Here are 100 books that The Broken Rainbow fans have personally recommended if you like The Broken Rainbow. Book DNA is a community of 13,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Heroes of the Secret Underground

Debra Clewer Author Of The Secret Gold

From my list on time-slip adventures for middle graders.

Why am I passionate about this?

An avid reader since the age of 7, I have long loved history. When combined with fiction and throwing in a time slip, my imagination is unlimited! I have a passion for introducing historical fact to young readers, and time-slip adventure is a fun and engaging way to do it, without being bogged down with superfluous information. Young people’s reading levels have changed (as recent statistics worldwide show). As a writer, I gain inspiration from these novels for my own works.

Debra's book list on time-slip adventures for middle graders

Debra Clewer Why Debra loves this book

I’m fascinated by all historical backgrounds and am particularly interested when the narrative is a powerful time-slip story inspired by the author's family. It is set in Budapest during the Holocaust. 

I found the descriptions of the time especially interesting in relation to what the people endured, particularly the children. There was much I didn’t know about Budapest in 1944. This one kept me both informed and turning the pages.

By Susanne Gervay ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Heroes of the Secret Underground as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 9, 10, 11, and 12.

What is this book about?

A timely and powerful time-slip story inspired by the author's family in Budapest during the Holocaust


Louie lives with her brothers, Bert and Teddy, in a hotel run by their grandparents. It is one of Sydney's grand old buildings, rich in history ... and in secrets.

When a rose-gold locket, once thought lost, is uncovered, it sends Louie and her brothers spinning back in time. Back to a world at war: Budapest in the winter of 1944, where their grandparents are hiding secrets of their own ...

From bestselling author Susanne Gervay comes a heart-racing timeslip story inspired by…


If you love The Broken Rainbow...

Book cover of The Coconut Crab

The Coconut Crab by Peter W. Fong,

As one reviewer and long-time educator observes, The Coconut Crab "has everything to engage and excite young readers and their teachers: lovable characters, a beautiful setting vividly described, a well-developed adventure story line, and rich vocabulary."

This beloved novel for children and adults was selected by the Community of Literary…

Book cover of Harper Wells

Debra Clewer Author Of The Secret Gold

From my list on time-slip adventures for middle graders.

Why am I passionate about this?

An avid reader since the age of 7, I have long loved history. When combined with fiction and throwing in a time slip, my imagination is unlimited! I have a passion for introducing historical fact to young readers, and time-slip adventure is a fun and engaging way to do it, without being bogged down with superfluous information. Young people’s reading levels have changed (as recent statistics worldwide show). As a writer, I gain inspiration from these novels for my own works.

Debra's book list on time-slip adventures for middle graders

Debra Clewer Why Debra loves this book

I love history and found this to be an engrossing, historically based time-slip novel. 

From reading this, I learned about the politician, social reformer, and feminist Edith Cowan. The author has woven a cast of supporting characters to add to the story’s depth. 

I particularly love the inclusion of the time-travelling bed, which holds its own secrets. It’s an interesting twist on the usual time-travel methods, and instrumental to the historical fiction story's timeline. 

By Bethany Loveridge ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Harper Wells as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 10, 11, 12, and 13.

What is this book about?

An exciting time travel journey, combining suspense and adventure with problem solving as Harper

tries to keep history on the right course and save a missing girl.

Harper Wells finally gets a room of her own, away from her annoying big brother and the grief they

both feel at the disappearance of her mother. But on the first night in her brand-new bed, she wakes up

in the past and meets a young girl named Edie. Not knowing where she is or how she got there,

Harper eventually wakes up back in her room at home.

When another night's sleep…


Book cover of Partners in Time

Debra Clewer Author Of The Secret Gold

From my list on time-slip adventures for middle graders.

Why am I passionate about this?

An avid reader since the age of 7, I have long loved history. When combined with fiction and throwing in a time slip, my imagination is unlimited! I have a passion for introducing historical fact to young readers, and time-slip adventure is a fun and engaging way to do it, without being bogged down with superfluous information. Young people’s reading levels have changed (as recent statistics worldwide show). As a writer, I gain inspiration from these novels for my own works.

Debra's book list on time-slip adventures for middle graders

Debra Clewer Why Debra loves this book

This is an engrossing time-slip story with a difference. 

