragon Realm series (book 5). Fantasy adventure series featuring friendship and dragons for age 9+.
The Treehouse Library
by Anna James & Marco Guadalupi (illustrator)
Pages & Co (book 5). Adventure series featuring bookwanderers (who can travel inside books and talk with the characters they meet there), mysteries, magic and secret manuscripts. Age 9+
Ali Cross: The Secret Detective
by James Patterson
Ali Cross (book 3). The son of Alex Cross, of James Patterson’s detective series for adults, now has a series of his own. The young Ali Cross is following in his father’s footsteps as a detective. Age 9+
Wolf Bane
by Michelle Paver
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness (book 9). Concluding volume in meticulously researched adventure series full of nature, animals and magic set in the Stone Age for readers age 9+.
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The Secrets of the Stormforest
by L. D. Lapinski
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency (book 3). Each suitcase transports you to a different world if you step inside. Age 9+
The Flames of Hope
by Tui T. Sutherland
Wings of Fire (book 15). Fantasy adventure series with dragon protagonists for age 9+.
A Case of Misfortune
by Sophie Cleverly
The Violet Veil Mysteries (book 2). Mystery series set in late Victorian England for readers age 9+.
Nightfall in New York
Katherine Woodfine & Karl James Mountford (Illustrator)
Taylor & Rose Secret Agents (book 4). Two young girl detectives turn their talents to espionage in this historical novel series for age 9+
This series follows on from The Sinclair Mysteries.
The Storm Keepers’ Battle
by Catherine Doyle
Storm Keeper Trilogy (book 3). Fantasy set on a remote island off Ireland for readers age 9+
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, published in 1997, is the first book in the Harry Potter series and introduces the character of Harry Potter. It’s no secret that this is the book that got a whole generation of children reading, and the book doesn’t disappoint. We learn about Harry’s miserable life living in a cupboard under the stairs in the house of his ghastly aunt and uncle followed by the liberating news that he is a famous wizard and will not remain the downtrodden orphan forever. Leaving the direness of suburbia behind, he goes off to boarding school at Hogwarts.
Stories of English children going to boarding school have been popular fare for generations, and the combination of clever wizarding/magical touches with the boarding school format are a fun backdrop to the various adventures that take place. Also, unlike later books in the series, it’s not an overly long book.
Note: In the US, the book was published as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which isn’t as good a title. At the time, J.K. Rowling was an unknown writer, and probably not in a position to point out it didn’t make as much sense.
