If we thought the adult series poll question was popular a few days ago then that’s nothing to the reaction we got to the children’s/YA poll! We’re looking for the best books series of all time and 500 of you made suggestions for the YA list. Thanks to all of you who made a suggestion (or 10), I’ve added them all up and from your suggestions we have the 25 best book series of all time for the younger audience.
The top two I have to say are unsurprising, both major movie franchises and hugely popular book series, but there are plenty of lesser known suggestions too. Here they are:
Harry Potter – J. K Rowling
The Harry Potter series dominated this poll, as we suspected it would, getting three times as many votes as the second please. It seems that we love this series, always.
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
Another hugely popular series and major movie franchise, Katniss’ struggle puts The Hunger Games second in our best book series of all time list.
Mortal Instruments – Cassandra Clare
A popular author with you lot, Cassandra Clare got two book series into the list, but top is Mortal Instruments.
Chronicles of Narnia – C. S Lewis
An oldie but a goodie, The Chronicles of Narnia is a childhood favourite of many and we’re not surprised to see it make this list.
Divergent – Veronica Roth
This one is popular with youngsters and lots of adults at For Reading Addicts and tops many of our polls. This time it’s made its way into the best book series of all time list.
The Nancy Drew Mysteries – Carolyn Keene
Although ghost written by many different writers, this was a hugely popular series during my own childhood and it has remained in the hearts of many of you too.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone – Laini Taylor
A newer trilogy and hugely popular with our younger readers is the Daughter of Smoke and Bone, with many of you calling it unputdownable.
Anne of Green Gables – L. M Montgomery
A childhood spent with Anne was a happy one, this one is a personal favourite of mine, and I’m so pleased to see that it’s still attracting young readers.
Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus – Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson is a literary hero to many of you and stars in more than one book series, it was Heroes of Olympus that made our poll as the series that you love.
Twilight Saga – Stephenie Meyer
This one always seems to be a love it/hate it series on the page, but it got enough votes here to complete our top 10 book series of all time.
11. Inheritance Cycle – Christopher Paolini
12. The Dark is Rising – Susan Cooper
13. Sweet Valley High – Francine Pascale
14. Little House – Laura Ingalls Wilder
15. Vampire Academy – Richelle Mead
16. Infernal Devices – Cassandra Clare
17. Throne of Glass – Sarah J Maas
18. Shatter Me – Tahereh Mafi
19. Maze Runner – James Dashner
20. Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson
And then taking our list to 25 is
Lux Series – Jennifer Armentrout
Inkheart Trilogy – Cornelia Funke
Lunar Chronicles – Marissa Meyer
Maximum Ride Series – James Patterson
Fablehaven – Brandon Mull
Many of the votes are for mainstream series, and it’s little wonder given it’s a ‘best of all time’ list. That said it’s great to find a new series to read, so hopefully there’ll be some selections on the list that are new to you at least.
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have read quite a few of these sets
Mine would be “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by John Adams, and the John Carter “Princess of Mars” series by Edward Rice Burroughs.
Sorry – that should read Edgar Rice Burroughs. Dang keyboard doesn’t know how to read my mind.
Why isn’t there the Heartstrikers series? I needed to see it in that list! Divergent’s ending was a disaster…
I’d have included the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman.
Where’s Terry Pratchetts Discworld series? ?
The Chaos Walking trilogy is outstanding
No Wrinkle in Time?!? Blasphemy!