Books Like The Outsiders: 12 Similar Reads for Grades 7–9
If your reader loved The Outsiders, these 12 books hit the same notes — class conflict, friendship, and loyalty — all kept in the grades 7–9 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 The Outsiders
- Shut Up, This Is SeriousCarolina Ixta
Shut Up, This Is Serious
by Carolina Ixta
Young Adult FictionGrades 9–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship, family, and identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
- Walk Two MoonsSharon Creech
Walk Two Moons
by Sharon Creech
Realistic FictionGrades 5–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship, family, and identity and a close reading level (770L vs 750L).
- Long Way DownJason Reynolds
Long Way Down
by Jason Reynolds
Young Adult FictionGrades 7–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family and violence, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 750L).
- The Poet XElizabeth Acevedo
The Poet X
by Elizabeth Acevedo
Young Adult FictionGrades 8–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family and identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (800L vs 750L).
- Everything We Never HadRandy Ribay
Everything We Never Had
by Randy Ribay
Young Adult FictionGrades 7–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family and identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12).
- Never Thought I'd End Up HereAnn Liang
Never Thought I'd End Up Here
by Ann Liang
Young Adult FictionGrades 7–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family and identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12).
- The CrossoverKwame Alexander
The Crossover
by Kwame Alexander
Verse NovelGrades 5–8
Why it's similar: Shares themes of family and identity and a close reading level (750L vs 750L).
- PaxSara Pennypacker
Pax
by Sara Pennypacker
Middle Grade FictionGrades 4–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship and loyalty and a close reading level (760L vs 750L).
- Ender's GameOrson Scott Card
Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
Young Adult FictionGrades 6–10
Why it's similar: Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (780L vs 750L).
- Save Me a SeatSarah Weeks
Save Me a Seat
by Sarah Weeks
Realistic FictionGrades 4–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship and identity and a close reading level (780L vs 750L).
- The Perks of Being a WallflowerStephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
Young Adult FictionGrades 9–12
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 750L).
- WonderR.J. Palacio
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
Middle Grade FictionGrades 3–7
Why it's similar: Shares themes of friendship and family and a close reading level (790L vs 750L).
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