Books Like The Maze Runner: 12 Similar Reads for Grades 7–12
If your reader loved The Maze Runner, these 12 books hit the same notes — survival, memory, and friendship — all kept in the grades 7–12 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 The Maze Runner
- My ÁntoniaWilla Cather
My Ántonia
by Willa Cather
Historical FictionGrades 10–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of memory and friendship and overlapping grades (10–12).
- PowerlessMatthew Cody
Powerless
by Matthew Cody
FantasyGrades 4–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of memory and friendship and overlapping grades (4–7).
- The CayTheodore Taylor
The Cay
by Theodore Taylor
Historical FictionGrades 5–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of survival and friendship and overlapping grades (5–8).
- Under the SurfaceDiana Urban
Under the Surface
by Diana Urban
MysteryGrades 7–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of survival and friendship and overlapping grades (7–12).
- 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 and overlapping grades (5–8).
- Big Nate: In a Class by HimselfLincoln Peirce
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself
by Lincoln Peirce
Middle Grade Graphic NovelGrades 4–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (4–7).
- City of GhostsVictoria Schwab
City of Ghosts
by Victoria Schwab
FantasyGrades 4–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (4–7).
- DivergentVeronica Roth
Divergent
by Veronica Roth
DystopianGrades 8–12
Why it's similar: Same genre (Dystopian), overlapping grades (8–12), and the same era (2010s).
- DramaRaina Telgemeier
Drama
by Raina Telgemeier
Graphic NovelGrades 5–9
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (5–9).
- Fish in a TreeLynda Mullaly Hunt
Fish in a Tree
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Middle Grade FictionGrades 4–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (4–7).
- Hello, UniverseErin Entrada Kelly
Hello, Universe
by Erin Entrada Kelly
Middle Grade FictionGrades 3–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (3–7).
- LegendMarie Lu
Legend
by Marie Lu
DystopianGrades 6–9
Why it's similar: Same genre (Dystopian), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
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