Books like 'Chained'
Readers who enjoyed Chained by Lynne Kelly also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
action / adventure realistic animals family poc-mc children friendship anthropomorphism historical-fiction poverty
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Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsMolly Lou Melon is different, but this doesn't slow her down... -
Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA reflection on immigration, family, and home.Wishes tells the honest story about one Vietnamese family's search for a new home on the other side of the world, and the long-lasting impact that makes on the littlest member of the family. Inspired by actual events in the author's life... -
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 49 ratingsWritten and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, the nationally bestselling and celebrated creator of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Owen, and Kitten's First Full Moon, Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance to share all year round.Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school... -
What If... by Samantha Berger
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCreativity, the power of imagination, and the importance of self-expression are celebrated in this inspiring picture book written and illustrated by real-life best friends. This girl is determined to express herself! If she can't draw her dreams, she'll sculpt or build, carve or collage. If she can't do that, she'll turn her world into a canvas... -
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All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA picture book celebration of love by the Newbery Medal–winning author, Patricia MacLachlan, with luminous paintings by Mike Wimmer. Within the sanctuary of a loving family, baby Eli is born and, as he grows, learns to cherish the people and places around him, eventually passing on what he has discovered to his new baby sister, Sylvie: “All the places to love are here . .Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family historical-fiction poc-mc realistic action-adventure book -
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsTrixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat...Categorized as:
animals children coming-of-age family friendship realistic action-adventure audiobook -
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsSurvival for Ki Lim and Sang Ly is a daily battle at Stung Meanchey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. They make their living scavenging recyclables from the trash. Life would be hard enough without the worry for their chronically ill child, Nisay, and the added expense of medicines that are not working...Categorized as:
family friendship historical-fiction poc-mc poverty realistic survival action-adventure -
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe new kid in school needs a new name! Or does she?Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week...Categorized as:
bullying children coming-of-age family friendship historical-fiction poc-mc realistic -
The Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA powerful story about immigration, trust, and new beginnings, full of heart and humanity, for anyone who has ever felt unwelcome or out of place. Perfect for fans of Allen Say, Francesca Sanna, and Yuyi Morales... -
Eleven by Tom Rogers
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAlex Douglas always wanted to be a hero. But nothing heroic ever happened to Alex. Nothing, that is, until his eleventh birthday. When Alex rescues a stray dog as a birthday gift to himself, he doesn't think his life can get much better. Radar, his new dog, pretty much feels the same way. But this day has bigger things in store for both of them. This is a story about bullies and heroes...Categorized as:
animals bullying children family friendship historical-fiction realistic action-adventure -
A Waltz for Matilda by Jackie French
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratings'Once a jolly swagman camped by a Billabong Under the shade of a Coolibah tree And he sang as he watched and waited till his Billy boiled You'll come a‐waltzing Matilda with me...' In 1894, twelve-year-old Matilda flees the city slums to find her unknown father and his farm. But drought grips the land, and the shearers are on strike. Her father has turned swaggie and he's wanted by the troopers...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age friendship historical-fiction survival action-adventure audiobook book -
Escargot by Dashka Slater
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe unabridged board book edition of the funny and charming award-winning picture book, Escargot. Bonjour! Escargot is a beautiful French snail who wants only two things:1. To be your favorite animal. 2. To get to the delicious salad at the end of the book.But when he gets to the salad, he discovers that there's a carrot in it. And Escargot hates carrots...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children family friendship action-adventure book children-books -
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsLate one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird.But there is no answer.Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don't need words. You don't need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn't an owl, but sometimes there is...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children family friendship poc-mc realistic action-adventure -
A Letter to My Teacher: A Teacher Appreciation Gift by Deborah Hopkinson
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDear Teacher, Whenever I had something to tell you, I tugged on your shirt and whispered in your ear. This time I'm writing a letter. So begins this picture book about a girl who prefers running and jumping to listening and learning and the teacher who gently inspires her...Categorized as:
