If you enjoy reading books by Elizabeth George Speare then you might also like the following authors:
Laura Ingalls Wilder writes engaging, warm stories that beautifully capture frontier life and growing up in close-knit families. Her books celebrate family bonds, courage, and the value of perseverance.
In Little House on the Prairie, readers experience frontier life through Laura's eyes, exploring both hardships and joys.
Rosemary Sutcliff writes historical fiction filled with vivid descriptions and strong characters who must navigate loyalty, friendship, and courage in challenging times. Sutcliff often focuses on bravery and the struggle to find one's place in the world.
Her novel The Eagle of the Ninth takes readers back to Roman Britain, following Marcus, a young soldier searching for a lost legion and his father's legacy.
Scott O'Dell creates historical novels centered on resilient, believable young people facing difficult circumstances. His novels thoughtfully explore themes of independence, survival, and personal growth against the backdrop of history.
One notable work, Island of the Blue Dolphins, tells the story of a young girl's remarkable survival and strength alone on a remote island.
Karen Cushman writes lively, humorous, and authentic stories set in earlier historical periods. Her characters, usually strong, independent girls, tackle growing up, self-discovery, and asserting their independence.
In her popular book Catherine, Called Birdy, readers follow an outspoken medieval girl determined to shape her own path in life despite society's expectations.
Katherine Paterson creates sensitive, thoughtful novels that explore realistic challenges of friendship, loss, and family. Her stories emphasize empathy, resilience, and the complexity of human relationships.
Her beloved novel Bridge to Terabithia portrays Jess and Leslie's unforgettable friendship and how the bonds we form can help us overcome grief.
Esther Forbes writes vivid historical fiction with strong, believable characters and authentic historical settings. Her stories highlight courage, personal growth, and the struggles ordinary people face during significant historical periods.
In Johnny Tremain, Forbes tells the story of a young silversmith apprentice's coming-of-age in Revolutionary War-era Boston, exploring themes of bravery, maturity, and resilience.
Ann Rinaldi creates engaging stories that weave historical events into the personal experiences of young characters. She excels at bringing history to life through relatable protagonists who learn important lessons about family, friendship, and courage.
Her book A Break with Charity explores the Salem Witch Trials, focusing on young characters caught up in events beyond their control, and highlighting themes of peer pressure, truth, and community responsibility.
Avi is an imaginative storyteller who covers various historical periods through clear, direct prose and vivid settings. His stories often feature young protagonists thrust into extraordinary circumstances, emphasizing themes of self-discovery, bravery, and moral choices.
In The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Avi portrays a girl's transformative journey aboard a merchant ship in the 19th century, where she learns about independence, courage, and the complexity of truth.
Patricia MacLachlan writes warm, poignant stories that focus closely on family relationships, belonging, and emotional growth. Her prose is simple and lyrical, nurturing compassion and resilience in her characters and readers.
In Sarah, Plain and Tall, MacLachlan follows the story of a woman who travels westward to join a family in need, exploring ideas about love, family unity, and adapting to change.
Joan W. Blos brings historical realities to life through thoughtful, carefully-crafted narratives told from the perspective of young protagonists. Set in realistic historical periods, her storylines emphasize community, self-awareness, and personal discovery.
Her notable book, A Gathering of Days, presents the diary of a young girl in 19th-century New England, gently exploring everyday challenges, loss, and growth.
If you like how Elizabeth George Speare brings history alive, you'll appreciate Jean Fritz. She tells historical stories clearly with relatable characters that help readers understand America's past.
Her book Homesick: My Own Story shares her experiences growing up in China, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and cultural understanding.
Gail Carson Levine writes imaginative and meaningful stories, often inspired by fairy tales, with strong, determined characters. Fans of Elizabeth George Speare's courageous protagonists and well-crafted narratives might enjoy Levine's Ella Enchanted.
It's a story about courage, independence, and overcoming challenges on one's own terms.
Lois Lowry's insightful and powerful writing deals with serious themes while remaining approachable and supportive for young readers. If you appreciate Elizabeth George Speare's moving explorations of personal growth, you may find Lowry's Number the Stars especially meaningful.
It tells the story of friendship, bravery, and heroism during World War II.
Mildred D. Taylor writes rich, emotionally engaging books that tackle historical injustice through strong, believable characters.
If you admire Elizabeth George Speare's thoughtful examination of prejudice and social issues, Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry would resonate deeply.
The story revolves around a young African-American girl's family fighting racism and injustice in the American South during the Depression Era.
Christopher Paul Curtis offers humorous, heartfelt, and inspiring novels that vividly bring historical settings to life. Fans of Elizabeth George Speare who enjoy stories of courage, integrity, and young protagonists facing complex challenges would love Bud, Not Buddy.
Set in the Great Depression, this book follows a spirited and resourceful orphan boy seeking his place in the world.