Families who loved The Private Notebook of Katie Roberts, Age 11 by Amy Hest 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 facing a major life transition, such as moving to a new city or adjusting to a stepparent. It provides a gentle, safe space to process the conflicting emotions of missing an old life while trying to find beauty in a new one. Katie's father died in World War II, and now her mother has remarried and moved them from the bustle of New York to a quiet Texas ranch. Through her private diary entries and letters, Katie navigates the complex feelings of grief, resentment toward her new stepfather, and the eventual realization that her heart has room for more than one home. It is a poignant, realistic, and ultimately hopeful choice for children ages 8 to 12 who feel like their world has been turned upside down.
