35 Books like We Are Not From Here

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow

by Zoulfa Katouh

A teen surgeon haunted by Fear falls for the boy filming Syria's dying city.

4.45

124k+

🏚️ Syrian Civil War 💔 Wartime Romance 🌀 Unreliable Narrator 🩺 Survivor's Guilt 🌊 Refugee Journey

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow 91%

A teen surgeon haunted by Fear falls for the boy filming Syria's dying city.

by Zoulfa Katouh 2022

4.45

124k+ ratings

🏚️ Syrian Civil War 💔 Wartime Romance 🌀 Unreliable Narrator 🩺 Survivor's Guilt 🌊 Refugee Journey

Crossing the Wire

by Will Hobbs • 2006

A Mexican farm boy rides freight trains and crosses the desert to save his starving family.

3.83

3k+

🚂 Riding The Rails 🏜️ Desert Survival 🌎 Immigrant Story 🚧 Border Crossing 💔 Friendship Betrayal

Crossing the Wire 95%

A Mexican farm boy rides freight trains and crosses the desert to save his starving family.

by Will Hobbs 2006

3.83

3k+ ratings

🚂 Riding The Rails 🏜️ Desert Survival 🌎 Immigrant Story 🚧 Border Crossing 💔 Friendship Betrayal

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

by Erika L. Sánchez • 2017

Her perfect sister is dead. What the closet hides could break her immigrant family.

4.00

85k+

🧬 Generational Trauma 🌎 Immigrant Family 📦 Secret Life Uncovered 🩹 Mental Health Healing 🗣️ Sharp-Tongued Heroine

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter Summary

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter 92%

Her perfect sister is dead. What the closet hides could break her immigrant family.

by Erika L. Sánchez 2017

4.00

85k+ ratings

🧬 Generational Trauma 🌎 Immigrant Family 📦 Secret Life Uncovered 🩹 Mental Health Healing 🗣️ Sharp-Tongued Heroine

Catalina

by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio • 2024

Undocumented at Harvard, she's her grandparents' American dream and their only safety net.

3.52

11k+

🎓 Campus Novel 🧳 Immigrant Coming Of Age 🔗 Intergenerational Trauma 🏠 Family Obligation 🎭 Performing Identity

Catalina 91%

Undocumented at Harvard, she's her grandparents' American dream and their only safety net.

by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio 2024

3.52

11k+ ratings

🎓 Campus Novel 🧳 Immigrant Coming Of Age 🔗 Intergenerational Trauma 🏠 Family Obligation 🎭 Performing Identity

All My Rage

by Sabaa Tahir • 2022

Sal sells drugs to save his motel, hiding it from Noor, the girl he loves.

4.48

66k+

🌄 Immigrant Dreams 🕌 Pakistani-American 💞 Friends To Lovers 🍺 Parent With Addiction 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family

All My Rage 91%

Sal sells drugs to save his motel, hiding it from Noor, the girl he loves.

by Sabaa Tahir 2022

4.48

66k+ ratings

🌄 Immigrant Dreams 🕌 Pakistani-American 💞 Friends To Lovers 🍺 Parent With Addiction 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family

Aller Retour

by Yves Beauchesne

Orphaned and abused, a boy escapes to Montreal and searches for anyone who will take him in.

2.43

119

🏃 Runaway Story 🩵 Found Family 💔 Orphaned Protagonist ⚠️ Abusive Guardian 🌱 Quiet Resilience

Aller Retour 91%

Orphaned and abused, a boy escapes to Montreal and searches for anyone who will take him in.

by Yves Beauchesne

2.43

119 ratings

🏃 Runaway Story 🩵 Found Family 💔 Orphaned Protagonist ⚠️ Abusive Guardian 🌱 Quiet Resilience

Summer of the Mariposas

by Guadalupe Garcia McCall • 2012

Five sisters smuggle a body into Mexico and stumble into a world of living folklore.

3.50

3k+

🏛️ Odyssey Retelling 🇲🇽 Mexican Folklore 👯 Sisterly Quest 👻 La Llorona Retelling 🌅 Bittersweet Fantasy

Summer of the Mariposas 91%

Five sisters smuggle a body into Mexico and stumble into a world of living folklore.

by Guadalupe Garcia McCall 2012

3.50

3k+ ratings

🏛️ Odyssey Retelling 🇲🇽 Mexican Folklore 👯 Sisterly Quest 👻 La Llorona Retelling 🌅 Bittersweet Fantasy

We Were Here

by Matt de la Peña • 2009

In a group home, a teen fills his court-ordered journal with everything but his brother's death.