Involving two countries, two different timelines, four very different lives, and the English royal family in the Second World War, I was taken by the way the narrative interchanges seamlessly between the 1941 and 2022 time periods to create an action-filled MG story. 

The completely different character arcs of two boys who form a strong bond, taking two others along with them, are compelling. I also love the way the historical information side is well researched, providing knowledge I didn’t previously have. 

By Nicholas Hodgson ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Partners in Time as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Brace yourself for the time-travel adventure of two lifetimes!

Jett was just happy to make a new friend.

He honestly didn’t mind that Harry claimed to have time travelled via a secret underground tunnel from wartime London all the way to twenty-first century New Zealand.
Nothing wrong with a kid having a great imagination.

Except Harry wasn’t lying or making it up.
There really was a tunnel.
An impossible link between the past and the future.
But tampering with time travel, even by accident, has unintended consequences.

Now Harry and Jett have to race against time to mend what was…


If you love Tasma Walton...

Book cover of The Real Boys of the Civil War

The Real Boys of the Civil War by J. Arthur Moore,

The Real Boys of the Civil War is a research about the real boys who served during the war, opening with a historiography research paper about their history along with its 7-page source document. It then evolves into a series of collections of their stories by topic, concluding with a…

Book cover of Fossil Frenzy

Debra Clewer Author Of The Secret Gold

From my list on time-slip adventures for middle graders.

Why am I passionate about this?

An avid reader since the age of 7, I have long loved history. When combined with fiction and throwing in a time slip, my imagination is unlimited! I have a passion for introducing historical fact to young readers, and time-slip adventure is a fun and engaging way to do it, without being bogged down with superfluous information. Young people’s reading levels have changed (as recent statistics worldwide show). As a writer, I gain inspiration from these novels for my own works.

Debra's book list on time-slip adventures for middle graders

Debra Clewer Why Debra loves this book

This is a great time-slip adventure story.

I love the author’s deep knowledge of Australian dinosaurs and the research she has put into creating a fast-paced and riveting story. Zac, Clare, and Luke Adamson are in drought-stricken outback Queensland. When the trio set off in search of dinosaur fossils, two cyclones merge, and after the storm clears, they are in a vastly different place and time. 

From reading this, I discovered something new and learned about an ancient creature known as the Demon Duck of Doom. Very interesting stuff indeed!

By Sandra Bennett ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Fossil Frenzy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness: How to Make Sales Forever

Ed Brodow Author Of Negotiation Boot Camp: How to Resolve Conflict, Satisfy Customers, and Make Better Deals

From my list on how to negotiate for personal success.

Why am I passionate about this?

Ed Brodow is one of the world’s leading experts on the art of negotiation and the bestselling author of eight books, including the business classic Negotiation Boot Camp. SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt dubbed Ed “The King of Negotiators.” Forbes Magazine agreed, ranking Ed as one of the nation’s leading dealmakers. A nationally recognized television personality, Ed has appeared as a negotiation guru on ABC National News, Fox News, PBS, Inside Edition, and Fortune Business Report. For more than two decades, his acclaimed seminars have set the standard for "how to make a deal" in Corporate America. Ed is a former U.S. Marine officer, Fortune 500 sales manager, and Hollywood movie actor.

Ed's book list on how to negotiate for personal success

Ed Brodow Why Ed loves this book

My good friend Jeffrey Gitomer is the man when it comes to sales training. His colorful book aims to demystify the basic principles of selling. The amusing cartoons and pithy advice make this fun book appealing and accessible. Gitomer is unashamedly enthusiastic about sales and sales negotiation. His prose is straightforward and realistic. The Little Red Book includes plenty of advice and practical ideas on every aspect of the sales process.

By Jeffrey Gitomer ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Little Red Book of Selling as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Until now, there has been no definitive "little red book" for the millions of sales-people across the globe. In the tradition of Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, New York Times bestseller and the best selling sports book of all time. The Little Red Book of Selling by sales master Jeffrey Gitomer fills that void with an edgy, practical, and fun resource that salespeople will love-and sales managers will buy by the case. Salespeople hate to read. That's why The Little Red Book of Selling is short, sweet, and to the point. It's packed with answers that people are searching for…


Book cover of All the Places to Love

PeggySue Wells Author Of The 10 Best Decisions a Single Mom Can Make: A Biblical Guide for Navigating Family Life on Your Own

From my list on being a single mom and staying sane.

