Families who loved Keeper by Kathi Appelt 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 the heavy weight of a mistake or seeking answers about an absent parent. Ten-year-old Keeper believes her mother is a mermaid who returned to the sea, and after a series of accidental mishaps leave her feeling like a 'bad' kid, she sets out on a night-time quest to find her mother and fix her world. It is a lyrical, atmospheric story that masterfully balances the whimsical hope of folklore with the grounded reality of family secrets and abandonment. It is ideal for children ages 8 to 12 who appreciate magical realism and need a gentle way to process complex emotions like shame, longing, and the realization that the adults in their lives are flawed.