Exploring from

Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands

Chris Bohjalian

Book page

Find similar books by

Combine common axes

← Back to graph Explore

Similar in characterization

These books are ranked using the characterization labels extracted for Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands.

Characterization labels used: teen girl protagonist, troubled teen, runaway, homeless teen, orphan, survivor, impulsive, resilient, resourceful, vulnerable, unreliable narrator, self-destructive, wise beyond years, young boy companion, scapegoat figure

Focused on “self-preserving” where exact label matches exist.

This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization embeddings are close.

Exclude same author

Max ratings No limit

The Survival Game

Nicky Singer · 2018

In a climate-ravaged future, a teenage refugee must travel north with a silent boy while borders, law, and conscience close in.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen girl protagonist · resourceful heroine · hardened survivor · traumatized protagonist · mature beyond age · strong-willed · pragmatic · emotionally guarded · moral conflict · mute child · silent companion · young refugee · illegal immigrant · grandmother · fearful but brave · self-preserving

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1364

Continue from here

Wanted

Jo Ho · Chase Ryder

A runaway teen and an extraordinarily smart dog flee ruthless pursuers, finding danger, secrets, and family on the road.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen heroine · runaway teen · homeless protagonist · streetwise · resourceful · witty · vulnerable · tough · grieving vet · widower · bereaved adult · sympathetic villain · intelligent animal · loyal companion · emotionally wounded

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1347

Continue from here

The Last of Us: American Dreams

Neil Druckmann, Faith Erin Hicks, Rachelle Rosenberg · 2013 · The Last of Us: American Dreams

A short prequel comic follows teenage Ellie’s first steps beyond the walls as she befriends Riley and meets the Fireflies.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · troubled teen · rebellious · survivalist · vulnerable · snarky · resourceful · female friendship · young rebel · complex leader

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1359

Continue from here

The Night Is for Hunting

John Marsden · 2007 · Tomorrow

Teen guerrillas shelter feral orphans in wartime Australia, but their refuge, loyalties, and safety all come under threat.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · flawed heroine · resilient teens · traumatized children · orphan characters · group dynamic · guardianship role · maturing under pressure · emotionally damaged · resourceful survivors

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1422

Continue from here

The Reapers are the Angels

Alden Bell · 2010 · Reapers

A fierce teenage wanderer crosses a zombie-ravaged America, chasing survival, redemption, and a place to belong.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen survivor · female protagonist · illiterate heroine · lone wanderer · capable fighter · resourceful · damaged · guilt-ridden · philosophical · self-sufficient · fierce · naive · feral · honorable · compassionate · hard-edged · complex heroine · mute companion · vengeful pursuer · disabled companion

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1557

Continue from here

After Everyone Died

Sean Patrick Little · 2016 · The Survivor Journals

A teen survivor of a deadly flu must endure a Wisconsin winter alone, with only a dog and hope for company.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · lonely survivor · ordinary kid · resourceful · caring · empathetic · non-heroic · not a prepper · not a gun nut · morally grounded · emotionally vulnerable · frightened · resilient · self-taught · animal lover · bookish

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1589

Continue from here

Drømmen om et tre

Maja Lunde · 2022 · Klimakvartetten

In a climate-ravaged future, a boy guarding a seed vault in Svalbard faces catastrophe as another survivor heads north.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · young adult caretaker · grandmother figure · seed guardian · survivor · parentified child · morally burdened · resilient · stubborn · traumatized · responsible older sibling

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1608

Continue from here

The Evening and the Morning and the Night

Octavia E. Butler · 1991 · Pulphouse Short Story Paperbacks

A hereditary disease born from a cancer cure forces one young woman to confront stigma, control, and survival.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen girl · young woman · disabled protagonist · outcast · survivor · resilient · persevering · traumatized · morally burdened · controlled by disease · caretaker role · physically and mentally unstable patients

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1638

Continue from here

In the Dark Spaces

Cally Black · 2017

A hidden stowaway in deep space is taken by alien captors and must survive by learning their language and loyalties.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · stowaway · resourceful heroine · brave heroine · young girl · captor-captive dynamic · survivor · outsider · rebel · smart protagonist · flawed protagonist · strong female lead · compelling narrator · emotionally driven

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1654

Continue from here

The New World

Patrick Ness · 2013 · Chaos Walking

A brief prequel follows Viola’s journey to a new planet, revealing the emotional backstory behind her arrival.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · stubborn teen · fearful protagonist · survival skills · intelligent heroine · emotional vulnerability · normal teen life · protective parents · settler child

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1656

Continue from here

The Storm

Virginia Bergin · 2015 · The Rain

A teenage survivor of killer rain hunts for her family and stumbles into an army secret that could change everything.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · sarcastic narrator · self-centered teen · vain heroine · immature protagonist · character growth · brave heroine · resourceful survivor · love interest · supporting misfits · mute child · fugitive heroine

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1657

Continue from here

Earthbound

Aprilynne Pike · 2013 · Earthbound

A traumatized plane-crash survivor begins seeing visions and uncovers a supernatural mystery tied to two boys and her own identity.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: traumatized heroine · teen girl · orphaned protagonist · strong-willed heroine · unreliable narrator · socially withdrawn · brave · clever · loyal · cautious · shy · mysterious love interest · best friend love interest · mentor therapist

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1662

Continue from here