Why am I passionate about this?

“Eminently quotable, PeggySue Wells is a tonic — warm like your favorite blanket, bracing like a stiff drink.”

History buff and tropical island votary, PeggySue parasails, skydives, scuba dives, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. The bestselling author of 30 books including the What To Do series, The Slave Across the Street, Bonding With Your Child Through Boundaries, Homeless for the Holidays, Chasing Sunrise, and The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make, PeggySue’s most challenging and rewarding adventure was solo parenting seven children. With one in four homes single mom-led, PeggySue teamed with Pam Farrel to offer practical help and tangible tips to moms navigating parenting solo.

PeggySue's book list on being a single mom and staying sane

PeggySue Wells Why PeggySue loves this book

No matter how young or old, everyone needs a timeless picture book about the best of hearth and home. The illustrations by Mike Wimmer are breathtaking and inviting. Patricia MacLachlan’s carefully chosen words reflect the relationship glue that creates connecting and belonging within families. No matter how old you are, All the Places to Love is a touch point for the heart.

By Patricia MacLachlan , Michael Wimmer (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked All the Places to Love as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A young boy describes the favorite places that he shares with his family on his grandparents' farm and in the nearby countryside


If you love The Broken Rainbow...

Book cover of The Name She Gave Me

The Name She Gave Me by Betty Culley,

A heartbreakingly beautiful novel in verse about adoption, family, friendship, and love in all its many forms, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson, from the acclaimed author of Three Things I Know Are True.

Rynn was born with a hole in her heart—literally. Although it was…

Book cover of Founding Startup Societies: A Step by Step Guide

Lotta Moberg Author Of The Political Economy of Special Economic Zones: Concentrating Economic Development

From my list on special economic zones and private jurisdictions.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a development economist I've been on a long quest for policies that actually help promote lives and create long-term wealth. After much searching, I've found special economic zones and other special jurisdictions as holding the key to radical prosperity for the world’s poor today and for humanity at large. Privately governed institutions leverage the power of incentives that we find in a capitalism market system to provide for social services and public goods. Any economists out there looking for hopeful projects to benefit the world economy should start with this short list of core books on this topic. Fortunately, as time goes by, the reading list in this field keeps expanding.

Lotta's book list on special economic zones and private jurisdictions

Lotta Moberg Why Lotta loves this book

Startup Societies are the next generation of SEZs.

In this book, the authors lay out not only the technical, but also the cultural aspects of founding startup societies.

While mainstream people still see the prospects of these kinds of societies as radical, unrealistic, or even harmful, this book allows you not only to dream, but to realize that full-scale projects of new societies, and even new cities, are possible.

These can be governed in radically different ways than the towns and cities we are accustomed to, to the benefit of prosperity and cultural fulfillment of its people. 

By Mark Frazier , Joseph McKinney ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Founding Startup Societies as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Between

Sasha Dawn Author Of Blink

From my list on realistic teen characters.

Why am I passionate about this?

Human psychology has always fascinated me, and studying what drives human behavior is necessary in writing realistic characters. I bring psychological studies into every novel I write, and realistic characters, often flawed, always receive top billing. One of my hallmarks is presenting a story’s setting as a supporting character, as well—much like the books I’ve recommended. I have written and published seventeen titles, chock full of the many facets of the human condition, whether I’m writing for teens (as Sasha Dawn) or adults (as Brandi Reeds). The books on my list inspire, entertain, and perhaps most importantly feel. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Sasha's book list on realistic teen characters

Sasha Dawn Why Sasha loves this book

Jessica Warman’s Between is a marvelous study in flawed characters, who, by their very nature, are at times unlikeable. Ironically, I love unlikeable characters—because they’re written realistically and with plenty of potential for growth. Because I prefer to write characters with realistic attributes, and those in my own book are no exception, I love reading their points of view. Additionally, it’s always interesting when these characters are dropped into situations requiring suspension of disbelief, and it’s even better when protagonists lead a cast of such characters. Between checks all of these boxes. It’s delicious!

