What books are similar to A Single Shard?

The 10 closest matches to A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park on ReadingList include A Long Walk to Water, Bud, Not Buddy, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and Bea and the New Deal Horse. Each is scored on shared themes (perseverance, art, and mentorship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 5–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like A Single Shard reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 5–8), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.

How does ReadingList choose similar books?

Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Books like A Single Shard

If you liked A Single Shard, read A Long Walk to Water, Bud, Not Buddy, or The Witch of Blackbird Pond — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

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 titles below are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, shared award lists, 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.

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Why each is a match

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A Long Walk to Water720L: Is by Linda Sue Park, the same author, shares themes of perseverance, and a close reading level (720L vs 920L). Amazon → books like this →
Bud, Not Buddy950L: Shares themes of perseverance, both on the Newbery Medal list, and a close reading level (950L vs 920L). Amazon → books like this →
The Witch of Blackbird Pond850L: Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (850L vs 920L). Amazon → books like this →
Island of the Blue Dolphins1000L: Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (1000L vs 920L). Amazon → books like this →
Bea and the New Deal Horsegrades 3–5: Shares themes of perseverance, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Project Mulberrygrades 3–8: Is by Linda Sue Park, the same author, overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Girl Who Figured It Outgrades 3–6: Shares themes of perseverance and determination and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Lost Yeargrades 6–8: Shares themes of perseverance, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Mr. Popper's Penguins910L: Shares themes of determination and a close reading level (910L vs 920L). Amazon → books like this →
The Old Man and the Sea940L: Shares themes of perseverance and a close reading level (940L vs 920L). Amazon → books like this →

Books like A Single Shard for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos by Nathalie Alonso · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of perseverance and overlapping grades (2–5).
Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande · grades K–3 — Shares themes of art.
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise · grades K–3 — Shares themes of perseverance.
Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise · grades K–3 — Shares themes of perseverance.
Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike by Dashka Slater · grades K–2 — Shares themes of perseverance.

Books like A Single Shard for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson · 780L — Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), a close reading level (780L vs 920L), and the same era (2000s).
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg · 700L — Shares themes of art, both on the Newbery Medal list, and a close reading level (700L vs 920L).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (670L vs 920L).
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan · 660L — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and overlapping grades (3–5).
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Newbery Medal list and a close reading level (890L vs 920L).

Books like A Single Shard for middle school (grades 6–8)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.

Dragonwings by Laurence Yep · 870L — Shares themes of perseverance and a close reading level (870L vs 920L).
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros · 870L — Shares themes of poverty and a close reading level (870L vs 920L).
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson · 780L — Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), a close reading level (780L vs 920L), and the same era (2000s).
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg · 700L — Shares themes of art, both on the Newbery Medal list, and a close reading level (700L vs 920L).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (670L vs 920L).

Books like A Single Shard for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison · 920L — Shares themes of poverty and a close reading level (920L vs 920L).
Black Boy by Richard Wright · 950L — Shares themes of poverty and a close reading level (950L vs 920L).
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros · 870L — Shares themes of poverty and a close reading level (870L vs 920L).
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson · 780L — Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), a close reading level (780L vs 920L), and the same era (2000s).
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie · 600L — Shares themes of poverty and overlapping grades (7–10).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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