What books are similar to Class Clown?

The 10 closest matches to Class Clown by Johanna Hurwitz on ReadingList include The Hot and Cold Summer, Shoeshine Girl, Fourth Grade Rats, Harry's Mad, and Call Me Hope. Each is scored on shared themes (schools, behavior, and behavior, fiction), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Class Clown reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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 Class Clown

If you liked Class Clown, read The Hot and Cold Summer, Shoeshine Girl, or Fourth Grade Rats — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: The Hot and Cold Summer by Johanna Hurwitz

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Looking for books like Class Clown by Johanna Hurwitz (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–5)? It’s most often read for its themes of schools, behavior, and behavior, fiction. 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 3–5 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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The Hot and Cold Summergrades 3–6: Is by Johanna Hurwitz, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Shoeshine Girlgrades 4–6: Shares themes of behavior, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Fourth Grade Ratsgrades 4–6: Shares themes of schools, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Harry's Madgrades 3–6: Shares themes of behavior, fiction, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Call Me Hopegrades 3–5: Shares themes of schools, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Dukegrades 3–5: Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Real Friendsgrades 2–8: Shares themes of schools, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Mr. Lincoln's Waygrades 3–8: Shares themes of schools, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Dress Codedgrades 3–5: Shares themes of schools, fiction, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Lulu's Mysterious Missiongrades 2–8: Shares themes of behavior, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Class Clown for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Ferret in the Bedroom, Lizards in the Fridge by Bill Wallace · grades 3–5 — Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
Jelly Belly by Robert Kimmel Smith · grades 4–6 — Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days by Stephen Manes · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of behavior and overlapping grades (4–6).
Herbie's Troubles by Carol Chapman · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools and schools, fiction, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Who Needs a Bratty Brother? by Linda Gondosch · grades 3–5 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).

Books like Class Clown for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Night Hoops by Carl Deuker · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of behavior and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Jelly Belly by Robert Kimmel Smith · grades 4–6 — Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days by Stephen Manes · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of behavior and overlapping grades (4–6).
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd · grades 4–6 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–7).

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

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

Night Hoops by Carl Deuker · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of behavior and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
After by Francine Prose · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Tears of A Tiger by Sharon M. Draper · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Class Clown?: The 10 closest matches to Class Clown by Johanna Hurwitz on ReadingList include The Hot and Cold Summer, Shoeshine Girl, Fourth Grade Rats, Harry's Mad, and Call Me Hope. Each is scored on shared themes (schools, behavior, and behavior, fiction), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Class Clown reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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.

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