Books Like Cast Off
Families who loved Cast Off by Eve Yohalem often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Cast Off by Eve Yohalem 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 is grappling with the feeling of not fitting into the rigid expectations of their family or community. It is a powerful choice for a middle-schooler who needs to see that choosing your own path, even when it feels like a lonely or scary betrayal of tradition, is a brave step toward a healthy identity. Set in the 17th century, the story follows a young girl who disguises herself as a boy to escape an abusive home and find her way onto a Dutch merchant ship. While the setting is historical, the emotional core is deeply modern, focusing on resilience and the search for a chosen family. The book explores themes of gender roles, survival, and the courage it takes to start over. It is age-appropriate for ages 10 to 14, offering a realistic but ultimately hopeful depiction of a young person taking agency over their life in the face of significant hardship.
