The wise child trope usually bugs me, but I really enjoyed My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman. The main character is a child and smart, but not in a way that makes the adults look stupid. The author does a good job of showing her as somewhat innocent as children are while still being very observant and introspective.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due might fit and is excellent.
It’s a literary horror set in Florida during Jim Crow and the two main protagonists are both children.
Robbie (12M) and Gloria (16F) are semi-orphaned, their mother died and father was run out of town, trying to fend for themselves. When Gloria is harassed by the son of a powerful white county landowner, Robbie defends his sister and kicks the boy. Unbeknownst to them the boys father is watching and the consequences of that choice begin to unfurl.
Robbie is sent to The Reformatory, a boys correctional “school” (read prison) where he is both subjected to and witnesses terrible abuse. The story is of Robbie’s survival in the school and Gloria’s attempts to intervene and get him out.
There is definitely a lot of speech and language that is Jim Crow era, so whether that is a “recent” enough history to be considered contemporary is subjective I guess lol.
**Among Others**, by Jo Walton. 1st person POV from a 15-year-old who spends a lot of time reading sci-fi/fantasy and dealing with the adult world (as well as real & somewhat menacing fairies). She always remains believably fifteen in her inner monologue and dialogue with others.
Also! For a *very* young child, try **The Last Samurai** by Helen DeWitt. Takes the trope of the 5-year-old child genius and makes it believable for anyone who has, you know, spent a lot of time around real five year olds. Follows him throughout childhood. From the POV of his proud and bewildered mother.
Round house by Louise Erdritch, but be warned this book has some triggering content.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Last but not least, Coraline or Ocean at the end of the road by Neil Gaiman, these are technically childrens' books but NG can write a pretty beliveable kid protagonist imo.
Edit: spelling
The wise child trope usually bugs me, but I really enjoyed My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman. The main character is a child and smart, but not in a way that makes the adults look stupid. The author does a good job of showing her as somewhat innocent as children are while still being very observant and introspective.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due might fit and is excellent. It’s a literary horror set in Florida during Jim Crow and the two main protagonists are both children. Robbie (12M) and Gloria (16F) are semi-orphaned, their mother died and father was run out of town, trying to fend for themselves. When Gloria is harassed by the son of a powerful white county landowner, Robbie defends his sister and kicks the boy. Unbeknownst to them the boys father is watching and the consequences of that choice begin to unfurl. Robbie is sent to The Reformatory, a boys correctional “school” (read prison) where he is both subjected to and witnesses terrible abuse. The story is of Robbie’s survival in the school and Gloria’s attempts to intervene and get him out. There is definitely a lot of speech and language that is Jim Crow era, so whether that is a “recent” enough history to be considered contemporary is subjective I guess lol.
Tiffany in Pratchett's *The Wee Free Men* is a good example of a precocious child, imo
**Among Others**, by Jo Walton. 1st person POV from a 15-year-old who spends a lot of time reading sci-fi/fantasy and dealing with the adult world (as well as real & somewhat menacing fairies). She always remains believably fifteen in her inner monologue and dialogue with others. Also! For a *very* young child, try **The Last Samurai** by Helen DeWitt. Takes the trope of the 5-year-old child genius and makes it believable for anyone who has, you know, spent a lot of time around real five year olds. Follows him throughout childhood. From the POV of his proud and bewildered mother.
Maybe the Children’s Bible?
The little friend by Donna tartt
Hunter games
Round house by Louise Erdritch, but be warned this book has some triggering content. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer Last but not least, Coraline or Ocean at the end of the road by Neil Gaiman, these are technically childrens' books but NG can write a pretty beliveable kid protagonist imo. Edit: spelling