Six unmissable books written from a child’s perspective

It’s unusual to find an adult fiction book written from the perspective of a child. But there are a handful out there – and some of my all-time favourite books are amongst them. There’s something very powerful about telling a story from the innocent, often warped perspective of a child. The scary can seem normal; the normal can seem scary. Seen through the eyes of a youngster, something terrible can be totally ordinary, and this different perspective can affect how we see it ourselves, too.

Below, I’ve rounded up six books written from a child’s perspective. I’ve loved every one of these stories and consider them all some of my favourite reads. They are all quite different, covering a range of genres, but one thing is for sure: they’re powerful, moving, thought-provoking and utterly unputdownable. If you want to challenge yourself to see the world through the eyes of an innocent child, I recommend picking up any one of these books.

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1. The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

Twelve year old Miv is our protagonist in The List of Suspicious Things, the debut novel from Jennie Godfrey. She’s sharp, astute, mature for her age, and she’s completely obsessed by the Yorkshire Ripper. It’s all over the news, and even though her parents try to shelter her from the worst of it, she can’t help but learn about it. With her home life unsettled, knowing a killer is prowling the streets of Yorkshire makes things even worse – so she takes it upon herself to figure out who the Ripper is. How hard can it be?

So Miv begins by taking notes about what she sees and the people she knows. Her friends, her dad, her local shopkeeper. She doesn’t think the killer could be any of these people – but she can’t be too certain. As a narrator, Miv’s shrewdness is well beyond her years and she provides a fantastic commentary not just on working class life in a Yorkshire town, but also on growing up, family and friendships. Sometimes you’ll forget Miv is only 12, until she says or does something that brings her age back into focus. It’s a story I absolutely love, and one I’ll be going back to every so often for the rest of my life.

2. Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

One of my favourite horror novels, Incidents Around the House is made much more unsettling due to the fact that it’s told entirely from eight-year-old Bela’s perspective. She’s had a strange visitor for some time – Other Mommy, who comes out of her closet at night, whispers in her ear, and tells her things. To begin with, Bela thought Other Mommy was a friend. But sometimes she’s not sure if she should be scared or not. It’s only when Bela’s own parents catch a glimpse of Other Mommy that things really take a turn for the worst.

But Bela’s still unsure. She hates that her parents are so terrified of Other Mommy, because she’s just a friend, right? Malerman has absolutely nailed the writing here, making a terrifying presence sometimes feel entirely normal from the eyes of an eight-year-old. But also witnessing the fear of Bela’s parents through her eyes becomes something else entirely. Her outlook on their relationship is eye-opening, and it’s a powerful reminder of just how astute children can be.

3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Undoubtedly a modern classic by now, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a book that everyone should read. It’s told from the perspective of Christopher, a fifteen year old with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Touted as a murder mystery novel, it’s unlike anything else I’ve ever read, thanks to Christopher’s unique brain and way of thinking. He’s obsessed with lists, maths and facts, and so The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is peppered with his thoughts and musings, making this a very enjoyable book to read through.

Although often whimsical, Haddon’s novel does deal with dark subject matter told in a light-hearted, unusual way. But that’s the beauty of books told from a child’s perspective, and that unique viewpoint is what makes them so compelling. We can read about crime, about horror, about terrible atrocities – but from the eyes of the innocent, none of it every seems quite so bad.

4. Room by Emma Donoghue

Room is one of my favourite ever novels. It tells a dark, harrowing story, but from the eyes of five-year-old Jack. Jack lives with his Ma in Room – a small, dark place that to Jack, is safe, comforting and home. But to Ma, it’s a prison. Both kept prisoner, Room is all Jack’s ever known, and so his captive life is normal. He doesn’t understand why Ma is so sad, and he doesn’t understand why she’d ever want to leave Room.

Written as a five year old might think, with simple words and phrases, Room is incredibly powerful. It’s a dark tale, but Jack’s unique perspective gives it much-needed levity. You’ll instantly adore Jack and his mother, and you’ll laugh and cry along with them. It’s a book you’ll be thinking about for days – years, even – after finishing it, and it’s one I can’t wait to read again. Saying too much will spoil this incredible story, so just make sure you read it.

5. Home by Amanda Berriman

Home shares a lot of things in common with Room. Its narrator is a similar age – this time, the events of Home are told from the perspective of four-and-a-half year-old Jesika. Unlike Jack, though, Jesika isn’t raised in captivity. But coming from a poor family, her problems are just as big. Her mum is never happy, the wallpaper in her flat is peeling off, and her baby brother is always coughing. It all seems pretty normal to Jesika, though.

This is a powerful and moving story about growing up in poverty, the struggles of the forgotten classes of society, and the impact that everyday problems can have on children without us ever realising it. Jesika is an incredible narrator, with Berriman writing her perfectly. Her young age can make Home rather jarring at times, though, but once you get into it and begin to understand how her mind works, you won’t be able to put this down. This is a book that absolutely deserves more celebration, because it really is a poignant, incredible story.

6. Adrift by Will Dean

Adrift isn’t entirely told from the perspective of a child. Teenager Samson shares narration with his mother, Peggy. But the contrast of their perspectives of the same situations make this even more powerful. You see, both Peggy and Samson live with an abusive man. A father and husband who cares only about himself, treats them both with distain and, as Peggy knows, is really quite dangerous. But to Samson, he’s his father; a man to look up to and to one day want to be.

Set aboard a canal boat in the Midlands in the 1990s, Adrift not only perfectly captures an age and an era, but it tells an incredible story of poverty, of sadness, and of overcoming adversity. It’s a harrowing read, but it’s one that I could not put down. Peggy is a great narrator, but Samson’s chapters are perhaps the most poignant. The disparity between both points of view will sometimes leave you questioning who is telling the truth, but that’s just one of the reasons why this novel works so well.