4.10

4k+

🫂 Found Family 🤝 Male Friendship 🛣️ Road Trip Journey 📓 Journal Format 💔 Survivor Guilt

We Were Here 91%

In a group home, a teen fills his court-ordered journal with everything but his brother's death.

by Matt de la Peña 2009

4.10

4k+ ratings

🫂 Found Family 🤝 Male Friendship 🛣️ Road Trip Journey 📓 Journal Format 💔 Survivor Guilt

American Dirt

by Jeanine Cummins • 2020

A bookseller flees north with her son. Her closest friend's cartel killed their family.

4.37

699k+

🩸 Cartel Thriller 🚂 Migrant Journey 💔 Intimate Betrayal 😢 Grief-Soaked 😱 Visceral Suspense

American Dirt 91%

A bookseller flees north with her son. Her closest friend's cartel killed their family.

by Jeanine Cummins 2020

4.37

699k+ ratings

🩸 Cartel Thriller 🚂 Migrant Journey 💔 Intimate Betrayal 😢 Grief-Soaked 😱 Visceral Suspense

Scars Like Wings

by Erin Stewart • 2019

A fire orphaned her. Her scars made her a spectacle. High school demands she be seen.

4.05

7k+

🩹 Visible Difference 🎭 School Theater 💔 Survivor's Guilt 🤝 Reluctant Friendship 🏠 Chosen Family

Scars Like Wings 91%

A fire orphaned her. Her scars made her a spectacle. High school demands she be seen.

by Erin Stewart 2019

4.05

7k+ ratings

🩹 Visible Difference 🎭 School Theater 💔 Survivor's Guilt 🤝 Reluctant Friendship 🏠 Chosen Family

Strike Zone

by Mike Lupica • 2019

A Bronx pitcher dreams of Yankee Stadium. His undocumented parents dream of staying in America.

4.17

397

🧢 Youth Baseball 📋 Undocumented Parents 🩺 Sick Sibling 💪 Heartfelt Sports 🏙️ South Bronx

Strike Zone 90%

A Bronx pitcher dreams of Yankee Stadium. His undocumented parents dream of staying in America.

by Mike Lupica 2019

4.17

397 ratings

🧢 Youth Baseball 📋 Undocumented Parents 🩺 Sick Sibling 💪 Heartfelt Sports 🏙️ South Bronx

Alabama Moon

by Watt Key • 2004

His father dead, a boy raised in the Alabama wild must outrun the law to survive.

4.06

5k+

🌲 Wilderness Survival 🫂 Found Family 👥 Unlikely Friends 🏃 Runaway Kids 🛡️ Resilience

Alabama Moon 90%

His father dead, a boy raised in the Alabama wild must outrun the law to survive.

by Watt Key 2004

4.06

5k+ ratings

🌲 Wilderness Survival 🫂 Found Family 👥 Unlikely Friends 🏃 Runaway Kids 🛡️ Resilience

Imaginaria

by Kristopher Rodas • 2022

A bullied boy's invisible friend leads him into a dark realm where his wounds become monsters.

4.25

2k+

🧸 Imaginary Friend Horror 🌴 Latin American Gothic 🌊 Surreal Nightmare 💔 Childhood Cruelty 🩸 Trauma Made Manifest

Imaginaria 90%

A bullied boy's invisible friend leads him into a dark realm where his wounds become monsters.

by Kristopher Rodas 2022

4.25

2k+ ratings

🧸 Imaginary Friend Horror 🌴 Latin American Gothic 🌊 Surreal Nightmare 💔 Childhood Cruelty 🩸 Trauma Made Manifest

Homeboyz

by Alan Sitomer • 2007

His sister killed by gangs, a teen genius must choose between revenge and saving a boy.

4.34

2k+

🔫 Gang Drama ⚔️ Revenge Quest 🧑‍🏫 Reluctant Mentor 🏠 Found Family 💔 Broken Home

Homeboyz 90%

His sister killed by gangs, a teen genius must choose between revenge and saving a boy.

by Alan Sitomer 2007

4.34

2k+ ratings

🔫 Gang Drama ⚔️ Revenge Quest 🧑‍🏫 Reluctant Mentor 🏠 Found Family 💔 Broken Home

Flight

by Sherman Alexie • 2007

Shot in a bank, a Native foster kid hurtles through strangers' lives across American history.

