Hogwarts House Recommendations
Welcome to another installment of “Libby
finds another excuse to shove her recommendations down your throat!” This week’s
thinly-veiled attempt to make people read my favorite books comes in the form
of Hogwarts House Recommendations! I have chosen four books, each of which I
think emulate a particular Hogwarts house: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin,
and Hufflepuff. These are books that I think a member of that house would
enjoy, perhaps because the main character would be in that house or maybe the
general aesthetic of book feels very attuned to that house. Hopefully, you pick
up a new book soon and see yourself in it more than you would have otherwise.
You can also click on any of the titles and it will take you to the Goodreads
page for that book.
Starting with Harry Potter’s own
house…*sorting hat voice* GRYFFINDOR! For
Gryffindor, I have chosen book with a main character who is the epitome of what
members of the Gryffindor house value: bravery, loyalty, reckless hope. The
book itself is action-packed and rife with a healthy dose of sarcastic humor.
Really, no one should be surprised when I reveal my choice for Gryffindor house
is…
Percy Jackson is pretty much as close to Gryffindor as you can get without having the initials HP. Percy is incredibly brave, just like any demigod, but his particular courage in fighting dyslexia/ADHD, abusive step-dads, and overwhelming grief make his stand-offs with the threats of the mythical world that much more impressive. Percy is never one to overthink something or hesitate, he’d rather jump right into the fray and see what happens, no matter how reckless that may be. Luckily, he has a Ravenclaw best friend to keep him from doing anything too stupid. Gryffindors will find camaraderie with Percy when they discover his fatal flaw is loyalty to his friends. Gryffindors, like Percy, may have difficulty understanding why it is a bad thing to sacrifice the world if the price is your friends. This book may be middle-grade, but it is a funny and cleverly crafted modern tale woven with the myths of Ancient Greece that will leave you cheering and fearful for Percy Jackson and his motley crew of demigods.
Moving on to my alma-mater, it’s RAVENCLAW! Ravenclaw house
is all about creativity, curiosity, and cleverness. Once again, I’ve chosen a
book where the main character fits in this house, but I also think the setting
of the book lends itself towards a certain Ravenclaw aesthetic. Another
personal favorite of mine, my recommendation for members of Ravenclaw house is…
This particular installment of the Shadowhunter Chronicles is set in Victorian England, famed for its presence in classic literature, such as in the works of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. The main character, Tessa Gray, is extremely well-read and wise beyond her years, but she finds herself out of her element when she discovers the depths of the Shadow World. While learning all that she can about this new world of demons and angels, Tessa realizes battles of wits are not the only ones she’ll be fighting in the near future. And it’s not just Tessa with Ravenclaw tendencies, Will Herondale, Shadowhunter extraordinaire, relies on Tennyson and other poetry to do his flirting for him. As a Ravenclaw myself, I appreciate some quality character development along with my action and romance, and this book does not disappoint. Cassandra Clare couples an incredibly world with a smart and proud main character whose powers make it dangerous to underestimate her…and impossible for you to look away.
On to a more infamous house, it’s SLYTHERIN! I
must admit, I am not original with this choice as I have seen this book
associated with Slytherin before, but I couldn’t help but agree! This book
showcases the skills and assets of the Slytherin house in the heroes along with
its flaws. While extensive planning and careful scheming seems more Ravenclaw,
when it’s a heist you’re prepping for, that’s definitely more Slytherin. That’s
right! My pick for Slytherin house is…
This ingenious take on a heist novel is incredibly fast-paced and intricate, but what really makes the book is the cast of characters. Who better to represent Slytherin house than a thief with a score to settle, a spy with a noble dream, a wrongly convicted witch-hunter, a clever runaway, a sharpshooter with a gambling problem, and a Grisha soldier with powers that can bring men to their knees? Members of Slytherin house will enjoy seeing heroes blessed with cunning and ambition take on the forces of ignorance, greed, and betrayal. The Grisha world is dark and gritty, but these characters have all fought tooth and nail for their place in it. A noble band of miscreants fighting for a righteous cause (however reluctantly) in the darkest recesses of the Grishaverse results in a stunningly clever novel about risk-taking, righteous comeuppance, and righting wrongs.
Last but certainly not least…HUFFLEPUFF!
My choice for Hufflepuff is one that doesn’t get very much attention in
the YA world but that I have raved about many times over. It is a mythical
adventure full of romance and magic, but the most Hufflepuff quality of the
book is that no matter how dark the forces that oppose her, the main character
remains stead-fast and kind hearted. A book that is deeply loved if not widely loved, the choice for Hufflepuff house is…
When Kelsey discovers she may be the key to breaking a 300 year-old Indian curse and freeing two brothers from its spell, she does not do so with grace but rather with a determined heart and a mind open to infinite possibilities. Kelsey’s greatest strength is her empathy and compassion for others, neither of which dim during the thralls of tragedy and heartbreak. She journeys halfway across this world and others, risking her life for the fate of two Indian princes, all because she’s feels a connection to them… and because it’s the right thing to do. When Kelsey immerses herself in Indian culture and mythology, she does so with a joy and an attention to detail only a Hufflepuff could, beautifully describing the food, the clothes, the people. Hufflepuffs will look at Kelsey and see a stubborn and smart girl who uprooted her life to ensure the safety of a circus tiger she’d known for two weeks; they will watch her grow powerful and endure trials but remain kind and warm despite the horrors she witnesses; and finally, they will see her grow and love recklessly with everything that she is. The book is mystical and romantic, but more than anything it is the story of a kind and passionate girl who has long kept her emotions under lock and key in order to protect her heart, but finds she is no longer able to leash the love she feels for those who have guided her to this path…or the magic that awaits her at every turn.
All of these books are favorites of
mine, so obviously they are enjoyable by members of all houses. However, this
could help to steer you in the direction of characters and books that you can
empathize with and relate to, making it just that much easier to fall in love
with. This is in no way an all encompassing list; I have plenty more
house-specific recommendations if anyone is interested. For now, happy reading
and draco dormiens nunguam titillandus!
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