All Time Favorite Series?

[Jaime]

I love reading series of books that go on and on and on... any recommendations?

[J-Lynn Van Pelt]

So hard to choose just one! Favorite Fantasy series, Harry Potter by Rowling and Alanna by Pierce. Favorite Scifi series, Ender's Game/Ender's Shadow by Card and Scorpion Shards by Shusterman. Favorite realistic fiction series, Hazelwood High Trilogy by Draper. Favorite action series, Alex Rider by Horowitz.

[Jess]

Ohhh, Ender's Game!! Love that book! Love the Scott Westerfeld series starting with Uglies. Great dystopian sci-fi. The Princess Diaries series are fun, by Meg Cabot. Melissa De La Cruz has a new series out, about Vampires, first one called Blue Bloods. Love them. Here other series is cute, very girly, first one called Au Pairs. Wow, I could go on and on!!

[Alexandra]

A couple of my favorites, the Tripod series by John Christopher, Dragonsong series by Anne McCaffrey, Arrows of the Queen (Valdemar series) by Mercedes Lackey.

[Renee]

"So You Want to Be a Wizard" (young wizard series) by Diane Duane. 8 and counting!! They're all good and a couple are real gems. Also, concur on Ender's Game -- tone and content changes completely over the course of the series, but they're all worth reading. At a minimum, you HAVE to read the original Ender's Game novel.

[Amy]

Love the McCaffrey and Lackey series! I also liked the Anne of Green Gables series when I was younger and the Hitchhiker (Adams) books. Argh - there's another of my top faves just sitting on the tip of my tongue and won't fall off.....I'll have to wait until it comes back to me....

[Grace]

To be honest there really aren't a lot of series that I really like (except Harry Potter of course!) I think that the author has to be really good and the characters have to be really likable for me to really like the series. I find that so often I feel like the books are just going on for too long.

There are a lot of series that I really liked at the beginning but it just became almost a chore to have to finish them all out. It feels to me that series are "in" right now and no one is just writing one, good book.

Lemony Snicket, Bloody Jack, The Lost Years of Merlin, Chrestomanci, Young Wizards, The keys to the kingdom are all series that I started to get bored of after awhile. I think to make a series that people (especially kids) want to stick too, you really have to be good at making the characters mature throughout the series. The problem I had with Lemony Snicket was that they went on forever, I started them when I was about 11 and didn't finish them until I was 15, the kids never got older, but I was. The 10-13th ones were more of a task to read than anything.

Of Tamara Pierce I've read the Alana books and the protector of the small books. I liked the latter better.

I really liked the Bartimaeus Trilogy. I eagerly read each of those.

[Daniel]

Though not specifically a YA series, it probably could be...The Amber Chronicles by Roger Zelazny is top-notch fantasy. There are ten books in all by Zelazny and now a few more by John Betancourt since Zelazny passed away. If you like the genre, pick up Nine Princes in Amber and see if it doesn't hook you.

[Erin]

I am totally into series as well. It's just like my friend asked me the other night...."When you finish a book do you ever...like....miss the characters?" Yes, I sure do. Twilight if you haven't yet, its great. I actually am really into Madeleine L'Engle right now. I didn't think much could top Wrinkle in Time but the second book, Wind in the Door, has the best ending of any book I have ever read. Also am reading the Libba Bray series which I think is a mix between Harry Potter and Twilight.

[Ken]

I second Daniel's endorsement of the Zelazny's Amber Series. I couldn't stop myself after reading Nine Princes in Amber many moons ago (when I was youngish). The trouble is, the Amber series appears to only be available in one huge, dictionary-like paperback edition now (all ten books in one), and what kid is going to lug around THAT? (Answer: None.)

I hope they come out with separate paperbacks again, each with a cool cover. Teen fantasy fans will snap them up, I guarantee, and I will buy all ten for my classroom library.

[Daniel]

They don't sell the Amber books individually anymore? What a shame! There've been many editions of them, most available in used bookstores, but those Tim White covers were very nice.

[Amy]

Ugh, how could I forget Madeline L'Engle?!?!?! - Thanks Erin!

[Kim]

Weetzie Bat-Francesca Lia Block

[Valerie]

I think one of my favorite series ever is the Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass) by Philip Pullman.

I also really like the tales of Narnia. I loved them and read them many times as a child, and I've also read them as an adult. When I was younger, all the religious parts went right over my head... and I'm sad to say that as an adult I also find them to be somewhat sexist. (I still have a soft spot in my heart for them, though.)

I've also read that some people see Pullman's books as a response to the Narnia books, rejecting its Christian themes.

Just writing this is making me want to re-read them all :)

[Kristen]

WOW! This is a tough question. I'm in the middle of several YA series and they're all wonderful. I cannot possibly choose between them as they are each uniquely fabulous.

Here they are in no particular order:

The Softwire series by PJ Haarsma
The Grey Griffins series by Derek Benz & J.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica by James Owen
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

They all fall under the sci-fi / fantasy genre of YA books.

