Books like A Single Shard

Looking for books like A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) · 920L · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of perseverance, art, and mentorship. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.

These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 5–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to A Single Shard

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Why each is a match

Bea and the New Deal Horsegrades 3–5
Shares themes of perseverance, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and overlapping grades (3–5).
The Girl Who Figured It Outgrades 3–6
Shares themes of perseverance and determination and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Lost Yeargrades 6–8
Shares themes of perseverance, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and overlapping grades (6–8).
Mr. Popper's Penguins910L
Shares themes of determination and a close reading level (910L vs 920L).
The Old Man and the Sea940L
Shares themes of perseverance and a close reading level (940L vs 920L).
Bud, Not Buddy950L
Shares themes of perseverance and a close reading level (950L vs 920L).
Dragonwings870L
Shares themes of perseverance and a close reading level (870L vs 920L).
The House on Mango Street870L
Shares themes of poverty and a close reading level (870L vs 920L).
The Witch of Blackbird Pond850L
Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)) and a close reading level (850L vs 920L).
Chains780L
Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), a close reading level (780L vs 920L), and the same era (2000s).

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