If you laughed at Prince Brat’s tantrums, Jemmy’s deadpan comebacks, and the farcical run-ins with Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater, you’ll love the razor-sharp wit in Catherine, Called Birdy. Birdy’s diary brims with sarcastic plots to dodge odious suitors (especially the aptly nicknamed “Shaggy Beard”), snarky observations about manor life, and comic scrapes that land her in just as much trouble as Prince Horace’s pranks do.

If what moved you was seeing Jemmy grow from a street-smart whipping boy into a loyal friend—and Prince Horace learn humility—you’ll be gripped by Crispin: The Cross of Lead. Branded a “wolf’s head,” Crispin flees for his life and, under the rough guidance of the juggler Bear, discovers courage, loyalty, and his own worth. The transformation mirrors Jemmy and the Prince’s hard-won growth, with every choice reshaping who they become.

If you raced through Jemmy and Prince Brat’s flight from the highwaymen and their quick-thinking return to the city to outfox them, you’ll tear through The Thief Lord. Runaways Prosper and Bo duck through Venice’s alleys and rooftops with a band of kids led by the mysterious Scipio, all while a dogged detective closes in. The breakneck chases, disguises, and close calls echo Jemmy’s daredevil escapes—right down to clever street smarts saving the day.

If the runaway plot—and Jemmy’s quick bluffing when he’s mistaken for the prince—kept you hooked, try The Shakespeare Stealer. Orphan Widge is ordered to infiltrate the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and steal Hamlet using secret shorthand. Like Jemmy’s high-stakes gambits to outwit Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater, every chapter pushes the mission forward as Widge navigates disguises, divided loyalties, and a relentless pursuer.

If what stayed with you was how Jemmy and Prince Horace learn to stand up for each other—turning a punishment into a bond—then Holes will hit that same note. Stanley Yelnats and Zero forge a friendship that exposes the cruelty of Camp Green Lake and untangles a generations-old injustice. Like the ending of The Whipping Boy, mercy and loyalty lead to redemption, and the right people finally get their due.