Families who loved My Book of Life by Angel by Martine Leavitt often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.

A parent would reach for this book when their mature teenager is beginning to ask difficult questions about the cycle of poverty, the vulnerability of those living on the margins, or the realities of human trafficking and exploitation. This is a profound, heart-wrenching novel in verse that addresses the heavy realities of life on the streets for a young girl named Angel. It is a story of survival, the search for agency in an impossible situation, and the transformative power of a single true friendship. While the subject matter is intense and intended for older teens, the lyrical prose provides a necessary layer of artistic distance. Parents might choose this book to foster deep empathy and to open serious, necessary conversations about safety, systemic failure, and the inherent dignity of every human life regardless of their circumstances.