28 Books like The City of Ember

Orphans of the Tide

by Struan Murray

She pulls a boy from a whale. Inquisitors want him burned. Something wakes inside her.

4.21

2k+

🌊 Flooded World 🎭 Hidden Identity 👁️ Possession 🫂 Found Family 🔧 Inventor Heroine

Orphans of the Tide 90%

She pulls a boy from a whale. Inquisitors want him burned. Something wakes inside her.

by Struan Murray 2020

4.21

2k+ ratings

🌊 Flooded World 🎭 Hidden Identity 👁️ Possession 🫂 Found Family 🔧 Inventor Heroine

The Midnight Charter

by David Whitley • 1996

In a city that trades everything, two servant children are chosen to judge its fate.

3.44

652

🏙️ Dystopian City 🧒 Orphan Heroes 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 💰 Rags To Riches 🫂 Found Family

The Midnight Charter 93%

In a city that trades everything, two servant children are chosen to judge its fate.

by David Whitley 1996

3.44

652 ratings

🏙️ Dystopian City 🧒 Orphan Heroes 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 💰 Rags To Riches 🫂 Found Family

Gregor the Overlander

by Suzanne Collins • 2003

An 11-year-old falls beneath New York. Prophecy pits him against giant rats to save his father.

4.04

115k+

🚪 Portal Fantasy 🌑 Underground World 🦸 Reluctant Hero 📜 Prophecy Quest 🦇 Human-Animal Bond

Gregor the Overlander 92%

An 11-year-old falls beneath New York. Prophecy pits him against giant rats to save his father.

by Suzanne Collins 2003

4.04

115k+ ratings

🚪 Portal Fantasy 🌑 Underground World 🦸 Reluctant Hero 📜 Prophecy Quest 🦇 Human-Animal Bond

Masterminds

by Gordon Korman • 2015

Cloned from criminals, raised in utopia. Eleven kids must escape before the experiment ends them.

4.31

14k+

🧬 Clone Experiment 🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🎭 Fake Utopia 📹 Hidden Surveillance 👥 Kids Vs Adults

Masterminds 92%

Cloned from criminals, raised in utopia. Eleven kids must escape before the experiment ends them.

by Gordon Korman 2015

4.31

14k+ ratings

🧬 Clone Experiment 🏘️ Small Town Mystery 🎭 Fake Utopia 📹 Hidden Surveillance 👥 Kids Vs Adults

Wool Omnibus

by Hugh Howey • 2012

A buried silo's new sheriff finds the outside is a lie, a secret guarded by murder.

4.23

280k+

🏗️ Underground Society 🔍 Dystopian Mystery 🕳️ Claustrophobic 🔧 Working-Class Hero 🕸️ Political Conspiracy

Wool Omnibus 92%

A buried silo's new sheriff finds the outside is a lie, a secret guarded by murder.

by Hugh Howey 2012

4.23

280k+ ratings

🏗️ Underground Society 🔍 Dystopian Mystery 🕳️ Claustrophobic 🔧 Working-Class Hero 🕸️ Political Conspiracy

Among the Enemy

by Margaret Peterson Haddix • 2005

A hidden child escapes a raid, then enters enemy headquarters to save his friends and spy.

4.15

21k+

🏛️ Totalitarian Regime 🫣 Children In Hiding 🫂 Found Family 🕵️ Undercover Spy 🦸 Reluctant Hero

Among the Enemy 92%

A hidden child escapes a raid, then enters enemy headquarters to save his friends and spy.

by Margaret Peterson Haddix 2005

4.15

21k+ ratings

🏛️ Totalitarian Regime 🫣 Children In Hiding 🫂 Found Family 🕵️ Undercover Spy 🦸 Reluctant Hero

Found

by Margaret Peterson Haddix • 2008

A note tells an adopted boy he was taken from the past. Then a second warns: someone's coming.

3.98

42k+

🕰️ Time Travel Mystery 🔍 Kid Investigators 🎭 Hidden Identities 🕵️ Conspiracy Thriller 🤝 Found Family

Found 92%

A note tells an adopted boy he was taken from the past. Then a second warns: someone's coming.

by Margaret Peterson Haddix 2008

3.98

42k+ ratings

🕰️ Time Travel Mystery 🔍 Kid Investigators 🎭 Hidden Identities 🕵️ Conspiracy Thriller 🤝 Found Family

Children of the Lost

by David Whitley • 2010

Exiled from their walled city, two children find a village where buried secrets take monstrous form.

