Families who loved Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith 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 teenager is grappling with a sudden shift in social status or is struggling to reconcile their personal values with the pressures of a high-stakes peer environment. It is particularly helpful for teens who feel like they have to put on a mask to fit in with a certain crowd. The story follows Miranda, who is transformed into a vampire and thrust into a glamorous but cut-throat supernatural aristocracy. While the setting is fantastical, the emotional core focuses on the tension between who we are and who we feel we must become to survive socially. Parents should note that this is a sophisticated teen romance with gothic elements, dealing with themes of redemption, loyalty, and the loss of innocence. It offers a great jumping-off point for discussing how to stay true to oneself when the world demands a performance.