Books like Wonder
If your child loved Wonder, try Restart, Swami and Friends and Each Kindness. Each is about a child who’s different, and the people who learn to see them.
12 books, checked for age-appropriate content.
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken.
- 1
Ages 9–14
Restart
by Gordon Korman
Chase falls off his roof and wakes up with total amnesia. When he returns to middle school, he discovers he was once the school's most notorious bully, feared and hated by many of his peers. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.
- 2
Ages 10–14
Swami and Friends
by R.K. Narayan
Ten-year-old Swaminathan navigates school, friendship, and childhood mischief in the charming fictional South Indian town of Malgudi during the British colonial era. Swami would rather play cricket, wander the streets, and dream up schemes with his lively group of classmates than sit in a classroom doing homework. A welcoming introduction to traditions, culture, and shared stories.
- 3
Ages 6–11
Each Kindness
by Jacqueline Woodson
Chloe and her friends repeatedly shut out Maya, a new girl at school whose clothes are worn and who plays alone. Each time Maya tries to join in, she is met with cold stares and laughter. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
- 4
Ages 12–14
New Kid
by Jerry Craft
Seventh-grader Jordan Banks loves drawing cartoons and dreams of art school, but his parents enroll him in an elite, academically rigorous private academy where he is one of the few kids of colour. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
- 5
Ages 9–14
The Boy at the Back of the Class
by Onjali Q. Rauf
When nine-year-old Ahmet arrives in their classroom, an empty seat at the back is finally filled. He does not speak English and rarely smiles, but a determined group of classmates soon discovers that he is a refugee who fled war in Syria and became separated from his family. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
- 6
Ages 9–14
The Mysterious Benedict Society
by Trenton Lee Stewart
After responding to a peculiar newspaper advertisement, four remarkably gifted orphans pass a series of mind-bending tests. Recruited by the eccentric Mr Benedict, Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance are sent on an undercover mission to the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. Encourages young readers to reflect on belonging and being a good friend.
- 7
Ages 9–11
The Hundred Dresses
by Eleanor Estes
Wanda Petronski is a quiet Polish girl who wears the same faded blue dress to school every day, yet insists she has one hundred beautiful dresses lined up in her closet. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.
- 8
Ages 9–14
Fish in a Tree
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ally has managed to hide her inability to read by acting out and causing distractions at every new school she attends. Feeling hopeless and convinced she is simply not smart, her outlook begins to shift when a perceptive new teacher, Mr. Daniels, recognizes her struggles as dyslexia. Offers space for thoughtful conversations about empathy and difficult choices.
- 9
Ages 9–14
Malgudi Schooldays
by R.K. Narayan
Ten-year-old Swaminathan navigates the ups and downs of childhood in the charming fictional town of Malgudi in colonial India. Between dodging strict teachers, dreaming about cricket matches with his friends, and getting tangled in small daily rebellions, Swami finds everyday life full of drama and amusement. A lively choice for readers who enjoy movement, teamwork, and determination.
- 10
Ages 9–14
Spy School
by Stuart Gibbs
Twelve-year-old math whiz Ben Ripley dreams of becoming a top CIA agent, but he never expects to be recruited into a top-secret academy for middle-school spies. Once there, he quickly realizes he is completely out of his depth—and that he may have been brought in as bait to catch a dangerous mole. A lighthearted choice for sparking laughter and lively conversation.
- 11
Ages 10–14
Adventures of Rusty
by Ruskin Bond
Rusty is a quiet, imaginative boy growing up in the foothills of the Himalayas. From running away from boarding school and rescuing eccentric pets to making friends in nearby towns, his escapades are full of warmth and curious encounters. A welcoming introduction to traditions, culture, and shared stories.
- 12
Ages 10–14
The Angry River
by Ruskin Bond
Sita lives with her grandparents on a tiny island in the middle of a great river. When her grandmother falls ill and her grandfather takes her to the hospital on the mainland, Sita is left on her own just as monsoon rains cause the river to swell uncontrollably. Invites older readers to reflect on compassion, courage, and resilience.
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