3.89

18k+

🌀 Body-Swap Time Travel 🪶 Native Coming Of Age 🏚️ Foster Care Trauma 🫂 Found Family 🔗 Generational Trauma

Flight 90%

Shot in a bank, a Native foster kid hurtles through strangers' lives across American history.

by Sherman Alexie 2007

3.89

18k+ ratings

🌀 Body-Swap Time Travel 🪶 Native Coming Of Age 🏚️ Foster Care Trauma 🫂 Found Family 🔗 Generational Trauma

Casi Angeles El Hombre de Las mil caras

by Leandro Calderone • 2011

When a sister vanishes into a magical clock, a found family battles a shapeshifter to save her.

4.22

792

🌀 Portal Fantasy 🫂 Found Family 👼 Angel Guardians 👻 Spirit Possession 🎵 Healing Through Music

Casi Angeles El Hombre de Las mil caras Summary

Casi Angeles El Hombre de Las mil caras 90%

When a sister vanishes into a magical clock, a found family battles a shapeshifter to save her.

by Leandro Calderone 2011

4.22

792 ratings

🌀 Portal Fantasy 🫂 Found Family 👼 Angel Guardians 👻 Spirit Possession 🎵 Healing Through Music

Unhooking the Moon

by Gregory Hughes • 2010

Two orphans flee to New York seeking their last relative, racing the younger one's dark visions.

3.96

2k+

🧒 Orphaned Siblings 🚂 Sibling Road Trip 🫂 Found Family 🔮 Precognitive Child 🏙️ Gritty Middle Grade

Unhooking the Moon 90%

Two orphans flee to New York seeking their last relative, racing the younger one's dark visions.

by Gregory Hughes 2010

3.96

2k+ ratings

🧒 Orphaned Siblings 🚂 Sibling Road Trip 🫂 Found Family 🔮 Precognitive Child 🏙️ Gritty Middle Grade

American Dirt

by Jeanine Cummins • 2019

When a cartel kills her family, a bookseller flees north with her son on migrant trains.

4.40

2k+

🩸 Cartel Thriller 🚂 Migrant Journey 💙 Mother Son Bond 🎭 Friend Turned Enemy 👥 Found Family

American Dirt 92%

When a cartel kills her family, a bookseller flees north with her son on migrant trains.

by Jeanine Cummins 2019

4.40

2k+ ratings

🩸 Cartel Thriller 🚂 Migrant Journey 💙 Mother Son Bond 🎭 Friend Turned Enemy 👥 Found Family

Broken Glass Park

by Alina Bronsky • 2010

Her stepfather killed her mother. In a crumbling German housing project, a teenager plots revenge.

3.53

3k+

🧳 Immigrant Coming Of Age 🌑 Dark Coming Of Age 🗡️ Revenge Fantasy 🫂 Found Family 👧 Sibling Caretaker

Broken Glass Park 91%

Her stepfather killed her mother. In a crumbling German housing project, a teenager plots revenge.

by Alina Bronsky 2010

3.53

3k+ ratings

🧳 Immigrant Coming Of Age 🌑 Dark Coming Of Age 🗡️ Revenge Fantasy 🫂 Found Family 👧 Sibling Caretaker

Ingram

by Louis C.K.

A boy walks across a near-future America, carrying a brother's death he cannot remember.

4.11

3k+

🚶 Picaresque Journey 🌆 Near-Future America 🤝 Found Family 👬 Brother Figures 🧠 Repressed Trauma

Ingram 90%

A boy walks across a near-future America, carrying a brother's death he cannot remember.

by Louis C.K. 2025

4.11

3k+ ratings

🚶 Picaresque Journey 🌆 Near-Future America 🤝 Found Family 👬 Brother Figures 🧠 Repressed Trauma

The Distance Between Us

by Reyna Grande • 2012

Left behind, a girl survives on hunger, hope, and a dream of crossing the border.

