Families who loved Elizabeth Webster and the Portal of Doom by William Lashner 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 starting to navigate the social complexities of middle school and needs a story that validates their sense of justice and independence. Elizabeth Webster is a sharp, capable young woman juggling the everyday stresses of homework with the supernatural responsibility of being a legal advocate for the ghostly and the strange. It is an excellent pick for kids who feel a bit like outsiders or who are beginning to question the fairness of the adult world. While the story is packed with humor and spooky thrills, it centers on the emotional weight of standing up for someone when the odds are stacked against them. Elizabeth’s journey to prove her worth to her father while protecting a mysterious twelve year old client mirrors the real world desire for agency that many middle grade readers feel. It is a smart, fast paced mystery that balances creepy banshees and demons with the very real horrors of cafeteria social hierarchies.
