12 books about shapeshifters and identity crises

Shapeshifters have long been a captivating subject in literature—creatures whose fluid forms blur the boundaries between self and other, human and beast, real and imagined. But what happens when a shapeshifter’s transformation goes deeper than just physical change? What happens when the ability to take on new forms forces characters to question their very identity? These 12 books dive into the tumultuous journeys of shapeshifters caught between multiple identities, exploring the confusion, pain, and discovery that come with trying to understand who we truly are.

1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Shapeshifter: A man who wakes up transformed into a giant insect
Kafka’s iconic novella begins with the agonizing moment when Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up to find himself transformed into a monstrous insect. His physical transformation forces him to grapple with isolation, alienation, and his shifting relationship with his family. As Gregor’s metamorphosis unfolds, Kafka delves into themes of self-worth, existential crisis, and the desperate need to understand one’s place in the world, making this a powerful exploration of identity and the fear of losing oneself.

2. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Shapeshifter: A malevolent being capable of changing form
Gaiman’s haunting tale weaves the magic of memory and the thin line between childhood and adulthood. When a man returns to his hometown, he recalls his terrifying encounters with a shape-shifting entity that took on the form of a seemingly innocent friend. The creature’s transformations embody a crisis of identity, as it manipulates and warps the lives of those around it. As the protagonist revisits his past, he must face the unresolved tension between who he once was and who he has become.

3. The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Shapeshifter: A clone struggling with a sense of self
Matt, a clone of the powerful drug lord El Patrón, is raised in isolation, and his very existence raises questions about his humanity. As Matt navigates a world that sees him as less than human, he must come to terms with his own identity. Through Matt’s eyes, Farmer explores the tension between genetic inheritance and self-identity, making the question of “who am I?” a life-or-death struggle.

4. The Girl with Glass Feet by Ali Shaw

Shapeshifter: A young woman slowly turning into glass
In this hauntingly beautiful novel, Midas, a man who’s lived with the tragic knowledge of his lover’s gradual transformation into glass, must come to terms with the impermanence of the human form. The protagonist, Ida, is struggling with her own transformation, a curse that threatens to overtake her body and soul. The physical change of her body into something inanimate forces a deep identity crisis that touches upon themes of love, loss, and the fragility of identity.

5. The Changeling by Victor LaValle

Shapeshifter: A world where the fantastical and the real intersect
In The Changeling, LaValle blends horror and fantasy as a father, Apollo, embarks on a quest to rescue his wife, who has undergone a strange transformation. As Apollo faces supernatural forces, he must grapple with his own understanding of what it means to be human, father, and husband. The book delves into the fluid nature of identity, especially when facing forces beyond one’s control, and how the love of a family can transcend the unimaginable.

6. The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Shapeshifter: Androgynous beings whose identity shifts with each cycle
Le Guin’s masterpiece presents a world where the inhabitants of the planet Gethen are ambisexual, able to shift between male and female identities. Through the eyes of the protagonist, Genly Ai, the novel explores the themes of gender, identity, and what it means to be human. The shapeshifting of Gethenians goes beyond mere physical change—it challenges the very foundation of cultural and personal identity, forcing the characters to confront deeply ingrained assumptions about gender and relationships.

7. Circe by Madeline Miller

Shapeshifter: A witch with the power to transform others—and herself
In Circe, the famous witch from Greek mythology takes center stage, revealing her power to transform others—and herself—into various forms. As Circe grapples with her role in the world and her own desires, her shape-shifting abilities become a metaphor for her search for autonomy and self-definition. Her identity crisis is rooted in both the desire for power and the longing for connection, as she constantly reinvents herself to cope with the ever-changing dynamics around her.

8. The Skinjacker Trilogy by Neal Shusterman

Shapeshifter: Souls that can jump between bodies
In this imaginative series, the dead have the ability to inhabit and control the bodies of the living. The story follows three teens who are caught in the struggle to preserve their bodies or have their souls inhabit the bodies of others. As the characters jump between different identities, they wrestle with the question of what makes them truly themselves. The physical transformation becomes an existential challenge as they navigate the blurry lines between who they were, who they are, and who they could become.

9. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Shapeshifter: A library where you can become anyone
In The Midnight Library, Nora Seed finds herself in a library between life and death, with the opportunity to explore countless versions of her life. Each book in the library offers a path to a new reality, where Nora can experience different lives and identities. As she explores these shifting possibilities, she faces an emotional journey of self-acceptance, learning that the real transformation happens within, rather than through external change.

10. The Ocean’s Embrace by Kathryn Lasky

Shapeshifter: A girl who can turn into a mermaid
Megan’s transformation into a mermaid forces her to reconsider everything she knows about herself. While she struggles with her dual identity as both a human and a mermaid, she must navigate the tension between the two worlds. The themes of transformation and identity crisis are explored in this lush underwater world, highlighting the emotional turmoil that accompanies a drastic shift in form.

11. Song of the Shapeshifter by J.R. Rain

Shapeshifter: A detective caught between worlds
In this urban fantasy novel, a detective with the ability to transform into a wolf faces not only external challenges, but internal struggles with his shifting identity. As he delves into cases and confronts mystical creatures, he must come to terms with the dangerous duality of his existence—part human, part wolf—and decide which part of himself will define who he becomes. It’s a riveting look at the complexities of identity and the challenges of reconciling opposing forces within oneself.

12. The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

Shapeshifter: Gods with the power to transform
In The Inheritance Trilogy, gods walk among mortals, and their shape-shifting abilities are not just physical—they represent power, control, and destiny. The central characters struggle with who they are and who they must become as they navigate a world steeped in violence and betrayal. Themes of transformation and identity run deep as gods, mortals, and everything in between face existential dilemmas that challenge the boundaries between power, loyalty, and personal freedom.

Final Thoughts
Shapeshifters, with their ability to change form at will, are the perfect metaphor for identity crises—always torn between who they are and who they want to be. These 12 books take you on journeys through personal transformations, where characters struggle with the fluidity of their own identities, forcing them to confront who they really are beneath the surface. Whether it’s the physical change of becoming something else, or the deeper, emotional transformation of finding yourself, these stories are a poignant reminder of the struggles we all face in defining who we are.