What books are similar to City of Ghosts?

The 10 closest matches to City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab on ReadingList include The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, A Tale Dark and Grimm, Max and the Midknights, The Ghost of Graylock, and Wonder. Each is scored on shared themes (ghosts, friendship, and family), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like City of Ghosts reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–7), 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 City of Ghosts

If you liked City of Ghosts, read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, A Tale Dark and Grimm, or Max and the Midknights — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Closest match: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Get it on Amazon →

Affiliate link: as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Looking for books like City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab (Fantasy · grades 4–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of ghosts, friendship, and family. 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 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulanegrades 3–6: Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
A Tale Dark and Grimmgrades 4–7: Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Max and the Midknightsgrades 3–6: Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Ghost of Graylockgrades 5–8: Shares themes of ghosts, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Wonder790L: Shares themes of friendship and family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Dollhouse Murdersgrades 4–7: Shares themes of ghosts and family, both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Wait Till Helen Comesgrades 4–7: Shares themes of ghosts and family, both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Indian in the Cupboardgrades 3–6: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, and same genre (Fantasy). Amazon → books like this →
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spellgrades 3–7: Shares themes of family, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Lost Heirgrades 3–7: Shares themes of family, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like City of Ghosts for younger readers (K–2)

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

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fantasy) and the same era (2010s).
The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
Enchanted Wood by Ruth Sanderson · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fantasy).
Eyes of the Dragon by Margaret Leaf · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fantasy).
How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head by Bill Peet · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fantasy).

Books like City of Ghosts for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7).
The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland · grades 3–7 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–7).
The Lifters by Dave Eggers · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Smile by Raina Telgemeier · 410L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–8).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney · 950L — Shares themes of friendship and family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like City of Ghosts for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Willa of the Wood by Robert Beatty · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7).
The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland · grades 3–7 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–7).
The Lifters by Dave Eggers · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Smile by Raina Telgemeier · 410L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–8).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney · 950L — Shares themes of friendship and family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like City of Ghosts for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas · 590L — Shares themes of family and both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list).
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross · grades 9–12 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list and same genre (Fantasy).
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan · grades 5–9 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (5–9).
Cinder by Marissa Meyer · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Fantasy) and the same era (2010s).
Everless by Sara Holland · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Fantasy) and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to City of Ghosts?: The 10 closest matches to City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab on ReadingList include The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, A Tale Dark and Grimm, Max and the Midknights, The Ghost of Graylock, and Wonder. Each is scored on shared themes (ghosts, friendship, and family), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like City of Ghosts reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–7), 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.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to City of Ghosts