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| |    Fantasy Favorites: The Cure for Harry Potter Deprivation Syndrome by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. It seems as though a new "disease" has arrived along with the Harry Potter phenomenon: Harry Potter Deprivation Syndrome (HPDS). The main symptom of HPDS is a feeling of boredom that typically develops after a person has finished all four of the Harry Potter books (perhaps twice) and now has no more Harry Potter to read. Remembering past Harry Potter episodes provides only partial relief; nothing, it seems, can compare to the thrill of reading these stories for the first time. If your child--or you--is suffering from HPDS, fear not! You are not alone. Moreover, there is a cure for HPDS: more fantasy reading. Although the Harry Potter stories are certainly addictive, "scientific medical research" has shown that other wonderful adventure books can substitute for them. Treating HPDS The list of books that can be used to treat HPDS is nearly endless. Rather than trying to name them all, here are just a few really terrific titles to get you started. After that, regular trips to your library or bookstore should allow you to keep HPDS at bay indefinitely. All the books listed below have child heroes, magic, and adventure. All of them would be appropriate for children between about 8 and 14 years old. You may need to read aloud to the younger ones, or you may choose to read aloud with older children simply because it is so much fun. Classics Of course, there are the classics: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis. If you don't already know these wonderful tales of adventure and magic, you have a great treat in store. For sheer imagination and suspense, it's hard to beat these great books. However, if you especially love the lighter, funnier parts of Harry Potter, you might want to start instead with some of the tales from the list below: Lighter fare The Secret of Platform 13, by Eva Ibbotson The main character in this adventure is Odge Gribble, a young hag. Together with three magical companions, she travels from her magical island kingdom through a secret tunnel to the nonmagical world to rescue a prince who was kidnapped at birth. The problem is, the prince doesn't want to be rescued, and it takes the efforts of many strange and wonderful creatures to persuade him. The Dragonling, by Jackie French Koller A boy named Derek tries to save a young dragon from being killed and ends up on a quest to return the dragon to its home. Other books in this series include A Dragon in the Family and Dragonquest. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, by Patricia C. Wrede Princess Cimorene is 16, beautiful, talented, and terribly bored. When her parents arrange a marriage to the dull prince from the kingdom next door, she decides to run away and falls in with a most unconventional dragon. Dealing with Dragons, the first in the series, is followed by Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons. The Prydain Chronicles, by Lloyd Alexander Prydain is a magical world, with talking animals, sorcery, and a terrible enemy lurking at the borders. Start your tour with The Book of Three, in which Taran, the assistant pig-keeper, chases a pig who predicts the future, and encounters a sassy sorceress, a fanciful bard and lots of danger. The story continues with The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King. The Battle for the Castle, by Elizabeth Winthrop On his 12th birthday, William receives a special token that revitalizes the magic of the model castle in his attic and pitches him and his friend, Jason, into a desperate battle against millions of rats. So You Want to Be a Wizard, by Diane Duane A little bit darker, with more suspense and less funny parts, this story focuses on the friendship between Nita and Kit, two wizards in training. Now they have taken the oath and must survive the ordeal, fighting alongside magical cars and trees. The fate of the world hangs in the balance. Others we love:
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