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Cover of The School for Whatnots by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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The School for Whatnots

Margaret Peterson Haddix

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Similar in characterization + relationships

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

Characterization labels used: wealthy child, poor child, best friends, curious child, independent child, protective parents, overprotective parents, lonely genius, child agency, character growth, redemption arc, bullies, adult authority, secretive adult, kind-hearted child

Relationships labels used: childhood friendship, best friends, parent-child conflict, friendship under pressure, class divide, adult-child power imbalance, community betrayal, loyalty, dependency

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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Cover of Otherwood by Pete Hautman

Otherwood

Pete Hautman · 2018

Two children’s woodland hideout leads them into a reality-splitting mystery tied to family secrets and loss.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: imaginative children · lonely boy · bossy girl · best friends · shy protagonist · grieving child · overprotective mother · loving grandfather · family-drawn adults · unstable adult memory

Relationships labels: best friends · soulmates · childhood friendship · family feud · grandparent-grandchild · mother-child · parent conflict · childhood companionship · intergenerational rivalry · community suspicion

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1411

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Cover of Shadows by John Saul

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: 0.1427

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Cover of Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Among the Hidden

Margaret Peterson Haddix · 2006 · Shadow Children

A hidden third child in a two-child society risks discovery when he meets another child living in secret next door.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: hidden protagonist · timid protagonist · brave girl · idealistic character · risk-averse protagonist · oppressive parents · unsympathetic parents · protector role · rebellious youth · solitary child

Relationships labels: secret friendship · family tension · parent-child conflict · peer alliance · protest network · dependence on family · loyalty to family · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1475

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Cover of The Trouble with Perfect by Helena Duggan

The Trouble with Perfect

Helena Duggan · 2019 · Perfect

When stolen children and a framed friend threaten her town, Violet must uncover who is behind the new trouble.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: brave heroine · child detective · best friend · framed boy · mischievous child · stubborn heroine · protective mother · sinister twins · supportive side characters · children act like children

Relationships labels: friendship · best friends · family conflict · siblings · mother-son · community trust · betrayal · adult-child tension

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1497

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Cover of Joshua Dread by Lee Bacon

Joshua Dread

Lee Bacon · 2012 · Joshua Dread

A middle school boy with supervillain parents must hide his own powers and team up with unexpected friends to save them.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: awkward kid · outsider · good kid · mysterious girl · best friend · supervillain parents · hero father · comic relief · morally ambiguous adults · developing powers · self-deprecating protagonist

Relationships labels: parent-child conflict · friendship · enemy families · cross-side friendship · father-daughter contrast · loyalty · group teamwork · secret keeping

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1515

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Cover of The Stories of Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury

The Stories of Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury · 1980

A 100-story, author-selected anthology tracing Bradbury’s career across sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and nostalgic human drama.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: ordinary people · children · families · parents · loners · outsiders · eccentric characters · human vulnerability · morally ambiguous characters

Relationships labels: family dynamics · parent-child · marriage · friendship · community pressure · ostracism · rivalry · love · betrayal · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1524

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Cover of Children of the Fleet by Orson Scott Card

Children of the Fleet

Orson Scott Card · 2017 · Fleet School

A gifted boy enters a retooled Battle School and gets pulled into secrets, sabotage, and leadership trials in space.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: genius child · arrogant protagonist · loner · gifted student · immigrant child · overprotective mother · manipulative adult · mentor figure · team leader · gifted but flawed · unlikable protagonist · reluctant leader

Relationships labels: mother-son · mentor-protégé · peer friendship · team rivalry · adult-child power imbalance · classmate bonding · family secret · dependency · protective parent · manipulation

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1533

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Cover of A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet

A Children's Bible

Lydia Millet · 2021

A group of neglected children on a summer vacation must survive when a storm turns their parents’ collapse into apocalypse.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · precocious children · eerily mature children · disillusioned youth · wise child · hedonistic adults · absentee parents · neglectful parents · upper-middle-class parents · collective child group · protective sibling · moral contrast · self-sufficient children · cynical narrator

Relationships labels: parent-child conflict · sibling bond · generational conflict · peer solidarity · family estrangement · adult-child power gap · group dynamics · found community · rivalry with parents · protective caregiving

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1536

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Cover of A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle

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: 0.1551

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Cover of Penguin Highway by Tomihiko Morimi

Penguin Highway

Tomihiko Morimi, 森見 登美彦 · 2019

A brilliant fourth-grader investigates penguins appearing in his town, using notes and experiments to solve a strange mystery.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: precocious child · smart child · self-proclaimed genius · curious child · analytical child · research-minded · bullied child · supportive adult · mysterious woman · father figure · childhood crush

Relationships labels: father-son · childhood crush · friend group · peer friendship · adult-child mentorship · rivalry · bullying · community support

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1551

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Cover of More Than Human by Theodore Sturgeon

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: 0.1557

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Cover of The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

The Girl Who Could Fly

Victoria Forester · 2008 · Piper McCloud

A girl who can fly is sent to a secret school for exceptional kids, where friendship and danger collide.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: resourceful girl · adventurous heroine · innocent protagonist · outsider · gifted child · super-intelligent child · bullied child · mystery adult · villain with depth · overzealous authority · complex parents · misfit children

Relationships labels: parent-child conflict · friendship · found family · peer rivalry · loyalty and betrayal · community rejection · mentor-mentee · protective family

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1558

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