Books like The road to Paris by Nikki Grimes

During World War II, a foster girl in Nazi Germany steals books to share with neighbors and a hidden Jewish man, proving literature’s power to nourish the soul amid darkness.

Ishmael Beah’s memoir chronicles his harrowing journey from a nine‑year‑old rebel fighter in Sierra Leone’s civil war to a survivor rehabilitated by UNICEF and later a storyteller traveling the United States.

During the 1947 Partition of India, twelve‑year‑old Nisha flees with her Hindu family and logs her experiences in a diary, writing to her late Muslim mother as the world crumbles around her.

A diverse group of city residents turns a neglected urban lot in Cleveland into a thriving garden, discovering friendship and renewal along the way.

Junie B. Jones and a little monkey business

Bobby, a classic urban teenager, is faced with the reality of becoming a father when his girlfriend, Nia, is pregnant.

Reyna Grande’s middle‑grade retelling follows a Mexican‑American family as they struggle to cross borders, adopt a new life in the United States, and cope with separation and identity—all told in honest, touching prose.

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

Nine‑year‑old Abby, her timid babysitter and her older brother confront a ghost seeking a stolen music box during a summer night.

After a mysterious disappearance, Finn’s life unravels when clues suggest his lost love may still be alive—forcing him to confront a chilling past and a hidden danger that threatens the future he’s built with his sister-in‑law.

John and Philippa Gaunt, twins deep in the Amazon, race against time to recover stolen Incan artifacts, aided by their uncle Nimrod, the Blue Djinn of Babylon, and the determined but powerless Dybbuk.

Maddie, a twelve‑year‑old foster child, has lived in many homes and feels unseen—even after a supernatural promise from a ghost that saved her infancy. At the East Tennessee Children’s Home, she meets Murphy, who offers a glimpse of belonging and imagination.

When a stormy summer afternoon delivers unexpected truths, fourteen‑year‑old Marley must confront deception within her family and discover who she really is.

"From the author of Hidden Gardens of Paris, The Streets of Paris is Susan Cahill's wonderfully unique guide to present-day Paris following in the footsteps of famous Parisians through the last 800 years. For hundreds of years, the City of Light has set the stage for larger-than-life characters--from medieval lovers Héloïse and Abelard to the defiant King Henri IV to the brilliant scientist Madame Curie, beloved chanteuse Edith Piaf, and the writer Colette. In this beautifully illustrated book, Susan Cahill recounts the lives of twenty-two famous Parisians and then takes you through the seductive streets of Paris to the quartiers where they lived and worked: their homes, the scenes of their greatest triumphs and tragedies, their favorite cafes, bars, and restaurants, and the off-the-beaten-track places where they found inspiration and love. From Sainte-Chapelle on the Ile de la Cite to the cemetery Pere Lachaise to Montmartre and the Marais, Cahill not only brings to life the bold characters of a tumultuous history and the arts of painting, music, sculpture, film, and literature, she takes you on a relaxed walking tour in the footsteps of these celebrated Parisians. Each chapter opens with a beautiful four-color illustration by photographer Marion Ranoux, and every tour begins with a Metro stop and ends with a list of 'Nearbys'--points of interest along the way, including cafes, gardens, squares, museums, bookstores, churches, and, of course, patisseries"--Provided by publisher.

Max loves cupcakes, but his sister Ruby insists he balance his sweets with stories. She reads him a tale of a magical king who turns food into gold, teaching him about moderation and family meals.

Twelve‑year‑old Rose Bliss and her siblings chase magical ingredients through Paris, preparing to out‑bake their evil aunt and reclaim the family’s enchanted cookbook.

In Brooklyn, twelve‑year‑old Maggie, a devoted dog‑walker, teams up with her twin brother Finn and best friend Lucy to investigate a suspected pet thief.

Twelve-year-old Lonnie, now settled in a foster home, writes letters to his little sister Lili, reflecting on family, loss, and the true meaning of peace while navigating life after losing a foster brother in the army.

Bridget and Orren are sent to stay with their Aunt Gracie after their mother neglects them, leaving the children anxious about seeing her again.

Rainbow, a 14‑year‑old girl, reflects on her family and frequent foster home shifts as she prepares to return to yet another placement.

High‑school junior Peggy Fleming Farrell juggles a part‑time job, an unreliable car, and crushes while summer heat beats her packed family life of ice skating and anticipated new sibling.

In post‑King Chicago, fourteen‑year‑old Maxie dreams of joining the Black Panthers while grappling with family, friendships, and the escalating violence of anti‑war and civil‑rights demonstrations.

Lola reads story books to her baby brother, Lola and Leo enjoy the bedtime story time together.