What to Read Next Based on Your Harry Potter House

Gryffindor: Serafina and the Black Cloak, by Robert Beatty
Bravery and courage are said to be the defining Gryffindor traits, and one often imagines Gryffindors going off on daring adventures. So a book with an adventurous edge is a must, which is why I recommend Serafina and the Black Cloak. Serafina is terrified of leaving the Biltmore estate. After all, she has spent her whole life there, being taught to fear the forest. But when Serafina sees a girl go missing, she must venture beyond the estate and figure out the secret of the man in the Black Cloak, despite her fear. The only time you can really be brave is when you’re scared, after all. Serafina is at times reckless in her quest to save others (like another Gryffindor we all know), but she shows her bravery and determination over and over again.

Hufflepuff: Beyond the Bright Sea, by Lauren Wolk
Hufflepuffs are loyal, fair, and kind. It’s the most inclusive of houses, and its members understand what it means to be a family, so they’ll love Beyond the Bright Sea. It’s a beautiful and enchantingly written story—perfect for any dreamers out there—about twelve-year-old Crow. Abandoned on an island when she was just hours old, Crow longs to know where and who she came from. Raised by the man who rescued her, Crow has long felt like a part of the kind island community—but is that enough for her? A moving story that has everything from mystery, to pirates, to family, to leprosy.

Ravenclaw: The Blackthorn Key, by Kevin Sands
Ravenclaws are supposed to be the smart, logical ones. The ones who particularly value intelligence, so they need a book that rises to their level, like a classic mystery. Ravenclaws will relate to apothecary apprentice Christopher Rowe, from The Blackthorn Key, as he trains to solve complex codes and puzzles. But when a cult starts systematically murdering people, Christopher must solve a new type of puzzle and get to the bottom of the mystery before he becomes the next victim. Full of science, history, and alchemy, this book seems written with Ravenclaws in mind, and the brightest Ravenclaws of all may even be able to solve the mystery right along with Christopher.

Slytherin: Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer
Some people (mostly Gryffindors) have tried to argue that Slytherins are evil—end of story. But we all know that’s just silly. Slytherins aren’t evil. They’re ambitious, resourceful, and clever—none of which are bad. And the perfect book for these clever young students is Artemis Fowl, which follows twelve-year-old Artemis, the greatest criminal mastermind who ever lived. And while he may be a criminal, Artemis isn’t evil—he’s just a young boy doing the best he can with the resources he has, and doing it very well indeed. Full of action and humor, this book is what happens when Harry Potter meets James Bond, and the result will delight readers of all ages.

Horned Serpent: Counting by 7s, by Holly Goldberg Sloan
We still don’t know a lot about the Ilvermorny houses, but we do know that the Horned Serpent favors scholars, with a focus on the mind. So as with Ravenclaw, we need a book that will be fitting of these young intellectuals. Counting by 7s is the perfect book for more mature young readers, featuring twelve-year-old genius Willow Chance. Being a genius hasn’t made her life much easier—she’s obsessed with diagnosing medical conditions and has difficulty connecting with anyone but her adoptive parents. But still, she’s happy and hopeful. Until she suffers the terrible loss of her family. She’s so bright that she knows what it means to grieve, but knowing all the facts and science behind grief doesn’t make it any easier.

Pukwudgie: The Unicorn in the Barn, by Jacqueline K. Ogburn and Rebecca Green 
Full disclosure: I’m Pukwudgie. The house of healers, and the house of heart. Love, compassion, understanding—they’re all matters of the heart, and all part of the Pukwudgie domain. For the little healers in your life, grab them a copy of The Unicorn in the Barn. Full of mythical creatures, this story centers around Eric Harper, a young boy whose family has to sell his grandparents’ farmhouse after his grandmother is moved into a nursing home. Then one night, he witnesses a unicorn limping into his grandparents’ old barn. He soon discovers that a veterinarian of magical creatures has moved into the house, and nothing is quite the same. At times heartbreaking, this is a realistic story with a magical setting, full of friendship, love, and loss.

Thunderbird: Storybound, by Marissa Burt
Thunderbirds are the mascot of the house that favors adventurers. There are no greater adventures than the ones we find in stories, and anyone with an adventurous spirit will relate to the characters in Storybound. Twelve-year-old Una Fairchild doesn’t believe she’s a person meant for great excitement until she’s magically transported to the land of Story through a dusty book buried deep in the school’s basement. There, she discovers she’s not only not invisible, she’s been Written In and has an important role to play. As she tries to figure out how to be a character in a story, Una will face fantastical creatures, make magical friendships, and unearth deadly secrets.

Wampus: Ghost, by Jason Reynolds
A Wampus is a magical panther-like creature that’s known for its speed and strength, so it’s no wonder that the Wampus house is said to favor warriors. The house is said to represent the body, so a book about an athlete is a perfect fit, and there’s no better choice than Ghost. Castle Crenshaw, or as he likes to call himself Ghost, is a boy on the run—literally. When he attracts the attention of the track coach, Ghost joins the team, only to find out that he can’t run away from everything. Mistakes and fear have a way of catching up with you, even when you’re constantly running. This is a fantastic story, about a young man learning what it means to be part of a team and trying to decide how he’s going to live his life.