3.82

192

🏙️ Dystopian Fantasy 📜 Secret History 💛 Found Family 🚶 Exiled Protagonists 🎭 Emotional Suppression

Children of the Lost 91%

Exiled from their walled city, two children find a village where buried secrets take monstrous form.

by David Whitley 2010

3.82

192 ratings

🏙️ Dystopian Fantasy 📜 Secret History 💛 Found Family 🚶 Exiled Protagonists 🎭 Emotional Suppression

The Last Cuentista

by Donna Barba Higuera • 2021

A storyteller wakes on a colony ship to find the rulers erased every memory but hers.

4.04

29k+

🚀 Generational Starship 🧠 Memory Erasure 📖 Story As Resistance 💔 Sibling Sacrifice 🫂 Found Family

The Last Cuentista 91%

A storyteller wakes on a colony ship to find the rulers erased every memory but hers.

by Donna Barba Higuera 2021

4.04

29k+ ratings

🚀 Generational Starship 🧠 Memory Erasure 📖 Story As Resistance 💔 Sibling Sacrifice 🫂 Found Family

The Lifters

by Dave Eggers • 2018

An invisible boy learns his crumbling town is held together by children propping up the earth.

3.61

2k+

🕳️ Secret Underground World 🏘️ Small Town Fantasy 🕵️ Secret Society Of Kids 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🏠 Found Family

The Lifters 91%

An invisible boy learns his crumbling town is held together by children propping up the earth.

by Dave Eggers 2018

3.61

2k+ ratings

🕳️ Secret Underground World 🏘️ Small Town Fantasy 🕵️ Secret Society Of Kids 🤝 Unlikely Friendship 🏠 Found Family

The Mysterious Benedict Society

by Trenton Lee Stewart • 2007

Four extraordinary kids ace a strange test, then infiltrate an academy built on mind control.

4.20

177k+

🧩 Puzzle Box Mystery 🕵️ Spy School Adventure 🖤 Found Family 🧠 Gifted Children Team 🌀 Mind Control Plot

The Mysterious Benedict Society 91%

Four extraordinary kids ace a strange test, then infiltrate an academy built on mind control.

by Trenton Lee Stewart 2007

4.20

177k+ ratings

🧩 Puzzle Box Mystery 🕵️ Spy School Adventure 🖤 Found Family 🧠 Gifted Children Team 🌀 Mind Control Plot

The Girl Who Dared to Think

by Bella Forrest • 2017

A Squire marked for deletion swallows a forbidden pill, joining a fugitive to trick the Tower's AI.

4.23

9k+

🏷️ Ranking Dystopia ❤️ Enemies To Lovers 👪 Found Family 🔥 Slow Burn Romance ✊ Underground Rebellion

The Girl Who Dared to Think 91%

A Squire marked for deletion swallows a forbidden pill, joining a fugitive to trick the Tower's AI.

by Bella Forrest 2017

4.23

9k+ ratings

🏷️ Ranking Dystopia ❤️ Enemies To Lovers 👪 Found Family 🔥 Slow Burn Romance ✊ Underground Rebellion

The Search for WondLa

by Tony DiTerlizzi • 2009

Raised in a bunker by a robot mother, a girl emerges into a future Earth to search for other humans.

4.11

14k+

🚪 Portal Fantasy 🤖 Robot Mother 👨‍👩‍👧 Found Family 💔 Last Of Her Kind 🌅 Bittersweet Adventure

The Search for WondLa 91%

Raised in a bunker by a robot mother, a girl emerges into a future Earth to search for other humans.

by Tony DiTerlizzi 2009

4.11

14k+ ratings

🚪 Portal Fantasy 🤖 Robot Mother 👨‍👩‍👧 Found Family 💔 Last Of Her Kind 🌅 Bittersweet Adventure

Dark Life

by Kat Falls • 2010

A subsea boy's strange gift collides with a surface girl's hunt for her missing brother.

3.90

15k+

🐠 Underwater Colony 🧬 Secret Abilities 🔍 Missing Sibling 🤝 Reluctant Allies 💙 Found Family

Dark Life 91%

A subsea boy's strange gift collides with a surface girl's hunt for her missing brother.

by Kat Falls 2010

3.90

15k+ ratings

🐠 Underwater Colony 🧬 Secret Abilities 🔍 Missing Sibling 🤝 Reluctant Allies 💙 Found Family

Divergent

by Veronica Roth • 2011

At sixteen she picks the warrior caste and buries a secret: her mind cannot be controlled.

