Books Like Refugee: 12 Similar Reads for Grades 5–9
If your reader loved Refugee, these 12 books hit the same notes — refugees, survival, and family — all kept in the grades 5–9 reading band.
How these were chosen: matched deterministically from a verified catalog — shared themes, same genre, close reading level, and an overlapping grade band. No guesswork; each book's reason lists only the attributes that actually matched.
The 12 books most like Refugee
- Inside Out & Back AgainThanhha Lai
Inside Out & Back Again
by Thanhha Lai
Middle Grade Verse Novel / Historical FictionGrades 4–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of refugees, family, and displacement and a close reading level (800L vs 800L).
- I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912Lauren Tarshis
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
by Lauren Tarshis
Historical FictionGrades 2–5
Why it's similar: Shares themes of survival and family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (590L vs 800L).
- Salt to the SeaRuta Sepetys
Salt to the Sea
by Ruta Sepetys
Historical FictionGrades 8–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of refugees and survival, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (560L vs 800L).
- WonderR.J. Palacio
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
Middle Grade FictionGrades 3–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family and empathy and a close reading level (790L vs 800L).
- One Crazy SummerRita Williams-Garcia
One Crazy Summer
by Rita Williams-Garcia
Historical FictionGrades 5–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 800L).
- The Wild RobotPeter Brown
The Wild Robot
by Peter Brown
Middle Grade FictionGrades 4–6
Why it's similar: Shares themes of survival and family and a close reading level (740L vs 800L).
- Code Name KingfisherLiz Kessler
Code Name Kingfisher
by Liz Kessler
Historical FictionGrades 4–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of survival and family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
- DragonwingsLaurence Yep
Dragonwings
by Laurence Yep
Historical FictionGrades 6–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (870L vs 800L).
- A Long Walk to WaterLinda Sue Park
A Long Walk to Water
by Linda Sue Park
Historical FictionGrades 5–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of survival, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 800L).
- EchoPam Muñoz Ryan
Echo
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Historical FictionGrades 5–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (680L vs 800L).
- Bud, Not BuddyChristopher Paul Curtis
Bud, Not Buddy
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Historical FictionGrades 4–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (950L vs 800L).
- A Corner of the UniverseAnn M. Martin
A Corner of the Universe
by Ann M. Martin
Historical FictionGrades 5–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
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