If you loved following Shade from scared runt to resourceful survivor on his trek to find his colony—and the way he bonds with Marina while outwitting predators like Goth and Throbb—then you'll click with Gregor the Overlander. Gregor tumbles into a hidden world, is thrust into a prophecy, and has to protect his family while forging alliances with giant bats and bugs. Like Shade, he learns courage on the move, makes hard choices, and turns quick thinking into survival.

Shade’s journey is powered by a single, urgent objective—reuniting with his colony after the owls destroy their roost and a storm separates him. If that laser-focused drive hooked you, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH delivers the same momentum. Mrs. Frisby races to save her sick son before the plow comes, navigating human dangers and striking a risky alliance with hyper-intelligent rats. It’s that same pulse of purpose you felt as Shade pushed through storms, cities, and predators to reach safety.

If the bat lore of Nocturna, the owls’ harsh laws, and the social customs that exiled Marina for her band drew you in, Redwall offers a feast of worldbuilding. Abbey life, warrior codes, ancient prophecies, and rival species clash as young Matthias defends his home. Like Shade navigating bat colonies and hostile skies, Matthias learns the rules—and when to break them—across an animal world dense with history, songs, feasts, and fierce territorial stakes.

Couldn’t put down Shade’s rapid-fire scrapes—owl patrols, city hazards, narrow getaways from Goth and Throbb? Into the Wild keeps the pace just as breathless. A housecat plunges into feral clan life, training as an apprentice while border clashes, treachery, and predator threats force quick decisions and courageous fights. It’s the same headlong momentum and high-stakes survival that pushed Shade and Marina from one peril to the next.

If watching Shade mature—learning to trust his echolocation, outthink stronger enemies, and step up to protect Marina—was your favorite part, The Capture mirrors that growth. Soren, an owl chick stolen from his nest, must escape a sinister academy and find allies while uncovering a larger threat. Though owls menaced the bats in Silverwing, you’ll recognize the compelling arc: a small winged hero turning fear into resolve and leadership.