Books like The long way home by Ann M. Martin

The beloved classic of American literature, Little Women, narrates the adventures of four March sisters as they grow up during the Civil War era.

When ten‑year‑old Opal arrives in Naomi, Florida, she discovers friendship, community, and the healing power of a big ugly dog named Winn‑Dixie during her first summer in town.

Ivan, a gorilla who has lived behind glass in a shopping‑mall circus for 27 years, learns new meaning for art and friendship when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives.

Three devoted pets—two dogs and a Siamese cat—traverse 300 miles across the Canadian wilderness in search of their owners, demonstrating loyalty and endurance amid perilous terrain.

Marty Preston finds a stray beagle named Shiloh and befriends him, but the dog’s abusive owner, Judd Travers, threatens the boy’s family. Marty must protect Shiloh, exploring childhood courage and animal welfare.

A devoted dog reflects on life, love, and racing while watching his owner, a race car driver, navigate family trials and professional ambition.

In the fifth book of Beverly Cleary’s beloved Ramona Quimby series, young Ramona grapples with growing up while navigating her mother’s new job and her own mischievous adventures.

After being rescued from an abandoned building, a puppy named Bella becomes Lucas Ray’s loyal companion, but when animal‑control laws in Denver force her into a foster home, she embarks on a perilous 400‑mile trek through Colorado’s wilderness to return home.

A young woman suspects her family of murder but must clear her name.

An oral‑history collection of text messages, photos and screenshots that chronicles a full‑scale prank war between twelve‑year‑old New York City twins Reese and Claudia Tapper.

A mystery novel set in Paris that explores family secrets and the complicated relationship between a detective and the man she loves.

When Katie’s world collapses, her estranged grandmother Mary’s dementia forces a family reunion that reveals long‑hidden secrets, forcing Katie to confront her mother’s controlling ways, her own sexuality, and her future as she pieces together Mary’s past.

A tech‑savvy boy embarks on a search for his absent father, navigating family and friendships while confronting hardship and uncertainty.

Shy sixteenth‑year‑old Elaine, dreaming of Julia Child, faces her feminist mother’s doubts until her bold friend Lucida persuades her to enter a cooking contest, setting off a journey of friendship, confidence, and culinary adventure.

Eleven‑year‑old Maggie Mayfield balances A‑plus grades with the challenges of middle school and caring for her wheelchair‑bound father, who is unemployed.

Fourth‑grade Amber Brown faces tough choices as her parents quickly plan a wedding, buy a new home, and navigate household changes while her father wrestles with his own problems.

Set in 1930 Maine, "Better to Wish" follows eight‑year‑old Abby Nichols as she balances family duties and her dream of becoming a writer amidst the Great Depression.

After Aunt Polly Portman's death, her niece Alice and friend Charlie uncover the mystery of a vanished pie‑crust recipe in Ipswitch, Pennsylvania. Alongside suspense, the story offers fourteen authentic pie recipes.

The story of a family in the making and the wondrously neurotic dog who taught them what really matters in life. Is it possible for humans to discover the key to happiness through a bigger-than-life, bad-boy dog? Just ask the Grogans. John and Jenny were just beginning their life together. They were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wriggly yellow furball of a puppy. Life would never be the same. Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound streamroller of a Labrador retriever. He crashed through screen doors, gouged through drywall, and stole women's undergarments. Obedience school did no good--Marley was expelled. And yet his heart was pure. Just as Marley joyfully refused any limits on his behavior, his love and loyalty were boundless, too. A dog like no other, Marley remained steadfast, a model of devotion, even when his family was at its wit's end. Unconditional love, they would learn, comes in many forms.

Follow the four March sisters as they navigate family life, friendship, and the trials of growing up and getting married in nineteenth‑century New England.

Claire struggles with awkward school life and a family crisis when her father suffers a medical emergency, forcing her and those around her to find humor in the toughest moments.

A stirring historical tale set during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, following sisters Abigail and Dorothy as they confront false accusations and survive a harrowing year in jail.