Books like the Golden Compass

[Samm]

Hi book fans!

I passed along my Golden Compass Trilogy to my SIL and she really liked it. I'd like to get her something similar for Christmas. Thoughts?

Thank you!
Samm

[east carolina]

Anything by Dianna Wynne Jones, for example her Chronicles of the Chrestomanci.

And if she hasn't read it already, Harry Potter!

Maybe she'd also like The Wee Free Men, Hat Full of Sky and Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett. It's part of his discworld megaseries, but you don't have to have read it it to understand these books and they are more in the young adult vein and can be read as a trilogy. The heroine is a brave 11 year old named Tiffany who becomes a witch in training and travels to a different world in one book, battles the god of winter in another and is helped by drunken male faeries.

[journeymom]

I second the Tiffany Aching series.

To the OP, you didn't mention how old your sister in law is...?

[Thalia the Muse]

My daughter's deep into the Septimus Heap series right now (first book is Magyk). There's also Larklight.

[Daffodil]

How about Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series?

[Samm]

These are great ideas - thanks! Keep 'em coming

SIL is married with kids, late 20's. I loved Golden Compass so I'm also interested for me

My 6.5 year old and I are reading book 2 in the Fablehaven series and loving it - so I'm also considering that. But I'm not sure it'd be as gripping if I read it just by myself, ya' know? Any other Fablehaven fans?

Samm

[Thalia the Muse]

As an adult, she might also like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, which is an entirely enchanting book.

Ooh! I bet you'd both like the series that begins with Sorcery and Cecelia -- it's sort of like Jane Austen but with teenage girls in a world where magic works.

[Amaranth]

"The Lost Conspiracy" by Frances Hardinge (published in the UK as "Gullstruck Island")

the "Magic & Madness" trilogy by Justine Labalestier (hope I spelled that right), though it's short compared to Pullman.

the absolute best in terms of plot is Megan Whalen Turner's trilogy - "The Thief", "The Queen of Attolia" and "The King of Attolia" - amazing fantasy and way better than Harry Potter

[minkajane]

The Looking Glass Wars trilogy. It's a retelling of Alice in Wonderland and it's AMAZING. I'm almost done with the second book right now and the third will be coming out soon.