If you enjoy reading books by Pam Muñoz Ryan then you might also like the following authors:
Rita Williams-Garcia writes engaging, thoughtful novels about the importance of family, friendship, and history. Her writing style is clear and vivid, often highlighting the strength and challenges of young characters finding their voices.
Her book One Crazy Summer follows three sisters visiting their mother in 1960s Oakland, offering insight into family relationships set against a backdrop of powerful social movements.
Margarita Engle is known for her beautiful verse novels exploring Cuban culture, history, and identity. Her language is poetic and accessible, bringing emotional depth to young readers while highlighting meaningful historical moments.
In her book The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom, Engle captures Cuba’s fight for independence through powerful voices that blend history, nature, and humanity.
Sharon Draper writes thought-provoking, emotional stories that reveal authentic, relatable struggles faced by contemporary young people. Her direct yet sensitive style invites readers to empathize deeply with her characters.
In her book Out of My Mind, Draper explores the inspiring and challenging life of Melody, a girl with cerebral palsy who longs to communicate clearly with the world around her.
Matt de la Peña brings an honest, perceptive voice to his stories, focusing on diverse, complex characters dealing with real-life struggles and challenging situations. His writing is sharp, clear, and emotionally insightful.
In his book Last Stop on Market Street, he celebrates community, generosity, and the everyday joys experienced by a boy named CJ and his grandmother on their bus ride through the city.
Linda Sue Park crafts thoughtful and imaginative stories that often blend history and culture with inspiring journeys and relatable characters. Her clear and compelling storytelling shows compassion and sensitivity toward challenging topics.
Her novel A Long Walk to Water shares an impactful, real-life narrative following two young characters in Sudan who demonstrate hope, strength, and perseverance amid harsh circumstances.
Grace Lin's storytelling is imaginative, heartfelt, and deeply rooted in Asian traditions and folklore. She explores themes of family, friendship, courage, and self-discovery through vivid tales that feel magical yet authentic.
Her writing blends reality with fantasy beautifully.
Readers who love Pam Muñoz Ryan's engaging characters and inspired narratives may enjoy Lin's book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, a lively story about a courageous young girl named Minli who embarks on an adventurous journey guided by Chinese myths.
Erin Entrada Kelly writes sensitive, realistic fiction that connects closely with children's experiences and emotions. Her style is approachable and thoughtful, gently addressing themes of identity, friendship, isolation, and belonging.
Fans of Pam Muñoz Ryan's heartfelt and emotionally rich stories might appreciate Hello, Universe, Kelly's uplifting tale about a diverse group of young people whose lives unexpectedly intersect, promoting empathy and compassion.
Meg Medina creates warm, relatable stories that thoughtfully explore Latinx identity, family dynamics, and the ups and downs of growing up. Her clear and accessible style makes her books easy to dive into and emotionally rewarding.
Readers who appreciate Pam Muñoz Ryan's skillful portrayal of family and culture might enjoy Medina's Merci Suárez Changes Gears, a humorous and heartfelt novel following sixth-grader Merci as she navigates challenges at school and with her close-knit Cuban-American family.
Francisco X. Stork writes lyrical, thoughtful fiction that speaks directly to young adults' personal struggles and deeper questions about belonging, mental health, and identity. His honest and beautifully crafted novels are compelling and moving.
Those who appreciate the depth and emotional sincerity found in Pam Muñoz Ryan's works should try Marcelo in the Real World, a sensitive story about Marcelo, a young man on the autism spectrum, as he faces life-changing experiences and discovers the complexity of human relationships.
Guadalupe Garcia McCall's writing centers around themes of heritage, resilience, family, and courage in the face of adversity. With engaging voices and authentic characters, she offers stories that speak openly about cultural identity, loss, healing, and strength.
Readers who enjoy the powerful emotional depth and vivid cultural exploration found in Pam Muñoz Ryan's novels will enjoy McCall's novel-in-verse, Under the Mesquite, a beautifully written and moving story narrated by Lupita, a teenage girl who must navigate family challenges and find her inner strength as her mother's illness reshapes their lives.
Cynthia Kadohata writes thoughtful stories about family bonds, identity, and overcoming challenges. Her narratives highlight diverse cultural experiences and emotional growth through authentic young characters.
Her novel Kira-Kira beautifully explores sisterhood and family strength in the face of adversity.
Elizabeth Acevedo brings vibrant storytelling and poetic rhythm into her novels. Her books portray the complexities of teenage life, cultural identity, and finding one's voice, often featuring strong Latina protagonists.
In her novel The Poet X, Acevedo combines poetry and prose to tell the powerful story of Xiomara, a girl discovering her own identity through writing and spoken word.
Jacqueline Woodson creates heartfelt narratives centered around characters finding their way through life's struggles and questions about identity, race, family, and belonging. Her stories feel both personal and universally relatable.
A great example is Brown Girl Dreaming, a memoir written in free verse poetry that movingly captures her own childhood experiences.
Lois Lowry is known for thought-provoking storytelling and memorable characters. Her writing often addresses difficult ethical questions, personal morality, and the power of human relationships.
One of her most celebrated books is The Giver, a dystopian novel that prompts readers to reflect on freedom, choice, and what it truly means to be human.
Christopher Paul Curtis offers humor, warmth, and a strong sense of historical context in his stories. He writes relatable characters who face challenging times yet remain hopeful, courageous, and resilient.
His novel Bud, Not Buddy blends historical details about the Great Depression with an engaging narrative that draws readers deeply into the adventures and personal growth of its young protagonist.