Katherine Applegate is best known for children’s literature, especially The One and Only Ivan. Her books combine imagination, emotional depth, and memorable characters in a way that resonates with young readers and adults alike.
If you enjoy Katherine Applegate’s work, these authors are well worth exploring next:
Kate DiCamillo writes with warmth, wit, and a deep understanding of loneliness and hope. In Because of Winn-Dixie, a girl named Opal moves to a small Florida town and befriends a scruffy stray dog she names Winn-Dixie after finding him in a grocery store.
That chance encounter changes everything. Through Winn-Dixie, Opal meets an unforgettable cast of neighbors and begins to make sense of loss, friendship, forgiveness, and love. Like Applegate, DiCamillo has a gift for creating tender, emotionally rich stories that never feel heavy-handed.
Linda Sue Park is known for thoughtful, moving books that often draw on history and culture. In A Long Walk to Water, she tells the stories of two young people in Sudan across different time periods. Salva, a boy displaced by war, must endure hardship and uncertainty as he searches for safety.
Years later, Nya spends her days walking long distances to collect water for her family. As the two narratives move toward each other, the novel becomes a powerful reflection on survival, resilience, and the life-changing impact of persistence and compassion. Its basis in true events gives it even greater emotional force.
Sharon Creech writes heartfelt, character-centered stories about family, grief, friendship, and growing up. One of her best-loved novels is Walk Two Moons.
In the book, Salamanca travels across the country with her grandparents while telling them about her friend Phoebe and the mysteries surrounding Phoebe’s family. As the journey continues, Sal is also forced to confront her own feelings about her mother’s absence.
Creech balances humor and sorrow beautifully, letting each deepen the other. Readers who appreciate Katherine Applegate’s emotional honesty and strong sense of character will likely find a lot to love here.
Lois Lowry writes books that invite readers to think deeply while staying fully absorbed in the story. Her classic novel The Giver, is set in a seemingly perfect community where pain, conflict, and choice have all been carefully erased.
When Jonas is selected to receive memories from the mysterious Giver, he begins to understand what his society has sacrificed in exchange for order and comfort. As his awareness grows, so does the weight of what he must decide.
Lowry’s writing is quiet but powerful, and the questions the book raises about freedom, emotion, and individuality linger long after the final page.
Holly Goldberg Sloan writes compassionate stories about kids trying to find their footing in a complicated world. In Counting by 7s readers meet Willow, a brilliant twelve-year-old who feels most comfortable with plants, numbers, and routines.
After a devastating loss, Willow’s life is thrown off course, yet she gradually forms unexpected bonds with the people around her. The novel is tender, funny, and uplifting without ignoring pain. If you like Applegate’s blend of heartache and hope, Sloan is a strong next pick.
Wendy Mass often combines emotional growth with playful, imaginative premises. In 11 Birthdays, Amanda and Leo were once inseparable birthday twins, but a falling-out has left them barely speaking.
Then their eleventh birthday starts repeating, forcing them to relive the same day again and again. As they search for a way out, they also have to face hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and the possibility of mending their friendship.
Mass brings humor and heart to the story, making it a satisfying choice for readers who enjoy emotionally grounded middle grade fiction with a creative twist.
Gordon Korman is especially good at writing fast-paced, entertaining stories with humor and depth. In Restart, Chase wakes up after an accident with no memory of who he was before.
As he learns about his old life, he realizes he may not have been someone others admired or trusted. The novel follows his attempts to understand himself, repair damaged relationships, and decide what kind of person he wants to become.
Korman’s storytelling is lively and accessible, but it also leaves room for real emotional growth, making him a great recommendation for Applegate fans.
Jacqueline Woodson writes with grace, clarity, and emotional precision, often exploring identity, family, and belonging. In Brown Girl Dreaming, she tells the story of her childhood in verse.
Set in the 1960s and 1970s, the memoir moves between South Carolina and New York, capturing family life, the Civil Rights era, and Woodson’s growing awareness that words might become her future. Each poem reveals something intimate and vivid, whether she is describing ordinary moments or larger cultural shifts.
Readers who appreciate Katherine Applegate’s emotional authenticity may be especially drawn to Woodson’s honesty and lyrical style.
Kate Messner writes stories that are lively, heartfelt, and accessible to younger readers. In The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. a seventh-grader tries to stay on top of a major school leaf project while also coping with family concerns and the pressures of everyday life.
The book blends humor, friendship, and emotional insight in a way that feels natural rather than overly sentimental. Messner’s characters are easy to root for, and her stories often capture the messy, hopeful process of figuring things out.
Gary D. Schmidt writes deeply human stories that are funny, thoughtful, and surprisingly moving. In The Wednesday Wars, seventh-grader Holling Hoodhood ends up studying Shakespeare with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while his classmates leave for religious instruction.
What begins as an inconvenience slowly becomes something more meaningful. As Holling navigates family expectations, school drama, friendships, and the larger tensions of the 1960s, he begins to mature in ways he never expected.
Schmidt captures both awkwardness and wisdom so well that the novel feels timeless. Readers who enjoy books with emotional depth and memorable voices should definitely take a look.
Elizabeth Atkinson writes engaging middle grade fiction that often focuses on identity, family, and the desire to fit in. In I, Emma Freke, Emma is a bright but awkward twelve-year-old who feels out of step with both her eccentric family and her classmates.
When she attends a reunion with her father’s side of the family, she discovers new connections and begins to rethink the story she has been telling herself about who she is. Atkinson handles Emma’s insecurities with warmth and humor, which makes the emotional journey feel especially relatable.
Rebecca Stead writes books that feel intimate and surprising at the same time. In When You Reach Me, Miranda, a twelve-year-old living in 1970s New York City, starts receiving mysterious notes that seem impossible to explain.
As the story unfolds, friendship troubles, neighborhood details, and an unusual mystery intertwine in a way that feels both grounded and inventive. The novel has a quiet emotional core, but it also rewards readers who enjoy puzzles and unexpected turns.
If you like stories that are warm, smart, and a little unusual, Stead is an excellent choice.
Ann M. Martin has written many books about friendship, family, and the challenges of growing up, and Rain Reign, is one of her most affecting. The story centers on Rose, a girl with autism who loves homonyms and shares a powerful bond with her dog, Rain.
After a storm leaves Rain missing, Rose becomes determined to bring her home. That search leads her toward difficult truths about her family and herself.
Martin writes with sensitivity and restraint, allowing Rose’s voice and emotions to carry the story. Readers who value Katherine Applegate’s compassion and strong character work may find this one especially rewarding.
Lynda Mullaly Hunt writes emotionally resonant stories about children who are struggling to be seen and understood. In Fish in a Tree Ally has spent years hiding the fact that she cannot read well, convinced that others will mistake her learning challenges for a lack of intelligence.
When a new teacher recognizes her dyslexia and believes in her abilities, Ally begins to imagine a different future for herself. The book is compassionate, encouraging, and full of moments that will resonate with readers who have ever felt underestimated.
Like Applegate’s work, it offers both empathy and hope without losing sight of how hard growth can be.
Sally Pla writes heartfelt stories about connection, change, and the ways children make sense of overwhelming situations. In The Someday Birds, Charlie, a boy with autism who loves birdwatching, is thrust into an unexpected cross-country trip after his father is injured.
Traveling with his siblings, Charlie encounters unfamiliar people, shifting routines, and emotional challenges that push him far beyond his comfort zone. Along the way, he slowly learns to adapt, trust, and see both himself and others differently.
The novel balances tenderness, humor, and honesty, making it a strong match for readers who appreciate Applegate’s emotionally rich storytelling.
