Families who loved The Diversion by K. A. Applegate 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 beginning to understand that growing up involves heavy responsibilities and the realization that parents cannot always protect them. While it is a thrilling science fiction adventure, the heart of the story focuses on the agonizing moment when a child must take charge to save their family. It explores themes of sacrifice, the loss of childhood innocence, and the necessity of making impossible choices under pressure. It is appropriate for middle grade readers who enjoy high stakes action but are also ready for more nuanced emotional dilemmas. Parents will appreciate the way it validates a child's growing agency and the complex reality that some secrets are kept out of love, even when they cause pain.