realistic children friendship animals children-books fiction action-adventure epistolary -
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How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsMy Side of the Mountain meets How to Steal a Dog in this high-stakes and heartfelt middle-grade story of a young boy and his dog surviving on their own in the woods.Being alone is something Raymond is used to.Twelve-year-old Raymond Hurley has never had a place to call home... -
Buddy- How far will a boy go for the dog he loves? by M.H. Herlong
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA classic boy-and-dog tale in the tradition of Old YellerTyrone "Li'l T" Roberts meets Buddy when his family's car accidentally hits the stray dog on their way to church. Buddy turns out to be the dog Li'l T's always wished for--until Hurricane Katrina comes to New Orleans and he must leave Buddy behind... -
Alfie: by Thyra Heder
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsNia loves Alfie, her pet turtle. But he’s not very soft, he doesn’t do tricks, and he’s pretty quiet. Sometimes she forgets he’s even there! That is until the night before Nia’s seventh birthday, when Alfie disappears! Then, in an innovative switch in point of view, we hear Alfie’s side of the story. He didn’t leave Nia—he’s actually searching for the perfect birthday present for his dear friend... -
Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSeparation and miles cannot keep a determined cardinal from his loved one in an ode to serendipity and belief that is destined to be a new Christmas classic. Red and Lulu make their nest in a particularly beautiful evergreen tree...Categorized as:
animals children friendship realistic family historical-fiction anthropomorphism children-books -
Surprises According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBeing a classroom hamster means having to be ready for anything?but suddenly there are a lot of big surprises in Humphrey's world. Some are exciting, like seeing the playground during a fire drill and getting to roll around in a hamster ball... -
Truman by Jean Reidy
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAfter his best friend Sarah leaves for her first day of school, a tortoise named Truman goes on an adventure across the living room and learns to be brave in this thoughtful and heartwarming twist on a first experience story.Truman the tortoise lives with his Sarah, high above the taxis and the trash trucks and the number eleven bus, which travels south...Categorized as:
animals friendship children anthropomorphism family children-books fiction action-adventure -
Shark Wars #4: Kingdom of the Deep by E.J. Altbacker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShark Wars grows more epic--and addictive--with every book, publishing each season!Peace has finally come to the Big Blue and with it a revelation: Gray is not the last megalodon in the ocean after all. Gray swims deeper into the mystery of his family heritage, uncovering the myth of the megalodons and a legend that goes back to prehistoric times... -
Ginger by Kate Klimo
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsGinger the golden retriever narrates the story of her life, from her birth in a puppy mill through the various people who have ''owned'' her...Title: .Ginger..Author: .Klimo, Kate/ Jessell, Tim (ILT)..Publisher: .Random House Childrens Books..Publication Date: .2013/01/08..Number of Pages: .147..Binding Type: .PAPERBACK..Library of Congress:...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children family historical-fiction realistic survival action-adventure -
Fiona's Lace by Patricia Polacco
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAn Irish family stays together with the help of Fiona’s talent for making one-of-a-kind lace in this heartwarming immigration story from the New York Times bestselling creator of The Keeping Quilt.Many years ago, times were hard in all of Ireland, so when passage to America becomes available, Fiona and her family travel to Chicago... -
The Dogs of Winter by Bobbie Pyron
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen Mishka is abandoned on the streets of Moscow he falls in with a gang of other homeless children, hoping they’ll give him a chance of survival. But as winter freezes the city and food becomes scarce, he is left alone, to fend for himself.Help comes in an unexpected form: Mishka is adopted by a pack of dogs. The creatures quickly become more than just his street companions, they are his family...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children friendship historical-fiction poc-mc poverty realistic -
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Bruce's Big Storm by Ryan T. Higgins
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsBruce's home is already a full house.But when a big storm brings all his woodland neighbors knocking, he'll have to open his door to a crowd of animals in need of shelter-whether he likes it or not.Readers will love this next installment of the uproarious, award-winning Mother Bruce series... -
The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhen Mary Ellen gets bored with her reading, Grandpa knows a hunt for a bee tree is just what she needs. Half the town joins the exciting chase, but it's not until everyone returns home that Mary Ellen makes a discovery of her own: Sometimes, even the sweetest of things must be worked for...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship historical-fiction realistic action-adventure book -
That Book Woman by Heather Henson
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsCal is not the readin' type. Living way high up in the Appalachian Mountains, he'd rather help Pap plow or go out after wandering sheep than try some book learning. Nope. Cal does not want to sit stoney-still reading some chicken scratch. But that Book Woman keeps coming just the same. She comes in the rain. She comes in the snow...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship historical-fiction poverty realistic action-adventure -
