Books Like Kiss the Dust
Families who loved Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird 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 Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent might reach for this book when their middle schooler or teen is asking complex questions about global displacement, war, or what it means to be a refugee. It is an essential choice for families looking to build empathy for those navigating the transition from a stable, middle-class life to the uncertainty of a refugee camp. The story follows thirteen-year-old Tara, whose comfortable life in Iraq is shattered by the Kurdish resistance movement, forcing her family to flee into the mountains and eventually across the border into Iran. While the book deals with heavy themes of political violence and the loss of home, it focuses deeply on Tara's personal growth and the resilience of the family unit. It is appropriate for mature readers aged 12 and up, as it provides a realistic, unvarnished look at the hardships of war without being gratuitously graphic. Parents will appreciate how the novel humanizes the refugee experience, showing Tara's shift from a sheltered child to a capable young woman who cares for her family during their darkest hours.
