Families who loved Surface Tension by Brent Runyon 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 son or daughter is beginning to feel the prickly, confusing shift from childhood play to adolescent self-consciousness. It is a perfect choice for the child who suddenly feels too big for their own skin or who is struggling to navigate the changing dynamics of a long-term friendship. The story follows Luke over four pivotal summers at a lake house, capturing the hyper-specific moments of growing up: from the pride of a physical feat to the stinging embarrassment of a social blunder. Brent Runyon masterfully captures the interior monologue of a boy becoming a man, making it a validating read for teens who feel like they are the only ones struggling with the awkwardness of puberty. It is a realistic, secular, and deeply honest look at the transition to high school that helps normalize the messy feelings of the middle school years.