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Made in Korea

Jeremy Holt

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Similar in characterization + relationships

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

Characterization labels used: socially awkward, precocious child, voracious learner, naive, misunderstood, self-aware, identity-seeking, sympathetic protagonist, cardboard cutouts, rogue scientist

Relationships labels used: adoptive family, creator-child bond, parent-child, peer manipulation, trust and abuse, corporate ownership, family support, friendship betrayal, dependency, care and control

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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The Nightmare Brigade: The Girl from Déjà Vu

Franck Thilliez · 2022 · La Brigade des cauchemars

Two teens enter patients’ nightmares to cure fear, but a new case and hidden secrets threaten their fragile team.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonists · scientist mentor · adopted child · amnesiac protagonist · disabled protagonist · brave · curious · secretive adults · troubled children

Relationships labels: found family · adoption · mentor-child · sibling-like bond · parent-child · teamwork · trust · protective

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1712

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Platform Decay

Martha Wells · 2026 · The Murderbot Diaries

A traumatized sec-unit runs a rescue mission on a vast torus station, facing humans, kids, and corporate danger.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: socially awkward · anti-social · snarky · traumatized · emotionally evolving · hyper-competent · self-aware · reluctant protector · competent under pressure · grumpy · wary of humans · soft spot for kids · mentor role · rogue construct · free agent

Relationships labels: found family · chosen family · mentor student · caregiving · protective bond · human AI bond · teamwork · trust building · family rescue · interpersonal banter · rival corporations · recurring allies

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1738

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Wizard for Hire

Obert Skye · 2018 · Wizard for Hire

A lonely boy hires a questionable wizard to help find his kidnapped parents, and the quest gets stranger from there.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: resourceful child · naive protagonist · lonely child · resilient protagonist · quirky wizard · eccentric adult · talkative sidekick · sarcastic sidekick · sentient machine · smart kid · kind girl · mysterious mentor · self-proclaimed wizard · possible con artist

Relationships labels: parent-child bond · found family · friendship · companionship · mentor-protege · crush · trust · dependency · teamwork

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1756

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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: 0.1758

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Evil Genius

Catherine Jinks · 2005 · Genius

A lonely child genius is groomed for villainy at a secret academy, then starts questioning who he is and who to trust.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: child genius · teen prodigy · loner · outsider · hacker · manipulative · morally ambiguous · cold protagonist · sarcastic · socially isolated · criminal mentor · psychologist mentor · evil mastermind · disguise teacher · disability representation

Relationships labels: adoptive parents · absent parents · father-son conflict · mentor-protege · romantic awakening · online relationship · friendship · found family · manipulative guardianship · trust issues

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1822

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A Wrinkle in Time

Madeleine L'Engle · 2017 · Time Quintet

A bullied girl, her gifted brother, and a friend cross space-time to rescue a missing father from cosmic evil.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: awkward girl · gifted child · child prodigy · brilliant but flawed · moody heroine · socially awkward · popular boy · scientist parent · missing father · eccentric mentors · precocious child · relatable heroine · outcast child · supportive friend · fallible adults

Relationships labels: sibling bond · parent-child bond · friendship · found family · romantic hint · loyalty · caregiving · community judgment · family separation · mentor guidance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1830

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Frankenstein: The Original 1818 Text

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley · 2025

An original 1818 Gothic classic where a scientist creates life, then faces the human cost of abandonment.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: driven scientist · irresponsible creator · arrogant intellectual · self-pitying · obsessive · isolated · intelligent creature · eloquent outsider · sympathetic monster · unpleasant protagonist · victim of rejection · morally complex characters

Relationships labels: creator and creation · abandonment · parent-child · companionship · companion demand · family bonds · friendship · isolation · revenge · responsibility · care and neglect

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1877

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Leonard

Carlie Sorosiak · 2021

An alien meant to spend a month as a human on Earth accidentally lands in a cat’s body and finds a friend.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: quirky protagonist · socially awkward girl · animal lover · empathetic friend · alien scholar · immortal being · hive mind · lonely child · supportive grandmother · lovable side character · weird kid · outsider · rescuer · curious observer · catlike behavior

Relationships labels: found family · friendship · human-animal bond · grandmother-grandchild · mother-daughter · stepfamily tension · chosen family · mentor friendship · rescue relationship · companionship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1882

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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: 0.1894

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Frankenstein

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley · 2017

A scientist’s pursuit of life beyond death unleashes a tragic chain of responsibility, rejection, and ruin.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: ambitious scientist · selfish creator · whiny protagonist · tragic creature · sympathetic monster · isolated outsider · naive being · emotionally intense · morally flawed

Relationships labels: creator and creation · father-child dynamics · abandonment · loneliness · companion longing · family bonds · friendship · rejection · revenge · compassion · romantic tragedy

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1919

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Interview with the Robot

Lee Bacon · 2020

A 12-year-old shoplifter reveals in interrogation that she’s a robot on the run, forcing a truth about family and identity.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: robot girl · child protagonist · social worker · interviewer · scientist father · creator figure · fugitive protagonist · relatable protagonist · curious protagonist · spunky protagonist · AI child

Relationships labels: family bonds · found family · parent-child · caretaker failure · creator-created · interrogator-subject · friendship · sibling relationship · dependency · chosen family

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1925

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The Last Human

Zack Jordan · 2020

A hidden human teen on an alien space station is thrust into a galaxy-spanning chase that tests intelligence, freedom, and identity.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · outsider · misfit · sulky teen · brave heroine · curious protagonist · hidden heir · adopted child · murderous guardian · quirky side characters · sentient AI · mischievous helper · philosophical characters

Relationships labels: mother-daughter bond · adoptive family · found family · protector-protected · mentor-like parenting · friendship · team of misfits · interspecies family · trust issues · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1934

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