Golden Boy by Tara Sullivan
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA shocking human rights tragedy brought to light in a story of heartbreak and triumph.Thirteen-year-old Habo has always been different— light eyes, yellow hair and white skin. Not the good brown skin his family has and not the white skin of tourists. Habo is strange and alone. His father, unable to accept Habo, abandons the family; his mother can scarcely look at him... -
It Fell from the Sky by Terry Fan, Eric Fan
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom the creators of the critically acclaimed The Night Gardener and Ocean Meets Sky comes a whimsical and elegantly illustrated picture book about community, art, the importance of giving back—and the wonder that fell from the sky.It fell from the sky on a Thursday. None of the insects know where it came from, or what it is. Some say it’s an egg. Others, a gumdrop... -
Chopsticks (Hyperion Picture Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Scott Magoon
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMeet Chopsticks! They've been best friends forever. But one day, this inseparable pair comes to a fork in the road. And for the very first time, they have to figure out how to function apart. From New York Times best-selling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and rising artistic talent Scott Magoon, this witty and inventive tale celebrates both independence and the unbreakable bonds of friendship...Categorized as:
children family friendship poc-mc action-adventure book children-books female-author -
A Bit Lost by Chris Haughton
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLittle Owl must be more careful when he is sleeping - uh-oh! He has fallen from his nest, & with a bump he lands on the ground. Where is his mummy? With the earnest assistance of his new friend Squirrel, Little Owl sets off in search of her, & meets a sequence of other animals...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children family friendship 21st-century action-adventure book -
A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsSwift, a young wolf cub, lives with his pack in the mountains learning to hunt, competing with his brothers and sisters for hierarchy, and watching over a new litter of cubs. Then a rival pack attacks, and Swift and his family scatter.Alone and scared, Swift must flee and find a new home. His journey takes him a remarkable one thousand miles across the Pacific Northwest...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children family historical-fiction realistic survival action-adventure -
Born to Run by Michael Morpurgo
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe bag wasn't just drifting gently along, it was turning of it's own accord. There was something inside it, squeaking and squealing in terror. Patrick didn't think about it. He shrugged off his school bag and leaped into the canal.For Best Mate, being rescued from drowning as a young puppy is only the start of his adventures...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children coming-of-age family friendship realistic action-adventure -
An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWith Lizzie’s father fighting in World War II, her mother takes on the job of a zoo keeper to provide for her family. Lizzie, her mother, and her eight-year-old brother Karli have become especially attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children coming-of-age family friendship historical-fiction realistic -
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Paint the Wind by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA sheltered girl. A wild horse. An unforgettable journey.Paint the Wind joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!Maya lives like a captive. At Grandmother's house in California, everything is forbidden: friends, fun, even memories...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children coming-of-age family friendship historical-fiction realistic -
Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsWinner of the 2018 Caldecott MedalA girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Wolf in the Snow is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, from Matthew Cordell, author of Trouble Gum and Another Brother... -
I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 by Lauren Tarshis
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsBased on true events! It's the summer of 1916 and the Jersey shore is being terrorized by a Great White shark. Can 10-year-old Chet and his friends survive a swim in the local creek?Chet Roscow is finally feeling at home in Elm Hills, New Jersey. He has a job with his uncle Jerry at the local diner, three great friends, and the perfect summertime destination: cool, refreshing Matawan Creek...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship historical-fiction realistic survival action-adventure -
Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 30 ratings“I like croquet and peanut butter and making my bed.”There is only one way for Chester to do things—his own way. “You definitely have a mind of your own,” said Chester’s mother. “That’s one way to put it,” said Chester’s father.Luckily Chester’s best friend, Wilson, likes doing things just the same way as Chester. When they cut their sandwiches, it's always diagonally...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism bullying children family friendship realistic action-adventure -
Waggit Again by Peter Howe
