Families who loved The Fear Place by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 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 struggling with a paralyzing specific fear or feels constantly overshadowed by a more confident sibling. It provides a mirror for the physical sensations of anxiety and the frustration of feeling less capable than those around you. The story follows twelve year old Doug as he navigates the high Central Rockies, forced to face his vertigo and his resentment toward his older brother during a family emergency. It is a grounded, realistic look at courage that does not involve sudden, magical bravery, but rather the hard work of taking one step at a time despite being terrified. It is ideal for middle grade readers who enjoy high stakes survival stories and need to see that anxiety is something to be managed, not a sign of weakness.