4.37

18k+

🛂 Immigrant Memoir 🩹 Childhood Trauma 👫 Sibling Bonds 💔 Father Wound 👧 Parentified Child

The Distance Between Us 90%

Left behind, a girl survives on hunger, hope, and a dream of crossing the border.

by Reyna Grande 2012

4.37

18k+ ratings

🛂 Immigrant Memoir 🩹 Childhood Trauma 👫 Sibling Bonds 💔 Father Wound 👧 Parentified Child

Living Beyond Borders

by Margarita Longoria • 2021

Where are you from? Mexican American teens navigate two cultures in search of their own voice.

4.09

1k+

🇲🇽 Mexican American 📚 YA Anthology 🎭 Dual Identity 🗣️ Code-Switching 👨‍👩‍👧 Generational Stories

Living Beyond Borders 90%

Where are you from? Mexican American teens navigate two cultures in search of their own voice.

by Margarita Longoria 2021

4.09

1k+ ratings

🇲🇽 Mexican American 📚 YA Anthology 🎭 Dual Identity 🗣️ Code-Switching 👨‍👩‍👧 Generational Stories

The Marrow Thieves

by Cherie Dimaline • 2017

A dreamless world hunts an Indigenous boy whose found family keeps the last dreams alive.

3.94

45k+

🌌 Indigenous Futurism 🫂 Found Family 🏚️ Dystopian Survival 🪶 Cultural Reclamation 💔 Generational Trauma

The Marrow Thieves 90%

A dreamless world hunts an Indigenous boy whose found family keeps the last dreams alive.

by Cherie Dimaline 2017

3.94

45k+ ratings

🌌 Indigenous Futurism 🫂 Found Family 🏚️ Dystopian Survival 🪶 Cultural Reclamation 💔 Generational Trauma

Jumper

by Steven Gould • 2002

A brutal beating reveals a teenager can teleport. Now the government wants to own him.

3.93

16k+

🔮 Teleportation Power 🔋 Grounded Superpowers 💥 Power Born From Trauma 🏙️ Gritty Survival 🕵️ Government Pursuit

Jumper 90%

A brutal beating reveals a teenager can teleport. Now the government wants to own him.

by Steven Gould 2002

3.93

16k+ ratings

🔮 Teleportation Power 🔋 Grounded Superpowers 💥 Power Born From Trauma 🏙️ Gritty Survival 🕵️ Government Pursuit

An Emotion of Great Delight

by Tahereh Mafi • 2021

Numb from grief and America's scrutiny, a Muslim teen rediscovers feeling through a forbidden love.

3.66

12k+

🕌 Muslim American Life 🏙️ Post-9/11 America 💔 Forbidden Romance 😢 Sibling Grief 😔 Survivor's Guilt

An Emotion of Great Delight 90%

Numb from grief and America's scrutiny, a Muslim teen rediscovers feeling through a forbidden love.

by Tahereh Mafi 2021

3.66

12k+ ratings

🕌 Muslim American Life 🏙️ Post-9/11 America 💔 Forbidden Romance 😢 Sibling Grief 😔 Survivor's Guilt

Little Bee

by Chris Cleave • 2008

Fresh out of detention, a Nigerian refugee finds the woman who once looked away.

3.72

249k+

🏃 Refugee Narrative 👨‍👩‍👧 Found Family 😔 Survivor's Guilt 🛂 Immigration System 🕰️ Dual Timelines

Little Bee 90%

Fresh out of detention, a Nigerian refugee finds the woman who once looked away.

by Chris Cleave 2008

3.72

249k+ ratings

🏃 Refugee Narrative 👨‍👩‍👧 Found Family 😔 Survivor's Guilt 🛂 Immigration System 🕰️ Dual Timelines

Mexican WhiteBoy

by Matt de la Peña • 2008

Half-Mexican, can't speak Spanish, he spends a summer in his father's barrio, looking for home.

3.85

6k+

🌗 Biracial Identity 👤 Absent Father 🤝 Unlikely Friendship ⚾ Baseball Fiction 🌴 Southern California

Mexican WhiteBoy 90%

Half-Mexican, can't speak Spanish, he spends a summer in his father's barrio, looking for home.

by Matt de la Peña 2008

3.85

6k+ ratings

🌗 Biracial Identity 👤 Absent Father 🤝 Unlikely Friendship ⚾ Baseball Fiction 🌴 Southern California

Clap When You Land

by Elizabeth Acevedo • 2020

After a plane crash kills their father, two girls on opposite shores learn they are sisters.

