Found Family

Where do you go when your family is far away? Perhaps the most popular example of “found family” I can think of is from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. A young orphaned Harry Potter escapes his neglectful aunt and uncle and is admitted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he finds community and substitute parental figures in his fellow wizards.

The “found family” trope is a frequently used idea in media in which a character forms family-like ties with people other than their family of origin. This can be due to losing their family of origin, such as the case of Harry Potter, but it can also be due to being shunned by their family of origin, simply not being understood by them, or having to move far away from them for work or school. You can find “found family” in almost any genre of fiction, including literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and romance.

“Found family” reminds us that even in the face of great familial hardship, turmoil, or loss, there is hope and strength in community with others. Hopefully these books can inspire you to talk to that neighbor who looks interesting or that coworker who you’ve always wondered about.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Science fiction/Dystopian. In a post-apocalyptic Earth year 2025, California is on fire and communities are being ravaged by wildfires and drugs. Teenager Lauren Olamina bands together with fellow survivors from her community and picks up people along a journey north, teaching them a religion called “Earthseed” and eventually helping to form a new town based on mutual aid.

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. Literary fiction. Protagonist Hai finds himself avoiding his mother after dropping out of college and dealing with drug addiction. He stumbles upon an elderly woman looking for a caretaker and agrees to live with her. Subsequently, he gets a job at Homemarket, a fast food restaurant and forms close relationships with the other employees there.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. Contemporary fiction. A grumpy elderly man rediscovers joy and love for life following a personal tragedy after a young family with little children moves in across the street.

Funny Story by Emily Henry. Romance. Children’s librarian Daphne moves across the country to Michigan to be with her fiancé, only to find that he wants to be with another woman. Initially set on moving back home where her mother is, she slowly warms up to Michigan and forms exciting relationships in her new environment.

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto. Literary fiction. Following the death of her grandmother, main character Mikage moves in with a childhood classmate and his mother. The three of them enjoy food together and help each other through difficult times.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Science fiction. Rosemary Harper joins a diverse and eclectic space crew on their journey across the galaxy. Dangerous encounters and mishaps bring the crew together and help them rely on and trust each other.

Moon Palace by Paul Auster. Literary fiction. Orphan Marco Fogg graduates from college and falls into a self-destructive depressive spiral. He is rescued by his friends and finds a job taking care of a precocious elderly man who becomes a father figure to him. Turns the “found family” trope on its head by the end.

–Darya, Hightstown Memorial Branch