What books are similar to Cryptid Hunters?

The 10 closest matches to Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith on ReadingList include Red Midnight, Hatchet, Zach's Lie, The Doom Stone, and The River. Each is scored on shared themes (survival, mystery, and family), 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 Cryptid Hunters 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 Cryptid Hunters

If you liked Cryptid Hunters, read Red Midnight, Hatchet, or Zach's Lie — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Red Midnight by Ben Mikaelsen — shares survival

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 Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith (Adventure · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of survival, mystery, 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 5–8 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.

Red Midnightgrades 3–8: Shares themes of survival, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, and same genre (Adventure). Amazon → books like this →
Hatchet1020L: Shares themes of survival, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and same genre (Adventure). Amazon → books like this →
Zach's Liegrades 3–8: Is by Roland Smith, the same author, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Doom Stonegrades 6–9: Shares themes of survival, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
The Rivergrades 5–8: Shares themes of survival, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Two Degreesgrades 5–8: Shares themes of survival, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)1010L: Shares themes of mystery and family, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Hunger Games810L: Shares themes of survival, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Elephant Rungrades 4–8: Is by Roland Smith, the same author and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Crashgrades 3–8: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Cryptid Hunters for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner · 490L — Shares themes of mystery and family.
Smoky Night by Eve Bunting · grades 1–4 — Same genre (Adventure).
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon · grades K–3 — Same genre (Adventure).

Books like Cryptid Hunters for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Flight #116 Is Down! by Caroline B. Cooney · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Loot by Jude Watson · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of survival and family, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford · grades 4–8 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (4–8).
All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of mystery and family and overlapping grades (5–8).

Books like Cryptid Hunters for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Flight #116 Is Down! by Caroline B. Cooney · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Loot by Jude Watson · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of survival and family, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford · grades 4–8 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Adventure), and overlapping grades (4–8).
All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of mystery and family and overlapping grades (5–8).

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

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

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of survival, mystery, and family.
Downriver by Will Hobbs · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of survival and same genre (Adventure).
Pursuit by Michael French · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of survival and same genre (Adventure).
That's Not My Name by Megan Lally · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of survival and mystery.
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of survival and family, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).

Common questions

What books are similar to Cryptid Hunters?: The 10 closest matches to Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith on ReadingList include Red Midnight, Hatchet, Zach's Lie, The Doom Stone, and The River. Each is scored on shared themes (survival, mystery, and family), 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 Cryptid Hunters 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.

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

← Back to Cryptid Hunters