Families who loved The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart 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 feels like their differences or medical conditions are a burden rather than a strength. This prequel to the Mysterious Benedict Society series introduces nine year old Nicholas, an orphan who must navigate a new home while managing narcolepsy and a brilliant, hyperactive mind. It is a story about finding agency in a world controlled by often unkind adults. While it deals with loneliness and bullying, the tone is intellectually stimulating and deeply empowering. It is ideal for middle grade readers who enjoy solving puzzles and need to see that being 'different' can be a secret superpower. Parents will appreciate the way it models emotional resilience and high level problem solving.
