Are There New Middle Grade Series With Friendships Like Harry Potter?

Let’s talk animal companions as friends. 'The Familiars' by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson is built on this. The young animals—Aldwyn the cat, Skylar the blue jay, and Gilbert the tree frog—have to become a team to save their human wizards. Their bickering, bravery, and growing loyalty as they embark on a quest is a direct analogue to the trio dynamic. It’s a great entry point for younger readers who love the magical adventure and teamwork aspects.

I'm gonna be the dissenting voice and say it's hard to find the exact combo. 'Harry Potter' benefited from a seven-book arc in a confined, relatable setting (school) with a consistent core trio. Many series either shift protagonists, have larger ensembles that dilute focus, or are much shorter. The gradual, year-by-year deepening of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's bond is a special thing that's hard to replicate. You find elements of it everywhere, but the complete package is rare.

'The Darkening' by Sunya Mara has a cool magic system based on storms and a central duo—a princess and a revolutionary—who must work together despite opposing goals. Their reluctant alliance slowly turns into a deep, trusting bond that's critical to saving their dying city. The magic is visually stunning and dangerous, and the friendship is born from necessity and grows into genuine respect. It's a duology, so the pace is tight, and the focus on that one evolving relationship is really intense and satisfying.

Let's talk about the 'magical competition' subgenre. 'The Race to the Sun' by Rebecca Roanhorse (part of Riordan Presents) features Nizhoni Begay competing in a high-stakes race based on Navajo mythology to save her father. It's a quest rather than a school story, but the structure of trials, allies met along the way, and using cultural knowledge as power mirrors the hero's journey in a compelling way. The connection to the land and stories as a source of strength is a powerful form of magic.

A hidden gem: 'The Castle in the Attic' by Elizabeth Winthrop. A boy gets a model castle that contains a shrunken, real knight. He shrinks himself to go on a quest inside it. It's a smaller-scale, intimate magical world, but the feeling of crossing into a tiny, complete kingdom hidden in your own house is incredibly potent. It's that classic 'magic is closer than you think' vibe.

Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'. Again, no magic. But it's about three clever children navigating a bizarre, Gothic, and unfair world filled with absurd villains and cryptic secrets. The learning is all about research, invention, and resilience. It has that same feeling of children relying on their wits and each other against a oppressive adult world. The unique narrative voice and the deeply constructed lore around V.F.D. gives it a similar 'piecing together a puzzle' appeal.

I’m just sitting here nodding along to most of these. Y’all have good taste. Adding like five new books to my list, my wallet is crying.

Strong friendships at the heart of a middle grade fantasy novel can shape the entire magic system, which is a dynamic I find wonderfully compelling in several series. Rick Riordan's 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians' fundamentally explores this, as Percy, Annabeth, and Grover's loyalty is repeatedly the only force powerful enough to overcome divine machinations. Their bond isn't just supportive background; it's the central engine driving quests and surviving prophecies. Similarly, the 'Keeper of the Lost Cities' series by Shannon Messenger places an immense narrative weight on the found family Sophie builds, where trust and solidarity become weapons against a fractured world. These narratives suggest that the truest magic often isn't found in a wand or a prophecy, but in the choice to stand together when everything falls apart. They mirror the real social challenges of their readers while elevating friendship to a world-saving power. Other series build entire universes where friendship is the key to unlocking latent potential or understanding complex lore. Jessica Townsend's 'Nevermoor' books show Morrigan's journey being wholly dependent on the eclectic unit that believes in her, transforming her from a cursed child into someone with agency. The 'Pages & Co.' adventures by Anna James similarly use the friendship between Tilly and Oskar to navigate the literal landscapes of bookwandering, where mutual support enables them to solve literary mysteries. This approach treats friendship as both an emotional anchor and a practical tool for exploration, creating stories where the protagonists' connection directly enables their adventures and discoveries within the fantastical setting.