Families who loved The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child feels underestimated by adults or is struggling with the temptation to take a shortcut to prove their worth. It is a sophisticated urban fantasy set in a magical London where magicians rule over commoners through the summoning of spirits. The story follows Nathaniel, a lonely twelve-year-old apprentice who summons a powerful and snarky djinni named Bartimaeus to get revenge on a bully. While it is a thrilling mystery involving espionage and magic, it deeply explores the consequences of ego, the weight of responsibility, and the messy morality of power. It is ideal for middle schoolers who enjoy witty humor and complex characters who are not always purely heroic.