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The God Game

Danny Tobey

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Similar in characterization + relationships

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

Characterization labels used: teen misfits, outcasts, geeks, coders, hackers, gamers, high achievers, gifted teens, morally compromised, diverse cast, secretive teens, social outsiders

Relationships labels used: friend group, loyalty, betrayal, friendship tested, family pressure, parent-child conflict, romantic tension, rivalry, peer pressure, group dynamic

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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Take Me With You

Tara Altebrando · 2020

Four teens are drawn together by a mysterious school-room device that threatens them unless they obey its rules.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: four teens · unlikely allies · distinct social circles · character-driven · relatable teens · one-dimensional (mixed) · stereotypical teens (mixed) · social media savvy · quiet gamer · grieving teen · anxious teen · lonely teen · tech-savvy teen · skeptical teen · manipulative force

Relationships labels: found family · forced alliance · friend group · budding romance · mother-daughter tension · parent-child tension · grandparent relationship · friendship under pressure · peer connection · community conflict · teacher-student link

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1402

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The Union

Leah Vernon · 2022

In a far-future America ruled by Black elites, two teen girls from opposite castes risk everything to survive and rebel.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · young adult leads · elite heir · mixed-race outsider · impure outcast · rebellious youth · sympathetic elite · naive protagonist · tough survivor · villainous regime

Relationships labels: friendship · forced cooperation · love triangle · family conflict · parent-child conflict · loyalty conflict · betrayal · allyship · romance · rivalry · power imbalance · sibling conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1478

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Exposure

Kathy Reichs · 2014 · Virals

A teen pack with dangerous powers investigates a school kidnapping while their own secrets and bonds begin to unravel.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · gifted teens · outcast group · pack dynamic · impulsive leader · brilliant protagonist · comic relief · brooding boy · resourceful hacker · protective love interest · antagonistic socialite · ruthless villain · secretive investigator · female friend

Relationships labels: romantic tension · friends-to-more · pack bonds · fractured friendship · team loyalty · parent-child tension · sibling bond · rivalry · forgiveness arc · betrayal · secret keeping · found family

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1488

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Sleepless

Lou Morgan · 2014 · Red Eye

Desperate exam-takers try a study drug, then sleep loss, hallucinations, and danger turn revision into survival.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: privileged teens · high-achieving students · wealthy students · desperate students · unlikeable characters · flat characters · underdeveloped characters · rivalrous friend group · queen bee · know-it-all · unreliable protagonist · control-freak character · unstable protagonist · moral consequence

Relationships labels: friend group · best friends · possible romance · toxic friendship · jealousy · group friction · betrayal · camaraderie · peer pressure · parental absence · authority avoidance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1518

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All the Birds in the Sky

Charlie Jane Anders · 2016 · All the Birds in the Sky

Two bullied misfits—one witch, one science prodigy—reunite as adults to face a collapsing world and each other.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: outcasts · geek · science prodigy · magic prodigy · witch · scientist · engineer · tech entrepreneur · visionary · healer · trickster · bully target · flawed protagonists · socially awkward · reluctant allies · misfit genius

Relationships labels: childhood friends · friendship · romance · friends to lovers · push-pull bond · rivalry · opposites attract · family conflict · peer pressure · mentor manipulation · community bonds

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1520

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The Lost Causes

Alyssa Embree Schwartz, Jessica Koosed Etting · 2017

Five written-off teens are secretly given psychic powers by the FBI and pulled into a murder case.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: misfit teens · outcast protagonists · troubled teens · teen ensemble · guarded teens · gifted teens · rumpled outsider · distinctive ensemble · morally mixed adults · suspicious handlers · humanized villains

Relationships labels: found family · friendship · team bonding · romance · mentor distrust · authority distrust · group solidarity · slow friendship · handler relationship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1553

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Randoms

David Liss · 2015 · Randoms

A sci-fi superfan is chosen as the random member of an alien evaluation team, then a space mission turns him into an outsider.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: sci-fi geek · average kid · outsider · random draftee · talented teens · outcasts · loyal friend group · snarky protagonist · bullied kid · competent underdog · alien allies

Relationships labels: friendship · found family · peer ostracism · team rivalry · inter-species friendship · young romance · parent-child · sick parent · institutional conflict · betrayal

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1586

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The Rule of Thoughts

James Dashner · 2014 · The Mortality Doctrine

A teen hacker wakes in another boy’s body and races through virtual and real worlds to stop a sentient AI takeover.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · hacker protagonists · artificial intelligence · sentient program · morally ambiguous antagonist · trust issues · rash protagonist · united team · bland characterization · shallow characterization · character-driven tension

Relationships labels: friendship · romantic tension · trust · betrayal · teamwork · group loyalty · found family · parent-child · authority conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1587

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The Dead of Night

John Marsden · 2006 · Tomorrow

Teenagers in occupied Australia keep fighting, grieving, and planning rescue missions while war forces them to grow up fast.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: resourceful teens · flawed protagonist · reluctant leader · class clown leader · morally conflicted · traumatized teens · believable teenagers · strong female lead · adult survivors · antagonistic adults · growing up fast

Relationships labels: friend group · team loyalty · romantic tension · group conflict · adult-child tension · leader conflict · protective friendship · trust under pressure

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1589

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The Saints

Lex Thomas · 2013 · Quarantine

A virus-quarantined high school spirals into new gang warfare when rescue efforts fail and rival factions seize power.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · antiheroic teens · psychopathic leader · female character development · unstable charmer · gang leaders · moral decline

Relationships labels: sibling relationship · romantic tension · love triangle · gang loyalty · rivalry · friendship strain · parent-child conflict · power struggle

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1601

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The Secret Hour

Scott Westerfeld · 2005 · Midnighters

A new girl in small-town Oklahoma discovers a secret 25th hour, where only certain teens can move—and monsters hunt them.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teenagers · new girl · outcasts · misfits · group dynamic · specialized roles · hidden talent · quirky cast

Relationships labels: friend group · team dynamics · outsider bonds · romantic tension · interpersonal conflict · trust issues · protective group

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1603

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Shell Game

Ridley Pearson · 2012 · Kingdom Keepers

Teen Disney-guides face villainous infiltrators on a maiden cruise, racing to stop a larger magical takeover.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen ensemble · hologram guides · villains · heroic kids · character growth · character stagnation · relationship drama · rivalry within group · tech expert · leader tension · loyal friends

Relationships labels: friend group · romantic tension · team loyalty · power struggle · betrayal suspicion · mentor relationship · sibling-like group dynamic · ensemble conflict

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1613

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