Books Like Josh
Families who loved Josh by Ivan Southall 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 Josh by Ivan Southall 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 feels like a misfit or is struggling with the pressure to conform to a group that does not understand them. It is a raw, introspective look at Josh, a sensitive city boy who visits his aunt in a rural town, only to face immediate hostility and bullying from the local kids because he writes poetry and thinks differently. This story captures the visceral sting of being an outsider and the internal battle to maintain one's dignity when faced with peer cruelty. It is best suited for mature readers aged 12 and up due to its intense emotional realism and complex stream of consciousness style. Parents will appreciate it as a deep dive into the psyche of a child who refuses to change who they are, even at a high social cost.
