by Barb Hopkins

Created on: July 28, 2011   Last Updated: July 29, 2011

The first book in Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling hit US bookstore shelves in September 1998. What began as a tale of a young boy discovering he was part of a magical world grew into a seven book series and a multi-million dollar enterprise that includes merchandising, eight major motion pictures and a theme park in Orlando, Florida.

The genre of young adult literature continues to grow each year, producing amazing stories and characters. However, is there another five book series that could be the next ‘Harry Potter?’

The characters from the Harry Potter series have become as iconic as characters from classic books and movies like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Star Wars.” For another five book series to break out and become the next ‘Harry Potter’ it will have to embody several key elements.

Rowling’s Harry Potter series engaged fans of all ages with likable heroes, colorful supporting characters, fantastical settings and an epic battle of good versus evil. The combination of these elements combined with Rowling’s writing style jettisoned the Harry Potter series to an immortality Voldemort will never know.

Harry Potter may be the most successful young adult series, but there are others with their own strong fan base. “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins offers readers a strong hero, startling settings and an epic battle; however, the series is a trilogy. Rick Riordan’s “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series spans five books and features the adventures of a young demigod. An engaging series that has inspired one motion picture, the Percy Jackson books do include many of the same key elements as Rowling’s series. However, they have yet to inspire the fan devotion and obsession equal to that of Harry Potter.

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare may be a five book series that could be the next ‘Harry Potter.’ As of July 2011, there are four books in print with book five scheduled for release in May 2012 and book six in September 2013. Clare has also written a prequel series, The Infernal Devices. In addition, the first book of the series is being produced as a motion picture.

The Mortal Instruments follows the story of Clary Fray, a 15-year old girl from New York City who discovers she is really part of another world filled with angels, warlocks, faeries, vampires and more. The series is considered urban fantasy, successfully combining the

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