The best (quiet, character-driven) books about finding family

Book cover of Bastard Out of Carolina Book cover of The Secret Life of Bees Book cover of Where the Heart Is Book cover of Anne of Green Gables Book cover of Practical Magic

The best books about people breaking from their pasts to claim their lives back

Book cover of Demon Copperhead Book cover of Educated: A Memoir Book cover of The Glass Castle Book cover of Running with Scissors: A Memoir Book cover of Bastard Out of Carolina

The best books to understand how our systems are failing our most vulnerable children—and to imagine a better way

Book cover of Beyond Survival: Strategies and Stories from the Transformative Justice Movement Book cover of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City Book cover of Bastard Out of Carolina Book cover of Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City Book cover of Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--And How Abolition Can Build a Safer World

The best novels about vulnerable protagonists with family secrets

Book cover of The Last Anniversary Book cover of Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis Book cover of Bastard Out of Carolina Book cover of A Rose for Emily Book cover of East of Eden

The best books to read if you love Southern fiction

Book cover of Betty Book cover of Ava's Man Book cover of Bastard Out of Carolina Book cover of Enemy Women Book cover of Ellen Foster

Want books like Bastard Out of Carolina?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Bastard Out of Carolina.

Book cover of The Glass Castle Book cover of Anne of Green Gables Book cover of Educated: A Memoir Book cover of Running with Scissors: A Memoir Book cover of The Secret Life of Bees Book cover of East of Eden

Browse books like Bastard Out of Carolina

5 book lists we think you will like!