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Quick answer: If you liked Other Words for Home, try Inside Out & Back Again, Home of the Brave, Refugee, Amal Unbound, The Night Diary and Front Desk. They tell moving stories of kids who leave home and find a new one.
Jasmine Warga's novel in verse follows Jude, a girl in Syria whose family sends her to live with relatives in Cincinnati. She has to adjust to a new school, language and culture while worrying about her home. Readers who connect with Jude look for stories about immigrants and refugees told with empathy and hope. These 15 books suit ages 8 to 14.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Out & Back Again | Thanhha Lai | 8-12 | readers who like verse novels |
| Home of the Brave | Katherine Applegate | 8-12 | readers who like short, poetic books |
| Refugee | Alan Gratz | 10-14 | readers who like action and history |
| Amal Unbound | Aisha Saeed | 10-14 | readers who want strong heroines |
| The Night Diary | Veera Hiranandani | 9-13 | readers who like diary format |
| Front Desk | Kelly Yang | 8-12 | readers who like humor and heart |
| Esperanza Rising | Pam Muñoz Ryan | 9-13 | readers who like history |
| The Red Pencil | Andrea Davis Pinkney | 10-14 | readers who want a serious story |
| Illegal | Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin | 10-14 | graphic novel fans |
| A Long Walk to Water | Linda Sue Park | 10-13 | reluctant readers |
| Words in the Dust | Trent Reedy | 12+ | older readers |
| Wishtree | Katherine Applegate | 8-12 | readers who like animals and nature |
| The Garden of My Imaan | Farah Naz Rishi | 10-14 | readers who want a modern school story |
| Brown Girl Dreaming | Jacqueline Woodson | 9-13 | poetry fans |
| Stef Soto, Taco Queen | Jennifer Torres | 8-12 | younger readers |
1. Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Ha, ten, leaves Saigon in 1975 and settles in Alabama. A verse novel based on Lai's own life, with humor and grace.
Best for: readers who like verse novels.
2. Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
Kek, a boy from Sudan, learns to live in Minnesota after losing his family. Written in free verse, quiet and hopeful.
Best for: readers who like short, poetic books.
3. Refugee by Alan Gratz
Three children, in Nazi Germany, Cuba and Syria, flee their homes. Intense and fast-paced.
Best for: readers who like action and history.
4. Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
Amal, a Pakistani girl, is forced to work for a powerful family and fights for freedom. Courageous and moving.
Best for: readers who want strong heroines.
5. The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
Nisha writes letters to her mother during the 1947 Partition of India. Warm, clear and quietly heartbreaking.
Best for: readers who like diary format.
6. Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Mia Tang's family runs a motel, and she helps guests and fights for her future. Funny, hopeful and inspired by the author's life.
Best for: readers who like humor and heart.
7. Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza goes from a rich Mexican ranch to a California farm camp during the Depression. Beautiful and strong.
Best for: readers who like history.
8. The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Amira, a girl in Darfur, loses her home and finds hope in a red pencil. A verse novel about war and resilience.
Best for: readers who want a serious story.
9. Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin
A graphic novel about Ebo, a boy who travels from Africa to Europe to find his brother. Heartfelt and gripping.
Best for: graphic novel fans.
10. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Two stories, one about a Sudanese Lost Boy and one about a girl fetching water, come together. Short and powerful.
Best for: reluctant readers.
11. Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy
Zulaikha, a girl in Afghanistan, wants to read and be seen as more than her scar. Quiet and sincere.
Best for: older readers.
12. Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
A red oak tree called Red narrates the story of a Muslim family facing hate in the neighborhood. Gentle and lovely.
Best for: readers who like animals and nature.
13. The Garden of My Imaan by Farah Naz Rishi
Aliya, a Muslim girl, navigates friendship and faith in a new school. Warm and honest.
Best for: readers who want a modern school story.
14. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson tells her childhood in verse. A National Book Award winner, personal and lyrical.
Best for: poetry fans.
15. Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres
Stef is embarrassed when her family's taco truck picks her up from school. Light and heartfelt.
Best for: younger readers.
How to Choose
For verse novels like Jude's, begin with Inside Out & Back Again or Home of the Brave. For fast-paced reads, choose Refugee. For humor, read Front Desk. For newer immigrant stories in school settings, try The Garden of My Imaan. Some of these books describe war and loss, so read them together with younger children.
Related: Phonics vs Sight Words: What Works Better? · How to Teach a Child to Read at Home
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Other Words for Home for?
It is recommended for ages 9 to 13.
Why is it written in verse?
The short lines give Jude's feelings room, and the format makes it quick to read.
Is Other Words for Home based on a true story?
No, but it draws on the experiences of Syrian refugees and the author's own Middle Eastern American background.
How can parents talk about these books?
Ask what a character misses, who helped them and what the child would do. Compare stories with people you know.