Harry Potter

It would be impossible to make this list without placing Harry Potter at the top. In many ways, it’s the ultimate school fantasy, filled with magic and inspiring generations of children. It started as a simple tale of three kids against overwhelming evil and has since grown into something far greater, reaching the hands of billions. Rarely is children’s fantasy as rich and detailed as in this series, and it's rarer still to reach seven books with no hint of degradation. Harry Potter is filled with Rowling’s beautiful imagination, from the simple spellcasting system, to mythical creatures and Horcruxes. But what truly makes it special is the characters and the environment they’re in. Hogwarts stands for everything the reader would want in a magic school, with huge towers, moving staircases, and headless ghosts. It marks the progress of Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they age, discovering its dark secrets and memorable characters.