Books Like Desperate Measures
Families who loved Desperate Measures by Laura Summers 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 Desperate Measures by Laura Summers often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent would reach for this book when their child is beginning to grapple with complex questions about justice, systemic unfairness, or the fierce protective bonds between siblings. It is an ideal choice for middle schoolers who are moving away from black and white morality and are ready to discuss why good people sometimes make desperate, illegal choices for the sake of love. The story follows thirteen-year-old Vicky as she orchestrates a runaway plan to prevent her siblings from being separated by social services. While the premise is high-stakes and contains moments of peril, it serves as a powerful catalyst for conversations about empathy, resilience, and the definition of home. Parents may choose this to normalize feelings of frustration with authority or to provide representation for families navigating the foster system or caring for siblings with cognitive disabilities.