[Daanon]

Much like Kristen above, I'm into a lot of the newer series...

The Softwire series by PJ Haarsma
The Grey Griffins series by Derek Benz & J.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica by James Owen
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage
Erec Rex series by Kaza Kingsley
Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull

Problem is that most of these have a long way to go. Grey Griffins is 3 books into a 13 book series. Septimus Heap is 3 books into a 7 book series. Erec Rex is 2 books into an eight book series. With the exception of Harry Potter, most of the series on my list are in that situation of only being 2-3 books into their run.

When I was a kid I loved all the Ramona books.

I've read the first Bartimeus book and loved it, but haven't got to the other yet. I really need to read the Leven Thumps series too.

[Erin]

As a kid, I LOVED the Boxcar children books!!!

As an adult, I love the Dark Materials trilogy (have read it every year for - oh my, who wants to admit how many years - let's just say I anxiously awaited book 2, so that alone says I am old!!!) - although I suppose that isn't a series.

I also enjoy the Artemis Fowl books and the Holly Black books.

Erin

[Poppy]

YA Fantasy: Bartimaous Trilogy, Artemis Fowl, Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Garth Nix's Sabriel trilogy

Historical Fiction: Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series (21 books!)

Mystery: Dorothy L. Sayers's Lord Peter books

Humor: E. F. Benson's "Lucia" books, P. G. Wodehouse's "Psmith" books

[Beverly]

I, too, love Madeleine L'engle. I found her when I was in elementary and have followed her since. I love the Time Quartet. I keep her books around to reread when I am feeling down.

[Beverly]

Westerfield's Uglies series is quite good. You might also like the Rachel Caine Vampire series.

[Beverly]

I loved the McCaffrey's Pern series (not only the dragonrider, but the harper hall ones). I think I've read all of them. Not so much fond of Lackey - I have problems with wish fulfillment fantasy, and we have extremely divergent opinions on the use of rape in a story.

[Beverly]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree on Weetzie Bat. I was upset about the lack of consequences to the characers' actions. It seemed like wish fulfillment fantasy (If I just wish hard enough, the entire universe will turn itself around and give me what I want). I wanted to like it, but I really don't.

[Berit]

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan; three out so far and two more on the way. It's what life would be like if the Greek gods were alive today and in middle school..

[Heather]

I loved the books by L J Smith. They just released The Vampire Diaries again and are going to be releasing her Nightworld series again soon.

[alisonwonderland (Alison)]

The Giver is an all-time favorite of mine, but I haven't yet read Gathering Blue and Messenger - although they are on the to-read list for this year.

[Kevan]

Many of my favorites were mentioned, but one that wasn't was The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix. It's hard to make a necromancer a sympathetic character but he does just that.

[Elisa]

I have soooo many favorite YA books and authors... Tamora Pierce, I read every single one as soon as it comes out, Becka Cooper: Terrier was great, I can't wait for the next one. I still love all of Noel Streatfeild's books, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, L.M. Montgomery, all the classics. Has anyone else read the dragon books by Patricia Wrede? I love those!

[Erin]

Okay...since my last post I have read The House of Night Series, Blue Bloods (waiting for my copy of Masquerade, the 2nd book, to get into the store), and the Mortal Instruments series. They were all FAB! They are also all not finished yet...so that means more great reads for me. I think anyone who likes YA Fantasy will love these three series, especially if you love vampires.

[Jen]

I recently read The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, the first in a series of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," and can't wait to read more! It's sort of a Harry Potter but with Greek gods.

I also really love Pullman's His Dark Materials, (as well as L'Engle, Lowry and a lot of the other wonderful suggestions here) and have read the first two of Clive Barker's Abarat series - the illustrations he did of that fantastic world are amazing!

[Josie]

There are three GREAT books on Eugenides, with possibly more to come...they are: The Thief, The Queen of Attolia, and The King of Attolia. (By Megan Whalen-Turner.) Set in a world similar to Ancient Greece, but with pocket watches and guns and glass, etc. Whalen-Turner is terrific at creating plot twists and unreliable narrators...

[Marianne]

Although I loved the Harry Potter series, and am currently reading the Twilight series, I would have to say that the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder is easily my favorite. I could read them over and over and over again.

I am going to add The Percy Jackson series to my list though, because it came highly recommended by my 12 year-old son. He reads every thing I read, and I have never found his recommendations to be lacking in entertainment or interest.

[Josie]

Also, the Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody, five books out, one more to come...

[Iyanna]

I'm just like you! I hate having to hunt for a new author to love. Here are some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them.
1. The Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn
2. Transformation by Carol Berg
3. Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
3. Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
4. Dune by Frank Herbert ( I know it's an old series but it's awesome in scope)
5. Otherland: City of Golden Shadow by Tad Williams
6. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
7. Dawn by Octavia Butler
8. The Gunslinger by Stephen King
9. The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass
10. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

[Amy]

I love Melanie Rawn, Tad Williams and George R.R. Martin!

