Whether you're a reader or an editor at a publishing house, everyone wants to find the next Harry Potter. "Sensation" isn't even a grand enough word to describe the effect that J.K. Rowling's 11-year-old wizard with a lightning-bolt scar had on the publishing industry—so many people's lives. "Movement" is more accurate; Harry Potter ignited an era.

In the wake of Harry Potter, the YA and children's literature genre grew exponentially, leading to an abundance of voices and sub-genres that can be found on today's shelves. Theme parks were built. Movies were made. Perhaps most importantly, the books also created a generation of readers forever invested in Harry Potter—and finding books just like them.

However, finding a follow-up to Harry Potter is deceptively hard. It's not as simple as heading to the Fantasy section of the bookstore or plucking a book set in a mysterious school. What people want when they're searching for "books like Harry Potter," is to find a reading experience similar to the one Rowling's series delivers.

In all likelihood, whenever a Muggle is searching for a book like Harry Potter, they really just want a read that feels like Harry Potter. Below, we've gathered the best books that combine Harry Potter's genre with its immersive quality. There are picks for all ages, beginning with middle grade and ending with adult. Play the Harry Potter soundtrack, and go forth.