LibraryAware 2024

Remarkably Bright Creatures : A Novel
by Shelby Van Pelt

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a luminous debut novel about a widow's unlikely friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium — and the truths she finally uncovers about her son's disappearance 30 years ago"

Adult Read-Alikes

Gravity is the Thing : A Novel
by Jaclyn Moriarty

Twenty years ago, Abigail Sorenson's brother Robert went missing one day before her sixteenth birthday, never to be seen again. That same year, she began receiving scattered chapters in the mail of a self-help manual, The Guidebook, whose anonymous author promised to make her life soar to heights beyond her wildest dreams. The Guidebook's missives have remained a constant in Abi's life — a befuddling yet oddly comforting voice through her family's grief over her brother's disappearance, a move across continents, the devastating dissolution of her marriage, and the new beginning as a single mother and cafe owner in Sydney. Now, two decades after receiving those first pages, Abi is invited to an all-expenses paid weekend retreat to learn "the truth" about The Guidebook. It's an opportunity too intriguing to refuse. If everything is connected, then surely the twin mysteries of The Guidebook and a missing brother must be linked?

Miss Benson's Beetle : A Novel
by Rachel Joyce

Leaving London behind, Margery Benson, a schoolmarm and spinster in 1950, embarks on a quest to the other side of the world in search of her childhood obsession – the golden beetle of New Caledonia – with the help of a fun-loving assistant who changes her life forever.

The Last Chance Library
by Freya Sampson

When her library is threatened with closure, June Hones, to save the place and the books that mean so much to her, must make some changes to her solitary life by opening her heart to the world around her and fighting for what she believes in.

West with Giraffes : A Novel
by Lynda Rutledge

Inspired by true events, this part adventure, part historical saga and part coming-of-age love story follows Woodrow Wilson Nickel as he recalls his journey in 1938 to deliver Southern California's first giraffes to the San Diego Zoo.

The Shell Collector : A Novel
by Nancy Naigle

A touching novel of love and loss, a friendship that crosses generations, and learning how even the smallest gifts can change a life for good, from USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

Teen Read-Alikes

Clap When You Land
by Elizabeth Acevedo

An evocative novel in verse by the National Book Award-winning author of The Poet X follows the experiences of two grieving sisters who navigate the loss of their father and the impact of his death on their relationship.

Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions
by Navdeep Singh Dhillon

When Mindi Vang steals his notebook filled with rash decisions on prom night, Sunny chases after her and has an unexpected all-night adventure filled with reckless, wonderful, romantic, stupid, life-changing decisions.

You've Reached Sam
by Dustin Thao

After her boyfriend, Sam, dies, Julie gets a second chance at goodbye but finds it hard to keep these otherworldly calls a secret, especially when she witnesses the suffering his family is going through.

We Are Okay
by Nina LaCour

After leaving her life behind to go to college in New York, Marin must face the truth about the tragedy that happened in the final weeks of summer when her friend Mabel comes to visit.

How It Feels to Float
by Helena Fox

Biz's world turns from balance to grief and depression when her father, whom she has been seeing since his death when she was seven, suddenly stops appearing to her, and she must find a new normal.

Middle School Read-Alikes

See You at Harry's
by Jo Knowles

Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible to her family, where grumpy 18-year-old Sarah is working at the family restaurant, 14-year-old Holden is struggling with school bullies and his emerging homosexuality, and adorable, 3-year-old Charlie is always the center of attention, so when tragedy strikes, the fragile bond holding the family together is stretched almost to the breaking point. Read by Kate Rudd. Book available.

The Thing About Jellyfish
by Ali Benjamin

Twelve-year-old Suzy Swanson wades through her intense grief over the loss of her best friend by investigating the rare jellyfish she is convinced was responsible for her friend's death

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
by Dan Gemeinhart

Twelve-year-old Coyote and her father rush to Poplin Springs, Washington, in their old school bus to save a memory box buried in a park that will soon be demolished.

The Shape of Thunder
by Jasmine Warga

Estranged from the best friend whose brother killed her sister in a school shooting, a grieving Cora receives a message on her 12th birthday from her friend, asking for her help with creating a time portal to prevent the tragedy. 100,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.

Counting by 7s
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident

Youth Read-Alikes

Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea
by Ashley Herring Blake

Traumatized and facially scarred by the accident that ended a parent’s life, young Hazel joins other family members traveling for two years before settling in a Maine community, where an unlikely friend informs her about a local mermaid legend. 25,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.

Glitter Gets Everywhere
by Yvette Clark

Relocating from London to New York City with her family in the aftermath of her mother's death, Kitty struggles to adjust to a different culture, before an unlikely friendship inspires alternate perspectives on how to keep her mother's memory alive

Shouting at the Rain
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Delsie loves tracking the weather, living with her grandmother, and the support of friends and neighbors, but misses having a "regular family," especially after her best friend outgrows her

The Line Tender
by Kate Allen

A twelve-year-old girl must pick up the work of her late marine-biologist mother when a tragedy strikes her sleepy Rockport community.

The Fourteenth Goldfish
by Jennifer L Holm

Hating change and missing both her best friend and her dead goldfish, 11-year-old Ellie encounters a boy who strongly resembles her immortality-obsessed grandfather, in a story that introduces the work of famous historical scientists. By the three-time Newbery Honor-winning author of Turtle in Paradise.

Kids Read-Alikes

The Rabbit Listened
by Cori Doerrfeld

A metaphorical tale of empathy and friendship follows the experiences of a small child who is offered well-intentioned advice from his animal friends in the wake of a loss but only finds comfort with the last animal, a rabbit who just quietly listens. By the creator of Little Bunny Foo Foo.

The Heart and the Bottle
by Oliver Jeffers

The creator of The Incredible Book Eating Boy presents an uplifting tale that considers how a lonely young heart can decide to hide from or reach out to others who share the gifts of laughter, imagination and magic.

Finding François : A Story About the Healing Power of Friendship
by Gus Gordon

Longing for a sibling in the aftermath of a devastating loss, young Alice bonds with an unexpected new friend, François, who accompanies her healing journeys along the Seine, offering comfort and support. By the creator of I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo!

Love Made Me More
by Colleen Rowan Kosinski

An origami crane he made with his grandmother plays a part in the most important moments of his life, and with the crane's guidance, he shows his own son how to fold origami.