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Combine common axes
These books are ranked using the characterization labels extracted for The City of Ember.
Characterization labels used: child protagonists, twelve-year-olds, curious protagonists, brave protagonist, angry boy, resourceful girl, relatable leads, plucky kids, naive adults, corrupt mayor, family-centered
Focused on “tech-savvy” where exact label matches exist.
This does not mean the books share the same plot, setting, quality, or difficulty. It means their characterization embeddings are close.
A smart farm girl in a climate-ravaged future uncovers secrets that could save her family, community, and the last bees.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: twelve-year-old protagonist · smart protagonist · opinionated protagonist · plucky heroine · strong female characters · older sister · family legacy · tech-savvy · comes-of-age
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1501
A sixth grader in 1970s New York receives impossible notes that pull her into a mystery about friendship, time, and survival.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: twelve-year-old girl · observant child · thoughtful protagonist · smart protagonist · believable kids · realistic children · complex characters · nuanced character arcs · petty friendships · single mother household · supportive adults · childhood innocence · maturing protagonist
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1271
A 12-year-old’s birthday escape room turns deadly as she and four strangers race through puzzles to find the Answer.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: twelve-year-old protagonist · smart protagonist · puzzle lover · leader · team roles · distinct skill sets · stereotyped side characters · annoying rival · brave children · fragile bonds
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1292
A Bangladeshi-American girl and her friends must survive a living board game to rescue her brother and escape forever.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: twelve-year-old protagonist · smart protagonist · brave protagonist · resourceful protagonist · headstrong protagonist · compassionate protagonist · strong female lead · younger brother · best-friends trio
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1293
A child-led mystery adventure in a powerless Prague district where every secret points to a world-changing truth.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: young protagonists · child duo/trio · resourceful girl · male lead · outsider characters · adult antagonists · dangerous adults · imperfect heroes · naive heroes · detective-minded kids · reluctant helper · grandfather figure
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1411
In 2193, a sheltered 12-year-old uncovers a hidden truth about her perfect world and her family’s past.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: tween protagonist · curious heroine · truth seeker · relatable preteen · resourceful child · less developed villain · underdeveloped characters · cartoonish adults · protective mother · competent sidekick · flat side character · sympathetic kids
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1411
An 11-year-old on Mars must uncover a hidden truth and help save his colony when the adults fall ill.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: 11-year-old protagonist · curious narrator · sweet narrator · brave child · obedient child · average kid · relatable characters · well-developed characters · multifaceted characters · supportive adults · teen dynamics · community-minded children · flawed characters · goth girl
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1452
In a mirrorless town, a curious girl secretly draws faces and uncovers the truth behind her community.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: curious protagonist · rebellious child · artist protagonist · naive narrator · sympathetic protagonist · secretive protagonist · morally conflicted · authoritarian leader · well-intentioned adults
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1477
In a flooded future Britain, a ten-year-old girl sets out by boat to find her parents and survive what remains.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: resourceful protagonist · determined heroine · young survivor · headstrong girl · independent child · wild children · sinister leader · bullies · wise elder · flat characters · brave protagonist
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1495
Raised in a peaceful sheltered town, a girl is sent to a dangerous home and must uncover why her whole childhood was a lie.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: twelve-year-old protagonist · protective older sibling · younger brother · rule breaker · rebellious child · naive protagonist · responsible child · suspicious peer · supportive friend
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1495
A sixth grader hiding his alien identity must face a strange change, a vanishing friend group, and a hidden truth.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: sixth grader · tween protagonist · curious hero · empathetic protagonist · rebellious child · supportive parents · best friend · first crush · mysterious villain · controlling parent · resourceful kid
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1513
Two children in a failing underground city decode a mystery that may be their only route to freedom.
Why this is here
Characterization labels: curious children · resourceful kids · hardworking protagonists · responsible older sister · protective sibling · bookish boy · corrupt mayor · shifty guards · sick grandmother · younger sibling · classmates · reluctant authority
Semantic match: ranked by characterization
Distance: 0.1518
