More Adopted Protagonists for Young Readers
Discover captivating adopted protagonists in YA and middle-grade fiction! From Gaby Triana's *Riding the Universe* to Gail Carson Levine's *Fairest*, explore heartfelt stories of identity, family, and belonging. Dive into our curated list of must-read books featuring adopted heroes for young readers.
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Last Dance on Holladay Street
by Elisa Lynn Carbone
In 1878, thirteen-year-old Eva seeks her birth mother in Colorado, only to find the city and her mother are not what she imagined.
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Me, Mop, and the Moondance Kid
by Walter Dean Myers
An ALA Notable Children’s Book from the award-winning author of Monster in which “wit, sensitivity, and insight [are combined] to create this funny, fast-paced story about three orphaned children and the Elks, a Little League baseball team” (Publishers Weekly). T.J., his younger brother, Moondance, and Mop—Miss Olivia Parrish—grew up together in the same orphanage. Now T.J. and Moondance have been adopted, and Mop has to find a family before the orphanage closes and “leftover” kids are sent away. Mop hopes that if she can play catcher for the Elks, the Little League baseball team that her friends have joined, the coach will be so impressed that he and his wife will adopt her. It’s going to take a lot of teamwork for her, T.J, and little Moondance to make their dreams come true!
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Riding the Universe
by Gaby Triana
ChloÉ Rodriguez values three things above all else—her family; her best friend, Rock; and Lolita, her Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster. With a black body, blue airbrushed flames, and perfect sloping ape hangers, Lolita is ChloÉ's last connection to her beloved uncle, Seth, who left her the bike when he died last summer. So when a failing chemistry grade threatens to separate ChloÉ from her motorcycle, she vows not to let that happen . . . no matter what. Enter Gordon. Ridiculously organized, Übersmart, and hot in a casual, doesn't-know-it kind of way, ChloÉ's peer tutor may have a thing or two to teach her besides chemistry. But she has to stop falling for Gordon . . . and get Rock to act mature whenever he's around . . . and pass chemistry so she doesn't lose Lolita forever. Just when ChloÉ thinks she's got it all figured out, a bump in the road comes out of nowhere and sends her skidding.