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAbandoned . . . again!Waggit misses the team of dogs who live in Central Park—his real family. He should have listened to them and never trusted the human. Now she's brought him to a faraway place and left him there.But Waggit is determined to find his way back home and nothing is going to stop him . . . not chains, not cruel enemies, not anything...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children family friendship realistic survival action-adventure -
Waggit Forever by Peter Howe, Omar Rayyan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA family is forever.Ever since he was abandoned as a puppy, Waggit's home has been the big, sprawling park in the heart of the city. There he has had snug shelter, food, and a family of other dogs to call his own.But now everything has changed. It is getting harder and harder to avoid the humans that invade the park every day. Food is scarce and enemies are everywhere...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children family friendship realistic survival action-adventure -
Wolf: The Journey Home by Asta Bowen
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIn this fictionalized account of real events, a female wolf named Marta, along with her young family, sets out on an epic journey to return to their home hunting grounds in Montana after they are mistakenly relocated by a group of naturalists...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism family realistic survival action-adventure book children-books -
The Countdown Conspiracy by Katie Slivensky
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAmbassador, you are go for launch in T- minus 5…4…3…2…. Get ready to blast off with this high-action, high-stakes middle grade adventure that’s perfect for fans of Chris Grabenstein and Peter Lerangis!Miranda Regent can’t believe she was just chosen as one of six kids from around the world to train for the first ever mission to Mars... -
LOS PREHISTORRATONES 10: ¡LLUEVEN MALAS NOTICIAS, STILTONUT! by Geronimo Stilton
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGeronimo Stiltonoot and The Stone Gazette are in the running for the Stone Age Ratitzer: the award for the best prehistoric journalism! But their main competition is Sally Rockmousen, the ruthless host of Gossip Radio -- and she'll stop at nothing to win...Categorized as:
animals children friendship historical-fiction action-adventure book children-books fiction -
Yara's Spring by Jamal Saeed, Sharon McKay
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsComing of age against all odds in the midst of the Arab Spring.Growing up in Aleppo, Yara’s childhood has long been shadowed by the coming revolution. But when the Arab Spring finally arrives at Yara’s doorstep, it is worse than even her Nana imagined: sudden, violent, and deadly. When rescuers dig Yara out from under the rubble that was once her family’s home, she emerges to a changed world...Categorized as:
historical-fiction realistic family poc-mc coming-of-age survival friendship children -
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House Without Walls by Ching Yeung Russell
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor most people, home is a place with four walls. It's a place to eat, sleep, rest, and live. For a refugee, the concept of home is ever-changing, ever-moving, ever-wavering. And often, it doesn't have any walls at all.Eleven-year-old Lam escapes from Vietnam with Dee Dee during the Vietnamese Boat People Exodus in 1979, when people from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fled their homelands for safety... -
Real to Me by Minh Lê, Raissa Figueroa
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn acclaimed author and a Coretta Scott King Honoree pair up for this tender story about friendship and accepting change. Two best friends (one of whom is imaginary) are inseparable until the day when one of them unexpectedly disappears.Others tried to tell me that she wasn't real, that she was just imaginary. But what did they know? She was real to me.Then one morning... she was gone...Categorized as:
coming-of-age friendship children poc-mc anthropomorphism fantasy children-books fiction -
Help, I'm in Hot Lava! by Geronimo Stilton
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsGeronimo Stilton's ancient ancestor Geronimo Stiltonoot is back in another prehistoric adventure!Geronimo Stiltonoot and his family are off to find a cure for Grandma Ratrock's aches and pains. She's heard that a remedy hides in Cheesy-La, a legendary valley that Geronimo isn't even sure exists...Categorized as:
animals children friendship historical-fiction action-adventure book children-books fiction -
Mr. Postmouse's Rounds by Marianne Dubuc
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMr. Postmouse has loaded up his wagon and is ready to deliver the mail. From the lofty heights of the Birds’ tree houses to the inky depths of Mrs. Octopus’s ship, the intrepid letter carrier lets nothing stand in the way of his deliveries. Each spread features whimsically detailed interiors of creatures’ homes, which readers will pore over for delightful surprises...Categorized as:
animals anthropomorphism children family friendship action-adventure book children-books -
Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA lyrical lullaby imbued with traditional Inuit beliefsThis bedtime poem, written by internationally acclaimed Inuit throat singer Celina Kalluk, describes the gifts bestowed upon a newborn baby by all the animals of the Arctic. Lyrically and lovingly written, this visually stunning book is infused with the Inuit values of love and respect for the land and its animal inhabitants... -
Angus and the Cat by Marjorie Flack
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom Caldecott Honor-winning children’s author and illustrator Marjorie Flack comes an adventure featuring her beloved Scottish terrier who must learn to get along with a new member of the family in Angus and the Cat .Angus’s world is turned upside down when a feline joins the household...
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