Looking for an eclectic collection of books similar to The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon? As an award-winning author and veteran blogger, I’ve spent over a decade reading, analyzing, and recommending the most impactful books about courageous and relatable protagonists in rich historical setting.
You’ll find detailed reviews of more than a dozen of my favorites in the roundup below. I’ve personally curated this collection from my own bookshelves, and I’m confident that if you liked The Frozen River, these stories will also appeal to you.
Forgotten But Never Gone by Khristina Chess
“I think it was this rebellious quality about her that allowed everyone to write off her disappearance so easily. Kids like Half-pint ran away. This whole generation was full of delinquents. Blah, blah, blah.” – Khristina Chess, quote from Forgotten But Never Gone
I love watching those “small-town cold case” shows and old unsolved mysteries, and Forgotten But Never Gone had that kind of vibe for me.
The story opens with the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Rosie Fields. One of the last to see her was her friend Bobby, a foster kid whose life Rosie once saved. When the police dismiss her case as just another runaway, Bobby refuses to accept it, and in his relentless search, he follows one lead after another until he makes a shocking discovery.
Set in 1980, this YA novel really transported me back to a nostalgic time before AMBER alerts and 24-hour news cycles, when carefree teenagers roamed neighborhoods with little supervision and always returned home in time for supper.
Except sometimes they didn’t.
I felt like Bobby, the amateur sleuth in this novel, was a lot like Martha Ballard’s relatable and multifaceted character in The Frozen River. The layered and unsettling mystery in Forgotten But Never Gone exposes some of the reasons why more people seemed to vanish without a trace in the 70s and 80s. What makes this book especially powerful for me was its dual resonance: it’s both a gripping page-turner and a thoughtful exploration of how society failed vulnerable youth in the past.
Bobby’s determination to find out what happened to his friend reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely person can become the keeper of truth, and that refusing to forget is itself an act of justice.
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
“There are no sure things in this universe, and it's absolutely ridiculous to try and live like there are!” ― Chris Bohjalian, quote from Midwives
1981. A small, close-knit community in rural Vermont. A woman dies in labor, so her experienced midwife, Sibyl Danforth, performs an at-home emergency C-section to save the baby. Except questions emerge about whether or not the mother was actually dead. Did Sibyl actually kill the patient?
I loved this book when it came out in Oprah’s Book Club, and the story is just as relevant today as it was then. Fans of The Frozen River will enjoy the plotting with strong women on trial and antagonistic male doctors.
Purge by Sofi Oksanen
"The only thing left alive was the shame." ― Sofi Oksanen, quote from Purge
I picked up Purge to add to my list of YA books about human trafficking, but this novel is pure literature, a stunning international masterpiece that spans decades of history, generations of pain, and dark twisted family secrets.
Set in Estonia and bouncing between 1941 and 1992, two protagonists tell their tales in a long and dizzying narrative that weaves between present terror and past horror. These women are bound to each other in multiple ways. Their mutual distrust them unreliable narrators, so that only the reader really only has the full picture, and sometimes even that picture is murky.
As I think back on each of these women's experiences, I see so many parallels in what happened to each, even though the details are very different on the surface. For example, both are raped. Both are silenced. Both are shamed. One is betrayed. One is a betrayer.
This is the kind of epic novel that I can think about for a long time and even read again. I missed things and know that I would see even more in a second reading because the book is so sweeping and full of such meaningful symbolism and detail.
If you liked The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, you will devour Purge. Add it to your TBR pile today!
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
“I wept because i had no shoes, until i met a man who had no feet.” ― Ruta Sepetys, quote from Salt to the Sea
Going in, I had no idea what this book was about, except that lots of people were reading it and it won awards. For sure, I had no prior knowledge of the historical event at its heart.
The multiple viewpoints and short scenes took a while to hook me. I didn’t like Alfred from the beginning, but the stories of the others pulled me in, the secondary characters as well as the main ones. All of them had compelling secrets. I wanted everyone in the group to escape, to be the handful of refugees to survive that horrific war.
Graphic details created a vivid backdrop. I could see the horses entombed in the ice with the people. I could see the starving cow, its udders burst in the cold. The dead and dying. War.
If The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon left you breathless, you will love Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.
The Cutting Edge of Friendship by Khristina Chess
“Sometimes my inside hurts so bad that I need to make the outside hurt worse so the inside will stop.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Cutting Edge of Friendship
Absolutely gripping! For readers who loved the fight for justice in The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, The Cutting Edge of Friendship is for you. This realistic novel explores the wounds of self-harm, shame, and redemption following a sexual assault. Sadie’s resilience is fierce and unforgettable, and the book’s raw, unfiltered pain hits hard. I loved how this story doesn’t shy away from the truth—it reveals, with painful honesty, how self-harm can become a desperate response to trauma.
From the very first page, it’s clear that although Sadie and Elana have always shared everything, now they’re keeping secrets that could destroy them. On the night of the fireworks, something terrible happened to Sadie—something she can’t even name. Instead, she turns to cutting to help her cope.
But Elana has secrets too. She’s been texting Hunter, making plans to meet in secret, and never questioning why he insists on hiding their relationship.
As their lives spiral deeper into danger, Sadie must find the strength to fight back—not just for herself, but for Elana—before a predator can strike again.
I wholeheartedly recommend this poignant story about the trust involved in sharing our truest selves.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
“The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn't quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there.“― Kristin Hannah, quote from The Women
I learned so much from this beautiful novel! Frankie is a well-crafted character who is immensely sympathetic, even when she begins her really self-destructive spiral as a result of PTSD. Maybe even more so because of everything she went through. She and the other women are fierce, loyal, compassionate, and inspirational.
