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Cover of The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
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The City in the Middle of the Night

Charlie Jane Anders

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Similar in characterization

These books are ranked using the characterization labels extracted for The City in the Middle of the Night.

Characterization labels used: young student, naive protagonist, shy protagonist, introverted, passive protagonist, revolutionary, smuggler, nomad, sole survivor, mysterious savior, alien ally, flawed characters, complicated characters, traumatized, self-destructive, idealistic, manipulative, power-hungry

Focused on “identity formation” 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.

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Cover of Dark Blue Rising by Teri Terry

Dark Blue Rising

Teri Terry · 2020 · The Circle Trilogy

A secluded teen’s world collapses when she learns her mother was lying about everything, and the sea may hold the answers.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · naive protagonist · mistrustful protagonist · isolated protagonist · sympathetic protagonist · resourceful heroine · protective caregiver · mysterious caregiver · messed-up family dynamics · emotionally vulnerable · identity formation · development arc

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1386

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Cover of No Mistakes by Vasily Mahanenko

No Mistakes

Vasily Mahanenko · 2020 · World of the Changed

A hyped mobile game turns Earth into a lethal RPG, and one student must survive long enough to save his sister.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: student protagonist · young adult protagonist · older sibling caretaker · loner hero · emotionally flat protagonist · resourceful protagonist · lucky protagonist · passive protagonist · flat side characters · thin characterization

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1325

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Cover of Shiny Happy People by Clay McLeod Chapman

Shiny Happy People

Clay McLeod Chapman · 2025

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: 0.1338

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Cover of Among the Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Among the Impostors

Margaret Peterson Haddix · 2002 · Shadow Children

A secret third child must survive boarding school undercover while hiding his identity from classmates, teachers, and the state.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: shy protagonist · cautious hero · resourceful child · fearful outsider · coming-of-age · identity conflict · resilient · bullied student · undercover informant · traitor · mentor figure · mean students · aloof adults

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1393

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Cover of Indiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi by Rob MacGregor

Indiana Jones and the Peril at Delphi

Rob MacGregor · 1991 · Indiana Jones: Prequels

A young Indiana Jones is pulled from graduate studies into a Greek dig, where myth, politics, and danger collide.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young protagonist · naive hero · college student · graduate student · linguistics scholar · future archaeologist · femme fatale · seductive professor · reckless adventurer · rebellious student · inexperienced hero · vulnerable hero · charismatic lead · complex antagonist · female antagonist · political operator

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1399

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Cover of Hazards of Time Travel by Joyce Carol Oates

Hazards of Time Travel

Joyce Carol Oates · 2018

A punished teen from a surveilled future is exiled to 1950s Wisconsin, where identity, love, and reality blur.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · naive heroine · curious student · meek protagonist · passive protagonist · outsider · rebellious student · intelligent girl · controlled subject · love interest · authority figure · psychology instructor · exiled student

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1435

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Cover of Otherearth by Jason Segel

Otherearth

Jason Segel, Kirsten Miller · 2018 · Last Reality

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: 0.1442

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Cover of The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi

The Lies of the Ajungo

Moses Ose Utomi · 2023 · Forever Desert

A dying boy leaves a waterless city to hunt truth and survival across a brutal desert where lies shape every life.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: young protagonist · child protagonist · brave · naive · inquisitive · determined · stubborn · outsider · archetypal characters · bullied · endearing characters · loss of innocence · growth arc · vengeful arc · heroic arc

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1448

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Cover of The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov

The Stars, Like Dust

Isaac Asimov · 1991 · Galactic Empire

A hunted student races across a tyrannical galaxy to solve his father’s murder and uncover a rebellion.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: naïve protagonist · young hero · college student · physically strong hero · clever hero · wooden characters · stereotyped characters · passive heroine · scheming antagonist · hidden agent · noble family · powerful ruler

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1463

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Cover of Nophek Gloss by Essa Hansen

Nophek Gloss

Essa Hansen · 2020 · The Graven

A traumatized teen survivor joins a misfit alien crew, then crosses a vast multiverse to seek revenge on slave masters.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · young protagonist · traumatized protagonist · angry protagonist · impulsive protagonist · flawed hero · maturing protagonist · naive outsider · sheltered upbringing · misfit crew · alien crew · damaged characters · antagonist with motives · multi-dimensional villains · genderfluid character · neurodivergent characters · asexual spectrum character · body-modified characters · sentient ship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization

Distance: 0.1467

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