Books Like Pretending
Families who loved Pretending by Leslie Davis 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 Pretending by Leslie Davis 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 navigating the tricky social waters of a new school or feeling the pressure to change their personality to impress a crush. It speaks directly to the anxiety of not feeling 'enough' as you are. Pretending follows Sean, who feels pushed aside when his friend Kate becomes enamored with a sophisticated student intellectual. In a desperate attempt to win her back, Sean enlists a ghostwriter to craft deep poetry, creating a web of deception that eventually spirals out of control. It is an ideal choice for middle-grade readers (ages 8 to 12) who are beginning to explore romantic interests and the ethics of social performance. You would choose this book to help your child understand that authenticity is the only foundation for a lasting relationship and that lies, even well-intentioned ones, eventually come to light.