One image that sticks with me is the army regulation "uniform" with high heels that Frankie arrives in Vietnam wearing. Another is the way Americans spit on her when she returned home at the end of her tour. Another is the way the Veterans hospitals kept turning her away.
This is my second Kristin Hannah, and I loved it as much as The Nightingale. Kristin Hannah has an impressive catalog of titles, and I'll be going back for more!
The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
“When things come to an end in a way you didn't expect, in a way you never could have imagined, do they really come to an end? Does it mean you should keep searching, for better answers, for ones that don't keep you up at night? Or does it mean it's time to make peace?” ― Monica Hesse, quote from The Girl in the Blue Coat
The Girl in the Blue Coat hooked me from the very beginning. It's a historical mystery, set in Amsterdam during WWII, and the protagonist is a teenage girl who trades black market goods to support her family. One of her clients asks her to help find a missing Jewish girl. Hanneke is good at finding things, but this isn't her kind of thing.
Still, she is drawn into the mystery and can't help herself from searching. As the pages unfold, we learn about Hanneke's lost love, meet new friends, and see her grow as a person.
Sometimes, young Hanneke seems bratty, singularly focused, and unfeeling, but at the same time, her instincts have helped her stay alive this far. I found the mystery to be gripping and unpredictable.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
“I am haunted by humans.” ― Markus Zusak, quote from The Book Thief
This amazing historical book has been at the top of the best seller lists for years—and with good reason!
In this novel set in Nazi Germany, we meet a young foster girl named Liesel. She’s an orphan. She loves books. She and her foster parents are sheltering a Jewish man in their basement. He also likes to read.
The writing is lovely. Zusak paints Liesel’s world of poverty, anxiety, fear, and grief in shades of stark contrasts. He is both a poet and a novelist.
What a wonderful, heartbreaking, haunting, and gripping story! It makes you really ask deep questions. It’s so beautiful. It’s transformational. It’s the reason why I love books.
If you devoured The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon and you’re looking for more historical fiction, you won’t be able to put down this award-winner.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
“Because while stupid people may not know they’re stupid because they’re stupid, surely unattractive people must know they’re unattractive because of mirrors.” ― Bonnie Garmus, quote from Lessons in Chemistry
Lessons in Chemistry is one of the best books I've read in a while. It made me laugh out loud on many occasions. Elizabeth Zott has a direct and no nonsense practicality about her that is so lovable. Her dog, six thirty, makes a delightful sidekick. That she teaches him almost 1,000 words (and the author gives him a point of view) is beyond wonderful.
Elizabeth's struggles for equality in a male-dominated world were poignant and emotional. She demonstrated great restraint and composure when it wasn't deserved. I felt grateful to women of her generation for the opportunities I enjoy today in the technology workplace.
If you loved Martha’s character in The Frozen River, you will find Elizabeth Zott irresistible! Lessons in Chemistry is an inspiring, page-turning, and important historical book about women.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
“If there was only one tree like that in the world, you would think it was beautiful. But because there are so many, you just can't see how beautiful it really is.” ― Betty Smith, quote from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
I first heard about this book from Oprah Winfrey and picked it up during the book club years. A classic YA novel published in 1943, before YA was really “a thing,” A Tree Grows in Brooklyn tells the story of a poor young girl growing up in Brooklyn, a child of struggling immigrant parents.
This historical story about immigration, class, and poverty, and Francie, has remained with me for decades. There’s a reason why this novel has stood the test of time and lands in the category of literary classics. This one makes the list for fans of The Frozen River purely on its historical and literary merits.
We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler
“The show must go on, even when it's not the show you expected to be in.” ― Lisa Felder, quote from We Walked the Sky
Fiedler's multi-generational novel really captured and held my interest. Two parallel stories are running: the grandmother, Victoria, is a 16-year-old who runs away and joins the circus in 1965, and her granddaughter, Callie, is a teen who has followed in her circus footsteps, but now finds herself in a new place.
There are mysteries to unravel and friendships to develop. I loved all the circus lore and animals and characters. Really, it was an enchanting story. I want to read more by this author!
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
“If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl?” ― Laurie Halse Anderson, quote from Chains
I have read several of Laurie Halse Anderson's books, and I found this one to be ambitious, compelling, and heartfelt. I learned things about slavery during the American revolutionary war that were new since most literature I've consumed has been during the later period of the civil war. The author’s research into the book made it rich and come alive.
Readers who liked The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon will love this classic historical book about friendship, class difference, race, and slavery in early American history. In fact, Laurie Halse Anderson is such a great author that she’s on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s all-around amazing!
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
“Murderers are not monsters, they're men. And that's the most frightening thing about them.” ― Alice Sebold, quote from The Lovely Bones
Susie Salmon is dead.
She was raped and murdered in a most gruesome fashion by a most gruesome man, and now she exists in an afterlife, observing her family and her killer.
The story is a bit disorienting, but I think that’s kind of the point. Most of the novel is about Susie’s struggle to come to terms with the fact that she’s dead and move on. The “why?” questions haunt her. Her family and former life haunts her. The desire for justice and vengeance haunts her.
It’s the disquiet that comes when a young person dies tragically, suddenly, whether or not by foul means. There is a profound unfairness. The soul cries out.
If the poignant portrayal of sexual assault in The Frozen River tugged at your heart, you will find The Lovely Bones to be tragic and unforgettable.
Other Books You’ll Devour If You Liked The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
If you are looking for other books like The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, Goodreads offers a list: Readers Who Enjoyed The Frozen River. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads.
About the Author: Khristina Chess
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