I also like Elizabeth Haydon and Sharon Shinn.

[Sara ♥]

I have a lot of favorite series, but here are my top 5:

1. Mediator Series by Meg Cabot
2. Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
3. Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer
4. 1-800-Where-R-You Series by Meg Cabot
5. Gemma Doyle Trilogy

Most people just know Meg Cabot for her Princess Diaries series, but I think that's her worst stuff! (Not that it's bad, it's just really not as good as the others!)

[Ann]

Here's some of my favorites:

Harry Potter Boxset Books 1-7 (of course!)
The Little House Collection
L.M. Montgomery's Emily books
Philip Reeve's Larklight series

Also, The Lord of the Rings can continue on (if you like) with all the Histories of Middle Earth (I haven't read them, but if you like the series it'd probably be interesting).
Ditto with the Redwall books. I've only read the first, but I think there's something like 20 in the series!
I've only read the first Inkheart book, but loved it! Seems most people either love or hate it...

Hm... That's pretty much the favorites series-wise... but I'll see if I can come up with any others!:)

[Mary JL]

The Dark is Rising Series--by Susan Cooper
1--Over Sea, Understone
2--The Dark is Rising
3--Greenwitch
4--The Grey King
5--Silver on the Tree

Ignore the movie made of the dark is rising---they ruined it. The books are great.

Katherine Kurtz has written over a dozen books in the Deryni series---set in an alternate, medeval Wales. They are quite good--but only for older YA readers---say age 16 or up.

[Tracy]

Here are my favorites:
The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien
The Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke
The Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini (written by a teenager for YA)
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman
The Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott (the third book, The Sorceress, releases this year.)

[Kevin]

A few favorites (these are the first books in the series):

Gideon the Cutpurse
The Ruins of Gorlan
The Black Book of Secrets
The Alchemyst
Revenge of the Witch
Bloody Jack Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy
and no surprise here... :)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

[Desiree]

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Sequel coming out Sept 09)
The Host by Stephenie Meyer (Sequel TBA)
and as most have mentioned, Twilight Saga :)

[Peace Love]

I've quite a few: (most Vampire series :) )
1. Southern Vampire Series (although more for adults) by Charlaine Harris
2. Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine
3. Mediator Series by Meg Cabot
4. The Immortals (Evermore) by Alyson Noel
5. The Vampire Diaries by L.J Smith
6. Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

[Colleen]

Everyone has heard of Meg Cabot's princess diaries, but no one has heard of her best series of all time, The Mediator....its excelent...if you don't like princess diaries (witch i hate) or any other meg cabot books, but you've never read the mediator, then just give them a chance

[Ashleigh]

I agree the Weetzie Bat books are a MUST read, you can get them in a collection called Dangerous Angels The Weetzie Bat Books.

Also, I have to recommend the Sweep Series by Cate Tiernan. There are 15 books in that series, although they are rather thin, but they're REALLY good and you'll just eat 'em up!

Other than that I don't know anything else that hasn't been mentioned already.

[Sara ♥]

Colleen wrote: "Everyone has heard of Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries, but no one has heard of her best series of all time, The Mediator.... It's excellent... If you don't like Princess Diaries (which I hate) or any other Meg Cabot books, but you've never read the Mediator, then just give them a chance. "

Agreed. The Mediator Series is DEFINITELY Meg Cabot's best work. I love her stand-alone books also.

The Princess Diaries Series.......... oye... drives me crazy. I have to finish it now, because I've read the first 8, but it's not worth it. And if you HAVE to read some of them, just read the first 3. They're the best ones.

[Kim]

I've read many but only 2 series made me miss the characters after reading. A tie for my all time fav series:
[image error] Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

[Alisha]

Favourite series ever, The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

[Maria]

My favorite YA series is the Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine - PeaceLoveandPat was the only other person to mention them - I think! I'm not a big series reader - I usually lose interest after book 3 or 4 - with Rachel's books, I'm still enjoying the characters and world at book 7

Scott Westerfeld's Uglies still has my interest - I'm on book 3. And Melissa Marr's Wicket Lovely is great - I still haven't gotten to the other ones yet :)

[Chachic]

This has already been mentioned but one of my favorite series of all time is the Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner. :)

[Melodie]

My absolute favorite YA series is Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires. The first book just sucked me right in and now eagerly awaiting KISS OF DEATH. I also like Claudia Gray's EVERNIGHT series. I really loved EVERMORE, the first in Alyson Noel's Immortals series, but BLUE MOON & SHADOWLAND were both equally awful.

[Heidi]

Hate to be cliche, but the Harry Potter series blows everything else out of the water. It is my all time favorite. I actually really liked the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series as well. p.s. am I the only person alive that is just not into vampire books???? It seems like they are all over this group, and I just don't get into them. Maybe I just haven't read the right one yet (please don't tell me to read Twilight). Sorry - I had to vent :)