4.13

4.4M+

🏘️ Faction-Based Society 🏙️ Dystopian Chicago ⚔️ Initiation Trials 🎭 Secret Identity 🧠 Mind Control Weapon

Divergent 91%

At sixteen she picks the warrior caste and buries a secret: her mind cannot be controlled.

by Veronica Roth 2011

4.13

4.4M+ ratings

🏘️ Faction-Based Society 🏙️ Dystopian Chicago ⚔️ Initiation Trials 🎭 Secret Identity 🧠 Mind Control Weapon

The Diamond Age

by Neal Stephenson • 1995

A stolen, sentient primer teaches a poor girl to read, then to lead an army.

4.16

94k+

📖 Sentient Book 🤱 Surrogate Mother 👑 Child Leader 🐝 Hive Mind 🕰️ Neovictorian Society

The Diamond Age 91%

A stolen, sentient primer teaches a poor girl to read, then to lead an army.

by Neal Stephenson 1995

4.16

94k+ ratings

📖 Sentient Book 🤱 Surrogate Mother 👑 Child Leader 🐝 Hive Mind 🕰️ Neovictorian Society

The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness • 2008

On a world of broadcast thoughts, a boy meets a quiet girl and a violent pursuit ignites.

3.97

205k+

🚀 Planet Colonization 🔍 Lost Colony Secrets 🏃 Relentless Pursuer 🐕 Loyal Animal Companion 🌑 Bleak Coming Of Age

The Knife of Never Letting Go 91%

On a world of broadcast thoughts, a boy meets a quiet girl and a violent pursuit ignites.

by Patrick Ness 2008

3.97

205k+ ratings

🚀 Planet Colonization 🔍 Lost Colony Secrets 🏃 Relentless Pursuer 🐕 Loyal Animal Companion 🌑 Bleak Coming Of Age

Gone

by Michael Grant • 2008

After the adults vanish, kids in a dome develop powers and two leaders battle for control.

3.87

211k+

🧒 Children Without Adults ⚡ Kids With Powers 🏘️ Isolated Small Town ⚔️ Brothers As Enemies ⏰ Ticking Clock

Gone 90%

After the adults vanish, kids in a dome develop powers and two leaders battle for control.

by Michael Grant 2008

3.87

211k+ ratings

🧒 Children Without Adults ⚡ Kids With Powers 🏘️ Isolated Small Town ⚔️ Brothers As Enemies ⏰ Ticking Clock

The Gender Game

by Bella Forrest • 2016

A female convict infiltrates a male-ruled nation on a heist mission, her cover a fake marriage.

3.87

43k+

🔀 Gendered Dystopia 💰 Heist Mission ❤️‍🔥 Enemies To Lovers 💍 Fake Marriage 😈 Morally Gray Heroine

The Gender Game 90%

A female convict infiltrates a male-ruled nation on a heist mission, her cover a fake marriage.

by Bella Forrest 2016

3.87

43k+ ratings

🔀 Gendered Dystopia 💰 Heist Mission ❤️‍🔥 Enemies To Lovers 💍 Fake Marriage 😈 Morally Gray Heroine

The Giver

by Lois Lowry • 1993

In a world without pain, a boy is chosen to remember what his community has erased.

4.12

2.8M+

🏙️ Dystopian Utopia 🚫 Controlled Society 📜 Forbidden Knowledge 🤫 Quiet Rebellion 🏡 Isolated Community

The Giver 90%

In a world without pain, a boy is chosen to remember what his community has erased.

by Lois Lowry 1993

4.12

2.8M+ ratings

🏙️ Dystopian Utopia 🚫 Controlled Society 📜 Forbidden Knowledge 🤫 Quiet Rebellion 🏡 Isolated Community

The Rule of Three

by Eric Walters • 2014

A tech collapse forces a teen to lead his neighborhood's defense against a ruthless enemy.

4.00

8k+

💻 Tech Collapse 🫂 Found Family 🛡️ Makeshift Militia 👤 Reluctant Leader 🧠 Strategic Planning

The Rule of Three 90%

A tech collapse forces a teen to lead his neighborhood's defense against a ruthless enemy.

by Eric Walters 2014

4.00

8k+ ratings

💻 Tech Collapse 🫂 Found Family 🛡️ Makeshift Militia 👤 Reluctant Leader 🧠 Strategic Planning

The Kill Order

by James Dashner • 2012

A mind-shredding virus sweeps the wasteland. One immune child is the cure; her protectors go mad.

