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Combine common axes
These books are ranked using the characterization labels extracted for Willful Machines.
Characterization labels used: closeted teen, gay protagonist, nerdy teen, robotics geek, shy protagonist, anxious protagonist, depressed protagonist, suicidal ideation, self-deprecating protagonist, president character, angsty teen, eccentric boy, Shakespeare geek, AI antagonist, sympathetic villain, supportive best friend, protective family pressure
This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization embeddings are close.
A teen science nerd and his prankster brother fake an alien invasion, and their small-town lie spirals wildly out of control.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: introverted protagonist · science nerd · awkward teen · gay teen · boy genius · prankster brother · supportive parents · neurodivergent-coded protagonist · anxious protagonist · self-focused protagonist · character growth · dry wit
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1078
A quiet teen’s life unravels when strange neighbors arrive next door and pull her into a mythic time-travel mystery.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: introverted protagonist · angsty teen · angry teen · invisible girl · relatable teen · awkward teen · deaf character · geeky sibling · genius sibling · eccentric outsider · mischievous characters · morally ambiguous characters · immortal characters · character growth
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1314
A traumatized teen investigates a viral party drug that makes her town eerily perfect—and dangerously not themselves.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: teen girl protagonist · adopted protagonist · anxious protagonist · straight-edge protagonist · outsider protagonist · new kid ally · mysterious outsider · perfectionist · smart protagonist · controlling protagonist · traumatized protagonist · loner
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1339
A teen on the run finds safety in an online cat-photo community, until an AI ally and hidden pasts collide.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: teen protagonist · sentient AI · benevolent AI · socially isolated teen · queer teens · supportive friend group · anxious protagonist · protective mentor figure · resourceful hacker · abusive parent · paranoid parent · young adult voice
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1341
On the run from a powerful game company, Simon and friends dive back into VR as reality begins to fracture.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: teen protagonist · flawed protagonist · maturing protagonist · traumatized protagonist · hacker character · tech genius · evil conglomerate · secretive ally · romantic interest · sentient nonhuman characters · antagonistic friend · supportive side character
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1344
A closeted gay teen with superpowers joins a superhero league, risking family fallout and a hidden conspiracy.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: closeted teen · gay protagonist · healer · outcast hero · misfit heroes · disgraced father · homophobic father · older woman mentor · angry teammate · brooding love interest · likable lead · static character · angsty protagonist · underdeveloped characters · toxic masculinity
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1353
A closeted Christian teen reunites with his first crush as uncanny disasters test their love and faith.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: closeted teen · anxious protagonist · churchgoing boy · religious teen · atheist love interest · charismatic love interest · stubborn love interest · supportive friend · messy teens · self-sabotage · self-acceptance arc · fearful character · defiant character · quieter lead · brash lead
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1360
A traumatized teen stockpiles for disaster, then must survive a deadly flu outbreak while her town falls apart.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: anxious protagonist · paranoid protagonist · germaphobe · hoarder · resourceful teen · withdrawn teen · survivor arc · pessimistic protagonist · likable love interest · levelheaded character · traumatized teen
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1380
A Bronx teen considers a memory-erasing procedure that could free him from pain—or erase his true self.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: teen protagonist · queer teen · troubled youth · self-loathing · complex protagonist · supportive girlfriend · new best friend · homophobic peers · flawed characters · emotionally damaged
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1395
An awkward teen swallows a tiny supercomputer that promises coolness, popularity, and a shot at his crush.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: male teen protagonist · socially awkward protagonist · outcast protagonist · low self-esteem · crush-driven motivation · morally flawed characters · bully peers · one-dimensional female characters (claimed) · teen boy interiority · best friend
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1400
A numb teen enters a secret VR club that sells nightmares, then uncovers a dangerous truth about his own trauma.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: emotionally numb protagonist · sarcastic protagonist · witty protagonist · gay protagonist · teen protagonist · traumatized protagonist · psychologically complex characters · morally compromised behavior · misfit protagonist · cunning protagonist
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1451
A boy sneaks into a guest room and wakes into a chain of stranger, scarier realities each time he falls asleep.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: young boy protagonist · bullied child · geeky kid · science-fiction fan · relatable protagonist · stubborn protagonist · overlooked child · lonely child · younger sibling
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1460
