Books like Penelope by Marilyn Kaye
Penelope Wilhurn, the only child of the affluent Wilhurn family, bears a pig‑like face from birth—a curse said to be broken only by marriage to a member of high society. The narrative explores her journey toward self‑acceptance and the challenges she faces in a world of wealth, tabloid intrigue, and the quest for personal beauty.
First publish date: 2007
Genre: Children's Fiction/Children's Fantasy
Authors: Marilyn Kaye
★
★
★
★
★
3.5 (2 community ratings)
How are these books recommended?
The books recommended for Penelope by Marilyn Kaye are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.
Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier
for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.
Books similar to Penelope (21 similar books)
Harper Lee’s 1960 classic follows young Scout Finch in Depression‑era Alabama as her father, lawyer Atticus Finch, defends a black man accused of rape, confronting racism, prejudice, and the moral growth of a child.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A poignant young‑adult tale of two teens—Hazel and Augustus—who meet in a cancer support group, and whose unlikely romance forces them to confront love, illness, and the meaning of life.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
The beloved classic of American literature, Little Women, narrates the adventures of four March sisters as they grow up during the Civil War era.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A coming‑of‑age epistolary novel that follows introverted teen Charlie through his freshman year in a 1990s Pittsburgh suburb as he navigates high school, friendship and the challenges of adolescence.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A young orphan girl from Canada makes her way to a Prince Edward Island farm and becomes a cherished member of a family there, all while proving she has a talent for making friends and learning languages.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In 1964 South Carolina, Lily Owens, grieving her mother’s death, seeks refuge with a fierce stand‑in mother and a trio of black beekeeping sisters who open her to the secret world of bees, honey, and healing.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Junior, a budding cartoonist from the Spokane Indian Reservation, transfers to an all‑white farm‑town high school, where the only other Indian is the school mascot.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In Gail Carson Levine’s retelling of Snow White, Aza, shunned for her lack of beauty, discovers a voice that captivates all—yet a jealous queen threatens to use it to keep her own claim to the throne.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Four twelve‑year‑olds with different phobias attend the elite School of Fear, where a teacher’s unconventional methods make their summer the scariest yet.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Peggoty the pig feels her lack of fur, mane or feathers makes her ugly until she learns that being hairless can also be beautiful, discovering self‑acceptance through the farmer’s baby.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Ruby, abandoned by her mother, must adjust to a life of privilege in her sister Cora’s house while learning to trust again amid family secrets and a new friendship with Nate.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Remy O’Malley learns to harness her healing gifts only to discover a darker legacy that places her between rival factions. Facing a centuries‑old war, she must choose allegiance or sacrifice herself for a forbidden path.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Mia doubts her style after discovering she needs braces and glasses, but her mom’s fashion flair and Cupcake Club friends reassure her that she remains herself.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A high‑schooler’s life changes after a car crash leaves her disfigured; she discovers that true identity lies beyond beauty, learning self‑acceptance, forgiveness, and the power of friendship.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Rosy Cole, a young girl navigating school life, learns that feeling beautiful is more than appearances and that true friendship and self‑acceptance are the real treasures.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Holly Hogan, a runaway foster child, changes her life when she discovers a wig that unlocks a new identity. Rechristened Solace, she embarks on a cross‑country journey that pulls her memory, self‑discovery, and a missing mother together.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
High‑school seniors Sara and Tobey wrestle with the priorities of life while balancing future plans and present joys.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Three generations of English women navigate love, war, and destiny in ‘Consequences,’ tracing the lives of Lorna, her daughter Molly, and granddaughter Ruth from 1930s Britain to the post‑war era.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Nineteen‑year‑old Lisbeth, inspired by Audrey Hepburn, struggles with a broken home, an alcohol‑abusing sister, and a raucous shore culture in Tokyo while chasing her own dreams and a chance to reinvent herself in a Givenchy dress.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
See https://openlibrary.org/works/OL19781733W/Eleanor_Oliphant_Is_Completely_Fine
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!
Please login to submit books!