3.71

263k+

🦠 Viral Outbreak 😱 Survival Horror 👧 Immune Child 🤪 Descent Into Madness ☀️ Environmental Collapse

The Kill Order 90%

A mind-shredding virus sweeps the wasteland. One immune child is the cure; her protectors go mad.

by James Dashner 2012

3.71

263k+ ratings

🦠 Viral Outbreak 😱 Survival Horror 👧 Immune Child 🤪 Descent Into Madness ☀️ Environmental Collapse

The Darkest Minds

by Alexandra Bracken • 2012

Psychic runaway hides a monstrous power while falling for the boy leading the search for safety.

4.15

208k+

🧠 Psychic Abilities 🧡 Found Family 💭 Memory Manipulation 🚐 Dystopian Road Trip ✊ Rebellion

The Darkest Minds 90%

Psychic runaway hides a monstrous power while falling for the boy leading the search for safety.

by Alexandra Bracken 2012

4.15

208k+ ratings

🧠 Psychic Abilities 🧡 Found Family 💭 Memory Manipulation 🚐 Dystopian Road Trip ✊ Rebellion

Scythe

by Neal Shusterman • 2016

In a deathless world, two teens become scythes, until the order demands one kill the other.

4.32

422k+

💀 Post-Mortal World 🗡️ Apprentice Assassin ❤️ Rivals-To-Lovers 🎭 Corrupt Mentor 🏛️ Political Intrigue

Scythe 90%

In a deathless world, two teens become scythes, until the order demands one kill the other.

by Neal Shusterman 2016

4.32

422k+ ratings

💀 Post-Mortal World 🗡️ Apprentice Assassin ❤️ Rivals-To-Lovers 🎭 Corrupt Mentor 🏛️ Political Intrigue

The Unwanteds

by Lisa McMann • 2011

When Artimé vanishes, a mage must solve a dead man's riddle and survive his tyrant twin.

4.11

47k+

🏫 Magical Boarding School 👯 Twin Siblings 🧩 Riddle Quest 🕳️ Captivity Escape 🤴 Reluctant Leader

The Unwanteds 90%

When Artimé vanishes, a mage must solve a dead man's riddle and survive his tyrant twin.

by Lisa McMann 2011

4.11

47k+ ratings

🏫 Magical Boarding School 👯 Twin Siblings 🧩 Riddle Quest 🕳️ Captivity Escape 🤴 Reluctant Leader

Book Scavenger

by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman • 2015

Twelve-year-old Emily must crack a coded Poe book: the last game her hero left behind.

4.14

18k+

📚 Books About Books 🕵️ Literary Scavenger Hunt 🔐 Coded Messages 👥 Unlikely Detectives 🌉 San Francisco Setting

Book Scavenger 90%

Twelve-year-old Emily must crack a coded Poe book: the last game her hero left behind.

by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman 2015

4.14

18k+ ratings

📚 Books About Books 🕵️ Literary Scavenger Hunt 🔐 Coded Messages 👥 Unlikely Detectives 🌉 San Francisco Setting

The Loop

by Ben Oliver • 2020

In a jail that harvests fear, a teen relies on secret friendships until the rain stops.

3.9

9k+

🏚️ Dystopian Prison 📡 Ai Surveillance 🫂 Found Family 🔓 Prison Escape 🧪 Chemical Plague

The Loop 90%

In a jail that harvests fear, a teen relies on secret friendships until the rain stops.

by Ben Oliver 2020

3.9

9k+ ratings

🏚️ Dystopian Prison 📡 Ai Surveillance 🫂 Found Family 🔓 Prison Escape 🧪 Chemical Plague

The 100

by Kass Morgan • 2013

One hundred teenage prisoners crash-land on a ravaged Earth and find they are not alone.

3.58

87k+

🔒 Juvenile Delinquents 🌲 Crash-Land Survival 💕 Survival Romance 🛡️ Protective Sibling 🔺 Love Triangle

The 100 90%

One hundred teenage prisoners crash-land on a ravaged Earth and find they are not alone.

by Kass Morgan 2013

3.58

87k+ ratings

🔒 Juvenile Delinquents 🌲 Crash-Land Survival 💕 Survival Romance 🛡️ Protective Sibling 🔺 Love Triangle

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