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Middlegame

Seanan McGuire

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Similar in characterization + relationships

These books are ranked using the characterization + relationships labels extracted for Middlegame. Books rank higher when they are close on every selected axis.

Characterization labels used: gifted children, child geniuses, mad scientist, alchemist, experiment twins, guarded characters, morally gray characters, traumatized children, prodigy archetype

Relationships labels used: siblings, twin bond, platonic bond, codependency, adoptive family, creator-created relationship, mentor manipulation, dependency, separated twins

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

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Gravity Falls: Journal 3

Alex Hirsch, Rob Renzetti · 2022

A replica mystery journal from Gravity Falls adds hidden codes, new notes, and extra lore around the show’s secrets.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: eccentric genius · curious kid · twin protagonists · mischievous kid · brotherly conflict · tinkerer · assistant · investigator · obsessive researcher · reluctant hero

Relationships labels: siblings · twin bond · family bond · brotherly conflict · mentor apprentice · friendship · found family · family reconciliation · parent-child-like care · teamwork

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1238

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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

Trenton Lee Stewart · 2009 · The Mysterious Benedict Society

A blackout, a runaway child, and a stolen mind-altering machine pull four gifted friends into their most dangerous puzzle yet.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: gifted children · clever kids · brave children · loyal friends · team players · mentor figure · antagonistic twin · protective father · developing character arc

Relationships labels: friendship · chosen family · adoption · family loyalty · parent-child bond · mentor-ward · sibling rivalry · team cohesion · sacrificial love · loyalty

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1476

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Shadows

John Saul · 1993

A bullied child genius enters a school for gifted kids and uncovers a terrifying experiment hiding behind its walls.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: gifted child · child genius · bullied child · outcast · sensitive child · single mother · struggling parent · evil scientist · manipulative adult · authority figure abuse · peer friendship · twin characters · child protagonist · young teen protagonist · relatable children

Relationships labels: mother son · friendship · twins · peer bonding · parent child · mentor betrayal · authority abuse · protective parent · community mistrust

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1624

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The Genius Wars

Catherine Jinks · 2009 · Genius

A teenage hacker with a new family must stop the criminal mastermind who raised him before targeted attacks destroy everything he loves.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: child genius · boy genius · hacker · prodigy · criminal mastermind · abusive mentor · adopted teen · paranoid protagonist · protective protagonist · morally conflicted · proactive hero · obsessive fixer · disabled character

Relationships labels: adoptive parents · foster parents · mentor-mentee · father figure · family protection · friendship · romantic tension · love-hate relationship · stalker bond · community support · chosen family · guardian relationship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1632

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A Wind in the Door

Madeleine L'Engle · 1976 · Time Quintet

Meg must help save her gifted, bullied brother by journeying into a strange inner world where love, naming, and evil collide.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: gifted child · bullied child · sick child · protective sibling · intuitive heroine · brilliant child · teacher figure · mentor figure · skeptical protagonist · supportive parent

Relationships labels: sibling bond · friendship · parent-child · mentor-student · bully-victim · teamwork · caregiving · family support

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1632

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More Than Human

Theodore Sturgeon · 1979

Misfit children with psychic gifts form a shared consciousness and must decide what power, identity, and humanity mean.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: outcasts · misfits · children · young adults · disabled characters · psychic characters · genius child · simpleton · caregiver figure · morally compromised character · damaged characters · lonely characters · abused children · gifted outsiders · sympathetic antagonists

Relationships labels: found family · group bonding · dependency · psychic link · parent-child conflict · caretaking · community formation · collective identity · betrayal · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1633

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The Roar

Emma Clayton · 2009 · The Roar

In a plague-ravaged future behind a wall, a boy hunts for his missing twin through a deadly game and buried secrets.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: twin protagonists · missing sister · determined boy · brave protagonist · resourceful heroine · captive character · mutant teens · villainous authority · young heroes · special abilities

Relationships labels: twin bond · sibling bond · brother-sister relationship · parent-child tension · mentor relationship · friendship · romantic absence · authority vs youth · captor-captive relationship · loyalty

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1633

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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

Trenton Lee Stewart · 2008 · The Mysterious Benedict Society

Four gifted children follow a trail of clues across the world after a planned game turns into a rescue mission.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: gifted children · child prodigies · team of specialists · resourceful protagonist · rambunctious child · cranky child · loyal friend · moral dilemma · character growth · flawed children · democratic group dynamic

Relationships labels: friendship · sibling-like bond · teamwork · found family · mentor-protege · rivalry · trust · obedience · betrayal · fraternal conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1639

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Shadows in Flight

Orson Scott Card · 2012 · The Shadow

Genetically engineered children on a relativistic voyage search for a cure, then encounter an alien mystery in deep space.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: genius children · child protagonists · scientific child · military child · engineer child · becoming-adult children · immature prodigies · parent in decline · physically constrained protagonist · trapped protagonists

Relationships labels: sibling rivalry · parent-child bond · family unit · father children · friendship · dependence · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1642

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Gifted & Talented

Olivie Blake · 2025

After their father’s death, three high-achieving siblings battle over a vast inheritance, buried resentments, and strange powers.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: dysfunctional siblings · gifted children · rich kids · prodigy burnout · unlikable characters · morally gray characters · arrogant characters · ambitious characters · fraudulent protagonist · people pleaser · perfectionist · messy characters · flawed geniuses · self-destructive characters · depressed adults · former prodigy · former ballerina · politician character · CEO character · journalist character

Relationships labels: sibling dynamics · family rivalry · parent-child conflict · father issues · daddy issues · inheritance conflict · romantic entanglements · polyamory · throuple · marriage strain · ex-boyfriend conflict · fraught family ties · betrayal · resentment · complicated love

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1648

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Riot Baby

Tochi Onyebuchi · 2020

A superpowered sister and her incarcerated brother navigate Black life, rage, and a distorted America across time.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: gifted girl · superpowered protagonist · incarcerated brother · young Black man · intelligent boy · streetwise character · withdrawn character · angry character · witness figure · protective sibling

Relationships labels: sibling bond · brother-sister relationship · mother-child relationship · family separation · family love · protective family · incarceration separation · community violence

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1676

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Escape to Witch Mountain

Alexander Key · 1975 · Witch Mountain

Two orphaned siblings with mysterious powers flee pursuers while searching for the truth about where they came from.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: orphan protagonists · gifted children · telepathic child · mute child · protagonists in danger · moral purity · resourceful children · sympathetic priest

Relationships labels: sibling bond · found family · guardian-child · child-adult alliance · trust in priest · pursuit and rescue · outsider belonging · community suspicion · adversarial authority · mutual dependence

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1676

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