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Evil Genius

Catherine Jinks

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Similar in premise + themes

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

Premise labels used: gifted child, evil school, criminal training, world domination, child hacker, hidden parentage, moral awakening, lonely genius, manipulation, secret agenda

Themes labels used: good and evil, identity, morality, free will, coming of age, alienation, trust, manipulation, power, responsibility, belonging, isolation, nature vs nurture, control

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

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Artemis Fowl

Eoin Colfer · 2003 · Artemis Fowl

A 12-year-old criminal genius kidnaps a fairy to ransom her gold, igniting a hidden-world siege.

Why this is here

Premise labels: child genius · criminal mastermind · fairy kidnapping · ransom · hidden society · wealth recovery · interspecies conflict · heist · secret world

Themes labels: ethics · greed · family wealth · power · environmentalism · moral ambiguity · coming of age · identity · gender roles · human-nature conflict

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1523

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H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education

Mark Walden · 2007 · H.I.V.E.

A gifted orphan is abducted to a secret school for villains and must outwit its staff to escape with new friends.

Why this is here

Premise labels: villain school · kidnapped students · evil genius · escape plan · secret academy · supervillain training · rebel students

Themes labels: good and evil · moral ambiguity · identity · free will · friendship · loyalty · rebellion · authority · control · self-discovery · power and potential · social labels

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1536

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The Prisoner of Cell 25

Richard Paul Evans · 2011 · Michael Vey

A bullied teen with secret electric powers uncovers other gifted kids and a conspiracy that targets them all.

Why this is here

Premise labels: secret powers · electric powers · gifted teens · bullied outcast · hidden identity · quest for answers · kidnapped mother · secret experiment · powerful organization

Themes labels: identity · acceptance · bullying · good vs evil · moral choice · loyalty · justice · control · equality · disability visibility · coming of age

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1627

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G.O.D.S: Gifted. Obedient. Deadly. Students.

Jaye Pratt · 2021 · G.O.D.S

A foster teen with missing memories is pulled into a secret program of weaponized students and a dangerous why-choose bond.

Why this is here

Premise labels: amnesia · memory loss · foster care · secret organization · genetically engineered humans · child soldiers · protective harem · lost identity · mystery note · revenge

Themes labels: identity · memory · truth and lies · secrets · betrayal · revenge · power · control · free will · loyalty · trust · trauma · fate · nature versus nurture · female empowerment (contested)

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1711

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Glitch

Heather Anastasiu · 2012 · Glitch

In an emotionless underground society, a glitching teen hides forbidden powers while risking deactivation and rebellion.

Why this is here

Premise labels: mind control · emotion suppression · individual awakening · teen resistance · secret powers · hidden anomaly · controlled society · forbidden feelings

Themes labels: individuality · free will · emotions · identity · control · resistance · choice · truth · surveillance · dehumanization · freedom · coming of age · morality

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1730

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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

Premise labels: gifted children · gifted school · brain experiment · artificial intelligence · child endangerment · bullying · suicide attempt · secret conspiracy · evil intelligence · mansion school · remote academy · scientific ethics · body transfer · children in peril

Themes labels: bullying · suicide · child vulnerability · giftedness · alienation · belonging · parental sacrifice · scientific ethics · technological anxiety · artificial intelligence · human experimentation · animal experimentation · power abuse · moral responsibility · emotional intelligence · trauma · control · ambition · fear of progress · victimization

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1732

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Maximum Ride, Vol. 4

NaRae Lee, James Patterson · 2011 · Maximum Ride: The Manga

A fledgling found family hides out at school while secrets, clones, and betrayal push them toward another escape.

Why this is here

Premise labels: escaped experiments · superpowered teens · fugitive group · secret school · hidden identity · family-in-hiding · betrayal among allies · mission pressure

Themes labels: family · trust · betrayal · identity · freedom · transformation · belonging · control · secrecy · safety vs risk · good and evil

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1737

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Masterminds

Gordon Korman · 2015 · Masterminds

A boy in a perfect New Mexico town uncovers a hidden experiment that makes him and his friends question everyone.

Why this is here

Premise labels: hidden conspiracy · isolated community · crime-free town · secret experiment · clones · criminal masterminds · truth discovery · parents are hiding something · escape plot · investigation

Themes labels: trust · deception · truth vs lies · nature vs nurture · identity · curiosity · free will · control · surveillance · good vs evil · morality · secrecy · institutional betrayal · coming of age · societal engineering

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1739

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Spell Robbers

Matthew J. Kirby · 2014 · The Quantum League

A boy at a fake science camp discovers reality-bending powers and gets pulled into a secret war over them.

Why this is here

Premise labels: science camp · secret powers · reality manipulation · quantum-powered abilities · kid recruited into hidden world · rescue mission · hidden war · power struggle

Themes labels: imagination · science and magic · quantum physics · trust · loyalty · good vs evil · moral ambiguity · freedom · control · family separation · power and responsibility · identity · justice

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1740

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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

Premise labels: supervillain parents · secret identity · discovered powers · school life · friendship across sides · save the parents · villain kidnapping

Themes labels: identity · good vs evil · morality · family loyalty · friendship · belonging · growing up · choice · perspective · self-acceptance

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1759

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Vita Nostra

Marina Dyachenko, Sergey Dyachenko · 2018 · Vita Nostra (English)

A coerced teen enters a terrifying secret school where studying remakes reality, identity, and the self.

Why this is here

Premise labels: magical school · coerced training · hidden curriculum · mysterious mentor · metaphysical education · transformation · forced selection

Themes labels: transformation · language · identity · fear · free will · vulnerability · power and control · education · knowledge · metaphysics · existence · self-discovery · coming of age · oppression · love and fear · humanity

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1767

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Maximum Ride, Vol. 3

NaRae Lee, James Patterson · 2010 · Maximum Ride: The Manga

Mutant winged teens search for their origins while trying to survive a new home, school, and old enemies.

Why this is here

Premise labels: genetically engineered children · fugitive youth · wings · search for origins · search for parents · forced normalcy · school adjustment · safe-house living · experiment escapees

Themes labels: identity · belonging · family search · trust · normality · freedom · control · survival · coming of age · selfhood · good vs evil · institutional mistrust

Semantic match: ranked by premise + themes

Distance: 0.1778

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