Books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous

If you liked Deep and Dark and Dangerous, read Closed for the Season, One for Sorrow, or Because of Winn-Dixie — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Closest match: Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn

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 Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn? 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Deep and Dark and Dangerous

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.

Closed for the Seasongrades 3–8
Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
One for Sorrowgrades 4–6
Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Skeleton Mangrades 3–8
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Stolen Childrengrades 4–6
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The City of Embergrades 4–6
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)740L
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+4 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulanegrades 3–6
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Sea of Monstersgrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Tale of Despereaux670L
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 3–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 3–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • Scythe by Neal Shusterman · grades 7–12 — Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner · grades 7–12 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list and the same era (2000s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Deep and Dark and Dangerous?
The 10 closest matches to Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn on ReadingList include Closed for the Season, One for Sorrow, Because of Winn-Dixie, Skeleton Man, and Stolen Children. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–6), 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 Deep and Dark and Dangerous

Browse by another angle

Find ReadingList in your Google results more often: