If you enjoy reading books by Karen Cushman then you might also like the following authors:
Avi combines historical accuracy and relatable characters in his novels, providing thoughtful glimpses into past eras. His style brings history to life with clarity and emotional depth.
Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a great example, exploring the struggles of a young boy trying to survive in medieval England.
Katherine Paterson writes moving, character-driven stories that tackle deep emotions and complex family relationships. Her straightforward style connects easily with readers, and in Bridge to Terabithia, she sensitively explores friendship, loss, and growing up.
Patricia MacLachlan creates gentle, thoughtful stories centered on family, identity, and belonging. Her minimalist, poetic language beautifully conveys emotion. Sarah, Plain and Tall is an excellent example, telling the touching story of family bonds forming in unexpected ways.
Lois Lowry approaches powerful themes like memory, freedom, and individuality with a clear, understated style. She creates believable characters who face difficult choices, as shown in Number the Stars.
Readers who enjoy thoughtful, emotional storytelling will connect easily with Lowry's work.
Gary D. Schmidt tells heartfelt, realistic stories about young people confronting difficult situations and finding their place in the world.
With humor and sensitivity, he makes tough topics approachable, as seen in The Wednesday Wars, which explores family, friendship, and growing up during turbulent times.
Linda Sue Park creates vivid historical stories that capture the daily joys and struggles of young characters. She often explores themes of resilience, family, and cultural identity.
Her novel A Single Shard tells the story of Tree-ear, a young orphan determined to learn pottery in 12th-century Korea, highlighting courage and perseverance.
Laura Amy Schlitz crafts atmospheric historical novels filled with rich details, strong voices, and authentic emotions. Her stories often revolve around young characters finding their place amid challenging times. In Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
Voices from a Medieval Village, Schlitz presents engaging monologues that vividly bring medieval life and hardships to life, reflecting a style fans of Karen Cushman will appreciate.
Sharon Creech writes warm, thoughtful books with strong characters whose journeys reveal deep insights into family, friendship, and self-discovery.
Her novel Walk Two Moons follows a spirited young girl named Salamanca, who travels across the country with her grandparents, facing emotions of loss and love head-on with courage and humor.
Jerry Spinelli writes heartfelt, humorous stories about kids grappling with identity, belonging, and kindness. His voice is direct and honest, connecting easily with young readers.
His beloved novel Maniac Magee explores themes of friendship, racial understanding, and courage, through the action-packed adventures of an unconventional hero.
Gail Carson Levine brings fairy tales to life through charming, imaginative stories with witty dialogue and lively heroines. She explores themes of bravery, kindness, and finding one's own identity.
Her novel Ella Enchanted is the delightful story of Ella, a girl under a curse forcing her obedience, who fights to reclaim her freedom with intelligence and humor.
Rodman Philbrick writes stories that are rich in friendship, bravery, and personal discovery. He creates relatable characters facing real-life challenges while inspiring readers to overcome obstacles.
His book Freak the Mighty follows two boys who become best friends despite their differences, showing how friendship helps them face their personal struggles.
Ann Rinaldi is great for readers who enjoy historical fiction centered around strong, determined characters. She focuses on young protagonists navigating important moments in history, bringing emotional depth and authenticity to their experiences.
In A Break with Charity, Rinaldi tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials through the eyes of a teenage girl caught up in the drama and moral dilemmas of that troubled time.
Elizabeth George Speare creates historical stories that feature thoughtful characters learning about their strengths, independence, and moral values. Her writing offers authentic settings and relatable people facing big decisions and meaningful challenges.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond explores the journey of Kit Tyler, a spirited young girl who struggles to fit in and finds herself defending a friend accused of witchcraft in colonial New England.
Mildred D. Taylor offers readers powerful and emotional stories exploring themes of race, family bonds, and social injustice. Her writing style is honest, straightforward, and deeply meaningful, connecting readers with the characters' struggles and resilience.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry introduces readers to the Logan family, who bravely navigate the harsh realities of racism and injustice in 1930s Mississippi.
Christopher Paul Curtis blends historical settings with warmth and humor, crafting memorable young characters who encounter challenges while growing emotionally and morally.
Through stories that balance seriousness with hope and laughter, readers easily relate to his characters' journeys.
In Bud, Not Buddy, he tells the story of a resourceful young boy in the Great Depression who embarks on an adventure to find his father, discovering friendship, family, and hope along the way.