By Jessica Warman ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Between as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

Elizabeth Valchar-pretty, popular, perfect- wakes up after spending her eighteenth birthday party on her family's yacht to investigate a thumping noise. What she finds will change everything she thought she knew about her life, her friends, and everything in between. As Liz begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her birthday night, she will find that no one around her, least of all Liz herself, was perfect-or innocent.


Book cover of The Silver Kiss

Emily Kinney Author Of The Island of Lote

From my list on peculiar romance.

Why am I passionate about this?

I love weird situations. I have been writing since I was four years old, and have been patiently waiting for the man who appreciates my wide range of vocal inflections. Books have always been companions for me. It helped me develop empathy for others at a young age. Reading about situations that involve people who are nothing like you helps you think beyond yourself. I think that is partly why I’ve always gravitated towards books with unique plots and characters. There’s something invigorating about a story that breaks the mold and offers something new, even if it’s a little strange. The books I’ve recommended all have heavily influenced me and my writing throughout the years. 

Emily's book list on peculiar romance

Emily Kinney Why Emily loves this book

I’m amazed that more people aren’t talking about this book. It falls in line with the vampire romance genre so effortlessly, and yet it is egregiously overlooked. I remember reading it years ago when I was a teenager and being totally entranced. There’s this beautiful lilt to the writing, and the plot is so richly complex. It deals with the subject of immortality in such an interesting way, comparing the endless life of this vampire to the swiftly expiring life of this girl’s mother. The romance itself is actually refreshing as well. There’s this soft, sweet gallantry that you don’t see a lot in modern work, in my opinion.

By Annette Curtis Klause ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Silver Kiss as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 12, 13, 14, and 15.

What is this book about?

Zoe is wary when, in the dead of night, the beautiful yet frightening Simon comes to her house. Simon seems to understand the pain of loneliness and death and Zoe's brooding thoughts of her dying mother.

Simon is one of the undead, a vampire, seeking revenge for the gruesome death of his mother three hundred years before. Does Simon dare ask Zoe to help free him from this lifeless chase and its insufferable loneliness?


If you love Tasma Walton...

Book cover of A Foot is Not a Fish!

A Foot is Not a Fish! by Cornelia Maude Spelman,

In a time of alternative facts and the loss of a shared sense of reality, A Foot is Not a Fish playfully illustrates the difference between what is true and what is not through absurd fun comparisons that every child—and parent—will instantly understand.

This book playfully illustrates common truths by…

Book cover of Spirit Legacy

JP McLean Author Of Blood Mark

From my list on urban fantasy with kickass heroines.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been mesmerized by paranormal stories since grade school when I first read The Chrysalids by John Wyndham. Paranormal, supernatural, and magical books capture my imagination, probably because I’ve always wished I could fly like I can in my dreams. But since gravity is real, I make the magic happen in my writing. I especially enjoy when the magic takes place in a contemporary setting but is hidden to all but the reader and the ones who possess it. It feels like being in on a very big secret. The books I’ve recommended are a mix of secretive and outed magic. I hope you enjoy them.

JP's book list on urban fantasy with kickass heroines

JP McLean Why JP loves this book

It was Spirit Legacy’s cover that drew me in, but it was the ghosts that kept me reading. I love the paranormal and I especially enjoy unique stories with strong characters. Holmes created both with this series. Her pairing of the protagonist, free-spirited Jess Ballard, with Tia, an ultra-organized and grounded roommate, makes for some hilarious situations. I love these two together. As the story progresses, intrigue builds, strange phenomena occur, and motives are questioned. Someone has deadly intentions, but who? No one’s beyond suspicion. Not even Jess’s friends or her family. Holmes kept me guessing right to the end. Thankfully, this is a series, so I have more books to enjoy.

By E.E. Holmes ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Spirit Legacy as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 13, 14, 15, and 16.

What is this book about?

Experience the paranormal like never before...

"The Gateway is open."

These cryptic words wake college student Jess Ballard from a terrifying dream into an even more terrifying reality. Jess’ life has never been what anyone would call easy; doing damage control in the wake of your nomadic, alcoholic mother doesn't exactly make for a storybook childhood.

But now her world has fallen apart just when it should be coming together: her mother gone—dead under mysterious circumstances; her life uprooted to stay with estranged relatives she’s never met; and there’s something odd about some of the people she’s been meeting at…


Book cover of Heroes of the Secret Underground
Book cover of Harper Wells
Book cover of Partners in Time

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