Exploring from

Evil Genius

Catherine Jinks

Find similar books by

Combine common axes

Similar in characterization + relationships

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

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

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

Exclude same author Exclude same listed series

Max ratings No limit

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: 0.1050

Continue from here

Genius Squad

Catherine Jinks · 2008 · Genius

A sheltered teen genius in foster care joins a secret hacker squad, but the offer may be another trap.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen genius · reformed villain · morally conflicted · socially awkward · suspicious · paranoid · vulnerable protagonist · bullied foster child · disabled genius · protective detective · empathetic social worker · corrupt adults · gifted kids · antagonistic guardian

Relationships labels: best friends · platonic bond · caregiver conflict · foster family · surrogate parent · adult-teen power imbalance · protective mentorship · rivalry with guardian · found family

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1341

Continue from here

The I.P.O.

Dan Koontz · 2013

A gifted orphan is adopted into a corporation that trades children’s futures, forcing him to navigate power, trust, and greed.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: gifted child · orphan protagonist · child genius · computer savant · NBA prospect · model · opportunistic CEO · corrupt executives · villainous directors · morally conflicted allies

Relationships labels: adoption · corporate guardianship · parent-child · found family · friendship · betrayal · power imbalance · community of orphans

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1436

Continue from here

Wally Roux, Quantum Mechanic

Nick Carr · 2019

A teen genius in Savannah finds a space-time glitch that turns his awkward coming-of-age into a quantum adventure.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teenage genius · boy genius · quirky teen · angsty teen · isolated protagonist · outcast · adopted child · Black teen · single-parent child · scientifically minded

Relationships labels: mother-son relationship · adoption · birth father · first crush · peer conflict · bullying · friendship · family tension · single parent

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1499

Continue from here

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: 0.1540

Continue from here

Fever Crumb

Philip Reeve · 2009 · Fever Crumb

A logic-trained girl engineer is pulled into a secret dig that forces her to confront forbidden memories and a hunted identity.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: teen protagonist · female protagonist · only female · rationalist · emotion-suppressed · orphan · foundling · apprentice · engineer · archaeologist · antagonist group · mixed motives · secretive mentor · resourceful · naive

Relationships labels: adoptive parent · mentor-mentee · father-daughter · found family · parental guardianship · caregiver bond · family secrets · suspected kinship · community hostility · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1610

Continue from here

The Genius Experiment

James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein · 2018 · Max Einstein

A homeless 12-year-old genius is recruited to help solve the world’s problems, while a shadowy rival closes in.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: child prodigy · female protagonist · orphan · homeless · genius kid · resourceful · empathetic · curious · brave · selfless · humble · problem solver · inventor · scientific thinker · team leader · kid geniuses · adult allies · villainous adults · mysterious benefactor · strong female lead

Relationships labels: found family · friendship · mentor figure · teamwork · rival organizations · child-adult power imbalance · orphanhood · adoptive community · hero idolization · trust

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1622

Continue from here

Concealed

Christina Diaz Gonzalez · 2021

A girl in witness protection races to save her missing parents and uncover the truth about her hidden past.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: female protagonist · clever protagonist · resourceful protagonist · curious protagonist · smart girl · young teen protagonist · computer whiz · hacker · foster kid · scientist parent · mysterious handler · untrustworthy adult · loyal friend · brave kids

Relationships labels: parent-child · friendship · trust issues · found friendship · family secrecy · surrogate mentoring · caregiver conflict · dependency

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1624

Continue from here

Interlude-Brandon

Terry Schott · 2013 · The Game is Life

A series-prequel follows Brandon’s origins, revealing how the Game began and reshaping everything readers thought they knew.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: prodigy · mysterious protagonist · brilliant programmer · businessman · world leader · orphan · young genius · enigmatic character · character backstory

Relationships labels: father-son relationship · found family · mentor-mentee · friend group · power hierarchy · parental mystery · adoptive relationship · companionship

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1630

Continue from here

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: 0.1634

Continue from here

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

Relationships labels: adoptive family · best friends · brother-sister relationship · romantic tension · friendship under pressure · peer pressure · trust issues · community conformity · family trauma · protective alliance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1648

Continue from here

Flight

Sherman Alexie · 2007

An angry foster teen is hurled through history, forced to inhabit other lives and confront violence, identity, and empathy.

Why this is here

Characterization labels: angry teen · orphan · foster kid · mixed-race teen · troubled youth · self-loathing · lonely · sarcastic · homicidal tendencies · unwanted child · identity-seeking · body-hopping protagonist · manipulative peer · violent youth · redeemable

Relationships labels: foster care · absent father · dead mother · adoptive family · peer manipulation · father-son estrangement · family rejection · unconventional family · friendship · power imbalance

Semantic match: ranked by characterization + relationships

Distance: 0.1655

Continue from here