Families who loved A Taste of Smoke by Marion Dane Bauer often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child feels like a 'third wheel' in their own family or is struggling to adapt as an older sibling begins dating. It is a sensitive tool for kids navigating the transition from childhood play to the more complex, often isolating, world of adolescence. Thirteen-year-old Caitlan expects a special bonding trip with her sister, but the presence of a boyfriend and a lingering ghost from a 19th-century forest fire complicates her reality. The story uses a haunting supernatural mystery to mirror Caitlan's internal feelings of being 'ghosted' by those she loves. It is a quiet, atmospheric read perfect for middle schoolers experiencing the bittersweet sting of growing up.