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15 Authors like Graham Salisbury

Graham Salisbury is known for engaging young adult fiction set in Hawaii. His notable works include Under the Blood-Red Sun and Blue Skin of the Sea, stories that reflect island life and historical events with warmth and authenticity.

If you enjoy reading books by Graham Salisbury then you might also like the following authors:

  1. Gary D. Schmidt

    Gary D. Schmidt writes thoughtful novels that often feature young characters navigating family dynamics, friendships, and personal growth. He tells his stories in a straightforward, heartfelt style.

    His book, Okay for Now, is about Doug Swieteck, a boy who must overcome challenges at home while finding inspiration in art and new friendships. If you like Graham Salisbury’s authentic characters and meaningful stories, you'll appreciate Schmidt’s work.

  2. Gary Paulsen

    Gary Paulsen is known for adventure-filled stories that vividly describe survival, courage, and the natural world. Like Graham Salisbury, Paulsen tells gripping stories from a young person's perspective, capturing their struggles with honesty and warmth.

    His popular novel, Hatchet, follows 13-year-old Brian Robeson after a plane crash leaves him stranded in the wilderness, forcing him to find strength and resilience he didn't know he had.

  3. Christopher Paul Curtis

    Christopher Paul Curtis creates characters you instantly connect with. His stories usually focus on historical moments and relatable family relationships told with humor, charm, and compassion.

    His novel, Bud, Not Buddy, is about a boy trying to find his father during the Great Depression. Curtis combines humor with emotional depth, much like Graham Salisbury, making history accessible and engaging for readers.

  4. Jerry Spinelli

    Jerry Spinelli writes engaging, often humorous stories centered around unique young characters and their experiences dealing with life's challenges and transitions. His storytelling approach feels true to life, mixing laughter and insight.

    The novel Maniac Magee exemplifies Spinelli’s ability to depict complex issues like prejudice and homelessness with warmth and authenticity. Fans of Salisbury's heartfelt narratives about resilience and identity will thoroughly enjoy Spinelli’s writing style.

  5. Ruta Sepetys

    Ruta Sepetys crafts stories of historical fiction that highlight events and perspectives not always widely covered. Sepetys focuses on capturing emotional moments, personal sacrifice, and resilience through clear, engaging prose.

    Her powerful novel, Between Shades of Gray, vividly portrays the struggles of a girl and her family as they're forcibly relocated to Siberia during World War II.

    Readers moved by the emotional depth and historical themes in Graham Salisbury's novels will find Sepetys' work equally meaningful.

  6. Markus Zusak

    Markus Zusak writes powerful stories with unforgettable characters, often set in difficult historical circumstances. He explores ideas of courage, loss, and the importance of human connection.

    His writing is descriptive but straightforward, allowing readers to feel deeply for his characters. His best-known book, The Book Thief, follows a young girl named Liesel during World War II, as she finds hope through stolen books amidst the chaos around her.

  7. Richard Peck

    Richard Peck is known for his warm and humorous stories that vividly depict life in small-town America. He often focuses on themes of growing up, family relationships, and resilience, with a witty narrative voice.

    His novel A Long Way from Chicago introduces memorable characters like Grandma Dowdel, whose strong personality and funny antics help her grandchildren better understand the world during their summer visits.

  8. Karen Hesse

    Karen Hesse writes novels that often blend poetic language with emotional honesty. She explores the challenges ordinary people face during difficult times, emphasizing themes like survival, hope, and community.

    In her Newbery-winning novel Out of the Dust, she uses free verse poetry to tell the moving story of Billie Jo, a girl growing up in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, dealing with loss and searching for solace in tough times.

  9. Elizabeth Wein

    Elizabeth Wein specializes in thoughtful narratives that weave history and strong female characters together. Her books frequently feature wartime settings, friendship, and heroism, highlighting courage and kindness even in tense moments.

    Code Name Verity, her notable work, takes place during World War II and tells the gripping story of two young women—a spy and a pilot—whose friendship and bravery are tested under dangerous circumstances.

  10. Jack Gantos

    Jack Gantos is a quirky and humorous author who writes vivid characters with distinctive voices. His stories often address tough issues faced by young people in a frank yet approachable way, using situations readers instantly recognize.

    In his award-winning book, Dead End in Norvelt, readers meet Jack, a boy whose summer becomes unexpectedly adventurous when he befriends an elderly, eccentric obituary-writing neighbor.

  11. Mildred D. Taylor

    Mildred D. Taylor writes heartfelt historical fiction, often set in the American South during the early 20th century. Her stories explore courage, resilience, and family ties amid racial injustice.

    A standout example is Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, which follows the Logan family as they confront racism and inequality with dignity and strength.

    Readers who appreciate Graham Salisbury's thoughtful storytelling will connect deeply with Taylor's honest portrayals of family dynamics and personal growth.

  12. Scott O'Dell

    Scott O'Dell brings history vividly to life through his adventure-filled narratives and strong, believable young characters. He often focuses on themes of survival, courage, and the powerful bond between people and their environment.

    Fans of Graham Salisbury's attention to place and culture will appreciate O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins.

    This novel tells the remarkable story of Karana, a young girl who survives alone on an isolated island, teaching readers about strength, resourcefulness, and resilience.

  13. Lois Lowry

    Lois Lowry explores profound ideas and questions through clear, engaging storytelling. Her narratives often center on young characters dealing with powerful ethical choices, personal agency, and the importance of memory and history.

    Her novel Number the Stars, set in wartime Denmark, tells the brave story of friendship and humanity as characters work together to save a Jewish family from danger.

    Readers who value Salisbury's gentle yet honest handling of challenging themes will find similar depth and sincerity in Lowry's work.

  14. Avi

    Avi creates dynamic stories with vivid settings, memorable characters, and strong dialogue. His books span a variety of historical periods, often revealing how ordinary individuals navigate difficult and unexpected struggles.

    For example, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle follows a young heroine whose ocean voyage turns into a dangerous adventure that tests her courage, independence, and sense of justice.

    Readers who like Salisbury's tales of young protagonists growing through exciting historical settings will appreciate Avi's adventurous narratives.

  15. Walter Dean Myers

    Walter Dean Myers writes powerful stories about adolescence, identity, and the experiences of diverse characters facing difficult situations. His themes include growing up, making moral choices, and overcoming adversity.

    In Monster, Myers presents a gripping courtroom drama told through the eyes of a young teen named Steve Harmon, who struggles with his own identity and morality after being accused of a serious crime.

    Readers moved by Salisbury's realistic portrayals of inner struggles and self-discovery will find Myers' novels equally moving and thought-provoking.