Books Like Song of the Magdalene
Families who loved Song of the Magdalene by Donna Jo Napoli 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 Song of the Magdalene by Donna Jo Napoli 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 teenager is struggling with a chronic illness or a sense of being 'broken' by conditions they cannot control. Set in ancient Israel, the story follows Miriam as she navigates the onset of epilepsy in a society that often confuses her seizures with spiritual or moral failings. It is a deeply empathetic look at identity, the search for a cure, and the resilience required to find one's own voice when the world wants to silence or shame you. While the story serves as an origin for a biblical figure, its primary focus is the universal adolescent experience of feeling like an outsider. It explores heavy themes of grief, physical vulnerability, and cultural expectations. Parents of older teens will appreciate the sophisticated prose and the way it validates the difficult journey toward self-acceptance, though some may want to discuss the darker moments of isolation and social stigma that Miriam faces.
