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Books with Characters Who Are Adopted

These books all feature adopted kids in key roles. Most are human, but there's also one very special bear, as well as a cyborg with two stepsisters, and a couple of superheroes. One story is about getting an adopted sibling. Others are about adopted kids looking for their birth parents or learning about their pasts. Some characters are involved in exciting mysteries and adventures, and being adopted is just one fact about them. All are great reads! For more of those, check out Books About Families and Coming-of-Age Books.

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We Belong Together: A Book about Adoption and Families Poster Image
BOOK

We Belong Together: A Book about Adoption and Families

age 4+

Celebration of the love between parent and child.

By: Todd Parr (2007)
Home at Last Poster Image
BOOK

Home at Last

age 5+

Fears faced openly when loving dads adopt older boy.

By: Vera B. Williams (2016)
I Color Myself Different Book Cover
BOOK

I Color Myself Different

age 5+

Moving story encourages self-love and pride in diversity.

By: Colin Kaepernick (2022)
A Bear Called Paddington Poster Image
BOOK

A Bear Called Paddington

age 6+

Delightful classic about a bear adopted by a London family.

By: Michael Bond (1958)
The Year of the Baby: Anna Wang, Book 2 Poster Image
BOOK

The Year of the Baby: Anna Wang, Book 2

age 6+

Sweet tale of adopted sibling and her loving older sister.

By: Andrea Cheng (2013)
Earwig and the Witch Poster Image
BOOK

Earwig and the Witch

age 8+

Comical tale of a spunky girl adopted by a witch and devil.

By: Diana Wynne Jones (2012)
Jazzy's Quest: Adopted and Amazing! Poster Image
BOOK

Jazzy's Quest: Adopted and Amazing!

age 8+

Adopted girl discovers how she's special in engaging tale.

Minion Poster Image
BOOK

Minion

age 8+

Terrific page-turner has it all: action, humor, and heart.

By: John David Anderson (2014)
Rooftoppers Poster Image
BOOK

Rooftoppers

age 8+

Soaring, quirky adventure has unforgettable characters.

By: Katherine Rundell (2013)
When Heaven Fell Poster Image
BOOK

When Heaven Fell

age 8+

Snapshot of Vietnamese culture past and present.

By: Carolyn Marsden (2007)
Anne of Green Gables Poster Image
BOOK

Anne of Green Gables

age 9+

Beloved classic features lovable, imaginative heroine.

By: L.M. Montgomery (1908)
Arcady's Goal Poster Image
BOOK

Arcady's Goal

age 9+

Understated, affecting glimpse of child's life under Stalin.

By: Eugene Yelchin (2014)
Breadcrumbs Poster Image
BOOK

Breadcrumbs

age 9+

Brilliant tale of girl's enchanted-woods search for friend.

By: Anne Ursu (2011)
Changeling: The Oddmire, Book 1 Poster Image
BOOK

Changeling: The Oddmire, Book 1

age 9+

Delightfully scary, funny, magical series start.

By: William Ritter (2019)
For Black Girls Like Me Poster Image
BOOK

For Black Girls Like Me

age 10+

Black girl in white family finds her voice in moving novel.

Pennyroyal Academy Poster Image
BOOK

Pennyroyal Academy

age 9+

Brave kids, scary monsters, lessons galore in series debut.

By: M.A. Larson (2014)
The Girl Who Drank the Moon Poster Image
BOOK

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

age 10+

Entrancing fantasy spun with magic stresses power of love.

By: Kelly Barnhill (2016)
Greenglass House Poster Image
BOOK

Greenglass House

age 10+

Delightful, engaging mystery with a twist.

By: Kate Milford (2014)
Half a World Away Poster Image
BOOK

Half a World Away

age 10+

Troubled adopted boy learns to open heart in moving tale.

By: Cynthia Kadohata (2014)
Three Times Lucky Poster Image
BOOK

Three Times Lucky

age 10+

Funny mystery with spunky girl touches on serious themes.

By: Sheila Turnage (2012)