Families who loved The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn by Sam Gayton 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 feelings of longing, whether for a missing parent, a distant home, or a sense of belonging. The story follows Lettie Peppercorn, a young girl living in a stilthouse on stilts who embarks on a high-stakes quest to find her mother. To do so, she must outsmart a mysterious alchemist and reclaim a magical substance. It is a beautifully atmospheric story that tackles themes of abandonment and resilience through the lens of a whimsical fantasy adventure. Parents will appreciate how the book validates the pain of absence while celebrating the protagonist's agency and imagination. It is perfectly suited for readers aged 9 to 12 who enjoy lush world-building and stories where children prove more capable than the adults around them.