4.22

110k+

📖 Novel In Verse 🫂 Secret Siblings 🇩🇴 Dominican Diaspora 🤫 Family Secrets 👯‍♀️ Sisterhood

Clap When You Land 90%

After a plane crash kills their father, two girls on opposite shores learn they are sisters.

by Elizabeth Acevedo 2020

4.22

110k+ ratings

📖 Novel In Verse 🫂 Secret Siblings 🇩🇴 Dominican Diaspora 🤫 Family Secrets 👯‍♀️ Sisterhood

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

So Damn Sketchy

by Bonnie Kent • 2020

A girl loses her parents, then herself, in the arms of her brother's best friend.

3.93

218

🔥 Dark Coming Of Age 💔 Parental Abandonment ⚠️ Blurred Boundaries 💀 Self Destruction 🏚️ Homelessness

So Damn Sketchy 90%

A girl loses her parents, then herself, in the arms of her brother's best friend.

by Bonnie Kent 2020

3.93

218 ratings

🔥 Dark Coming Of Age 💔 Parental Abandonment ⚠️ Blurred Boundaries 💀 Self Destruction 🏚️ Homelessness

Unwind

by Neal Shusterman • 2007

Three teens flee a world that harvests adolescents for parts, chasing a hidden sanctuary.

4.17

251k+

🫁 Dystopian Body Horror 🏃 Teens On The Run 👥 Found Family ⛪ Crisis Of Faith ✊ Body Autonomy

Unwind 90%

Three teens flee a world that harvests adolescents for parts, chasing a hidden sanctuary.

by Neal Shusterman 2007

4.17

251k+ ratings

🫁 Dystopian Body Horror 🏃 Teens On The Run 👥 Found Family ⛪ Crisis Of Faith ✊ Body Autonomy

All the Wind in the World

by Samantha Mabry • 2017

Lovers hiding as cousins work a dying desert ranch where a prophet's visions ignite mass hysteria.

3.34

1k+

🌍 Climate Fiction 🎭 Hidden Identity 🐝 Mass Hysteria 🤝 Found Family 💔 Lost Sister Grief

All the Wind in the World 90%

Lovers hiding as cousins work a dying desert ranch where a prophet's visions ignite mass hysteria.

by Samantha Mabry 2017

3.34

1k+ ratings

🌍 Climate Fiction 🎭 Hidden Identity 🐝 Mass Hysteria 🤝 Found Family 💔 Lost Sister Grief

Shimmer

by Alyson Noel • 2011

A vengeful spirit feeds on anger and traps a ghost girl's friends in their worst memories.

3.73

8k+

🔮 Afterlife Fantasy 👻 Ghost Protagonist 💛 Found Family 🕯️ Trapped Spirits 🕊️ Compassion Heals

Shimmer 90%

A vengeful spirit feeds on anger and traps a ghost girl's friends in their worst memories.

by Alyson Noel 2011

3.73

8k+ ratings

🔮 Afterlife Fantasy 👻 Ghost Protagonist 💛 Found Family 🕯️ Trapped Spirits 🕊️ Compassion Heals

Cemetery Boys

by Aiden Thomas • 2020

A trans boy proves himself a brujo by summoning a ghost who denies he is dead.

4.24

110k+

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Boy Protagonist 👻 Ghost Romance 🏠 Latinx Fantasy 🤝 Found Family 🔍 Supernatural Mystery

Cemetery Boys 90%

A trans boy proves himself a brujo by summoning a ghost who denies he is dead.

by Aiden Thomas 2020

4.24

110k+ ratings

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Boy Protagonist 👻 Ghost Romance 🏠 Latinx Fantasy 🤝 Found Family 🔍 Supernatural Mystery

Acceleration

by Graham McNamee • 2003

In the lost and found, a guilt-ridden teen uncovers a killer's diary and a countdown to murder.

3.74

5k+

🩸 Serial Killer Thriller 🔍 Teen Sleuths 💧 Survivor's Guilt 🛡️ Reluctant Hero 👥 Found Family

Acceleration 90%

In the lost and found, a guilt-ridden teen uncovers a killer's diary and a countdown to murder.

by Graham McNamee 2003

3.74

5k+ ratings

🩸 Serial Killer Thriller 🔍 Teen Sleuths 💧 Survivor's Guilt 🛡️ Reluctant Hero 👥 Found Family

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