Families who loved Queenie Peavy by Robert Burch 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 acting out due to hidden shame or the pain of a parent's absence. Queenie Peavy is a fiercely intelligent girl living in Depression-era Georgia who uses her tough exterior and a well-aimed rock to hide the heartbreak of her father being in prison. It is a vital read for children who feel they have inherited a 'bad reputation' or who are struggling to reconcile the person they want a parent to be with who that parent actually is. Through Queenie's journey, the book explores how to claim your own identity despite difficult family circumstances. It is a realistic, unsentimental look at accountability and self-worth that is perfectly suited for middle-grade readers navigating complex social dynamics and family truths.