Books like Chains

If you liked Chains, read The War That Saved My Life, Esperanza Rising, or Speak — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Looking for books like Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) · 780L · grades 5–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of slavery, freedom, and resilience. 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 5–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Chains

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Why each is a match

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The War That Saved My Life580L
Shares themes of freedom and resilience, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (580L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →
Esperanza Rising750L
Shares themes of resilience and a close reading level (750L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →
Speak690L
Is by Laurie Halse Anderson, the same author and a close reading level (690L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →
Sarah, Plain and Tall660L
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (660L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →
Island of the Blue Dolphins1000L
Shares themes of resilience, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (1000L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →
Fever 1793grades 2–8
Is by Laurie Halse Anderson, the same author, overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Inside Out & Back Again800L
Shares themes of resilience and a close reading level (800L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →
Pax760L
Shares themes of loyalty and a close reading level (760L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →
The Outsiders750L
Shares themes of loyalty and a close reading level (750L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →
I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)830L
Shares themes of resilience and a close reading level (830L vs 780L). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Chains for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare · 850L — Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)) and a close reading level (850L vs 780L).
  • A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park · 920L — Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), a close reading level (920L vs 780L), and the same era (2000s).
  • Bea and the New Deal Horse by L. M. Elliott · grades 3–5 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia · 750L — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and a close reading level (750L vs 780L).
  • Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse · 740L — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and a close reading level (740L vs 780L).

Books like Chains for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare · 850L — Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)) and a close reading level (850L vs 780L).
  • A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park · 920L — Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), a close reading level (920L vs 780L), and the same era (2000s).
  • One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia · 750L — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and a close reading level (750L vs 780L).
  • Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse · 740L — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and a close reading level (740L vs 780L).
  • Anthem by Ayn Rand · 880L — Shares themes of freedom and a close reading level (880L vs 780L).

Books like Chains for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Anthem by Ayn Rand · 880L — Shares themes of freedom and a close reading level (880L vs 780L).
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck · 680L — Shares themes of resilience and a close reading level (680L vs 780L).
  • The Color Purple by Alice Walker · 670L — Shares themes of resilience and a close reading level (670L vs 780L).
  • Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of resilience and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of revolution and overlapping grades (9–12).

Book data last updated 2026-08-11. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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