A Hogwarts Reading List : Slytherin

For the past few days, I feel like I have gotten asked when my library’s summer reading program will begin nonstop. I know that summer is on all of our patron’s minds, but I have found myself knee deep in outreach visits, program prep, and preparing the department with new displays and passive programs.

One passive program and display I am particularly excited about is a Harry Potter display to celebrate the United State’s twentieth-anniversary publishing of Harry Potter. As I poured over Pinterest and blogs for ideas, I was excited to find an adult reading list that Harry Potter fans should read based on their house. Then I started to wonder, why isn’t there a list for tweens and teens?

So in honor of the twentieth anniversary, I will be sharing a list once a month to highlight books tweens should read based on their Harry Potter House.

First up is Slytherin

A Slytherin Reading List

Slytherins tend to have a bad reputation, but don’t forget that Merlin was a Slytherin too!

People in this house are ambitious, cunning, strong leaders, and tend to form unbreakable bonds with their own. As a result, they tend to be brave, driven, and very intelligent. They will stop at nothing until they get what they are after. Tweens in this house tend to appreciate plot-driven books with complex characters that possess these qualities. They also tend to like characters that get into a little mischief too (Can you blame them?)

Here are a few of my favorite Slytherin books for middle grade:

Greetings from Witness Protection! by Jake Burt

Thirteen-year-old Niki is a street-smart orphan and a pickpocketer. This makes her the perfect candidate to help a family in the witness protection. As she learns her new identity she finds that she herself might be the family’s biggest threat.

Why Slytherins will like it: Although this book sounds villainous, the character Niki is resourceful, cunning, and protective of her family. Slytherins will connect with the character’s attributes and will enjoy its plot-driven action.

Going Wild by Lisa McMann

Twelve-year-old Charlie Wilde was forced to move from Chicago to Arizona. If that isn’t tough enough she receives a mysterious bracelet in the mail that gives her strange new animalistic powers. Charlie must rely on her new friends to understand her new power and escape the lingering threat that soon emerges.

Why Slytherins will like it: Charlie makes fast friends who happen to be really intelligent. Slytherins will connect with Charlie’s loyalty to her friends and the cunning and ambitious ways she uses her powers.

A Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis

Aventurine the dragon is ready to prove herself to her family. She leaves the safety of her home to capture the most dangerous prey of all-a human. The human happens to be a mage who tricks Aventurine into drinking a cup of hot cocoa that turns her into a human girl! The only thing worthwhile about the change is the chocolate!

Why Slytherins will like it: Aventurine is brave, resourceful, and a complex character that will stop at nothing to get what she is after- chocolate! Slytherins will appreciate these characteristics and will want some chocolate to eat while they devour this delectable read.

The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett

At his old school, Miles Murphy was known to be his town’s best prankster. When his family unexpectedly moves to Yawnee Valley, Miles thinks that he can easily take the title again. To Miles surprise, he discovers that Yawnee Valley already has a school prankster. To take the title as the best prankster, Miles starts an all-out prank war.

Why Slytherins will like it: The character Miles will stop at nothing to be known for his prankster ways. Slytherins will enjoy this book’s light-hearted humor and Miles’s ambitious antics.

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting by Joe Ballarini

Kelly Ferguson will do anything to get money to go to an elite horse riding camp. This  includes babysitting her mom’s boss’s son Jacob. Kelly thinks it will be an easy night, but this is short lived when Jacob is kidnapped by the real Boogeyman. Now it up to Kelly and a secret society of babysitters to destroy the monster and get Jacob back.

Why Slytherins will like it: Kelly is ambitious and brave. Slytherins will be captivated by the story’s fast-paced plot and will be cheering Kelly on as she takes on monsters to bring Jacob home.

Shadows of Sherwood by Kekla Magoon

When Robyn Loxley’s parents suddenly disappear and a harsh new governor takes over her city, she has no choice but to flee for her life and join a band of misfit kids to take her city back and find her family.

Why Slytherins will like it: This futuristic retelling of Robin Hood is made for Slytherins. It has action, resourceful and cunning characters, and a character who will stop at nothing to get her parents back. 

A printable flyer of these titles can be found here: Hogwarts Reading List _ Slytherin

Need more book ideas for a display?

Readers might also enjoy : A Tale Dark and Grimm series by Adam Gidwitz, The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson, Prisoner of Ice and Snow by Ruth Lauren, A Dash of Dragon by Hedi Lang, Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart, The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag, and Race to the Bottom of the Sea by Lindsay Eagar.

For teens and older middle school, readers might enjoy: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Nimona by Noelle Stevenson, All Fall Down by Ally Carter, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas, and The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Did I miss any? Be on the lookout next month for books every Gryffindor should read. Until then, I am wishing you the best in your summer reading preparations.