I’m looking for a book that isn’t dark, and I prefer books that are middle grade or YA. I would also like the book to have at least one or more of the following:
1) great character development
2) strong bonds between the characters
3) meaningful theme(s)
An example I can think of off the top of my head is Wonder, because it was primarily written for younger audiences and is a wholesome book. It also has great themes and shows the bond between various characters.
by Mission-Lie2068
9 Comments
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Little Women by T.S. Eliot
The Wind In The Willows
“The Story Girl” by LM Montgomery for a non-contemporary option. If you want to get into the deeper parts of the story you should also read its follow up book “The Golden Road”. These are an adult’s recollection of a treasured time in his youth that was based upon new friendships and bonds he experienced. Great audiobook narration by Grace Conlin and the first book I think is still in Audible’s Plus collection.
Also may consider “Catching the Wind” by Melanie Dobson.
I’ve been looking to recommend Flight Season by Marie Marquardt and this is the perfect opportunity!
It’s a bit of an older YA read and while it doesn’t get dark it does get tear-inducing. The characters definitely have strong bonds that are cultivated between them and develop gradually. It also covers some topics that I have rarely seen touched upon in general fiction, especially in a YA context, and I read it maybe 5 years ago and I still think about it.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Normal People by Sally Rooney. While I wouldn’t describe it as wholesome it’s about the relationship between two people with their own separate struggles from school onwards
The bear and nightingale
You might like Victoria Williamson’s books. I’d recommend [‘The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle’](https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-fox-girl-and-the-white-gazelle/victoria-williamson/9781782504900) and [‘The Boy with the Butterfly Mind’](https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-boy-with-the-butterfly-mind/victoria-williamson/9781782506447) 🙂