What books are similar to Ghost?

The 10 closest matches to Ghost by Jason Reynolds on ReadingList include Restart, The Crossover, The Westing Game, Ghost Boys, and Hoot. Each is scored on shared themes (running, family violence, and mentorship), 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 Ghost 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 Ghost

If you liked Ghost, read Restart, The Crossover, or The Westing Game — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Restart by Gordon Korman — shares identity

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Looking for books like Ghost by Jason Reynolds (Realistic Fiction · 730L · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of running, family violence, and mentorship. 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.

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Why each is a match

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Restart730L: Shares themes of identity, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), and a close reading level (730L vs 730L). Amazon → books like this →
The Crossover750L: Shares themes of identity, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and a close reading level (750L vs 730L). Amazon → books like this →
The Westing Game750L: Shares themes of identity and teamwork, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and a close reading level (750L vs 730L). Amazon → books like this →
Ghost Boys360L: Shares themes of identity, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+3 more shared lists), and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Hoot760L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and a close reading level (760L vs 730L). Amazon → books like this →
Look Both Waysgrades 5–8: Is by Jason Reynolds, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Out of My Mind700L: Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), a close reading level (700L vs 730L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Pax760L: Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), a close reading level (760L vs 730L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Refugee800L: Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), a close reading level (800L vs 730L), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Walk Two Moons770L: Shares themes of identity, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Ghost for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (860L vs 730L).
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb · grades K–2 — Shares themes of identity and both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list).
Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester · grades K–3 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list) and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Chalk by Bill Thomson · grades K–2 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

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

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

Soundtrack: A Novel by Jason Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Is by Jason Reynolds, the same author, both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, and overlapping grades (3–10).
Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Is by Jason Reynolds, the same author, both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, and overlapping grades (3–10).
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling · 880L — Shares themes of identity, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+2 more shared lists), and a close reading level (880L vs 730L).
So B. It by Sarah Weeks · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of identity, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart · grades 5–8 — Both on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

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

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

Soundtrack: A Novel by Jason Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Is by Jason Reynolds, the same author, both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, and overlapping grades (3–10).
Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Is by Jason Reynolds, the same author, both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, and overlapping grades (3–10).
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling · 880L — Shares themes of identity, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+2 more shared lists), and a close reading level (880L vs 730L).
So B. It by Sarah Weeks · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of identity, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart · grades 5–8 — Both on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

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

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

Soundtrack: A Novel by Jason Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Is by Jason Reynolds, the same author, both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, and overlapping grades (3–10).
Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Is by Jason Reynolds, the same author, both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, and overlapping grades (3–10).
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green · 850L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), a close reading level (850L vs 730L), and the same era (2010s).
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Is by Jason Reynolds, the same author, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (720L vs 730L).
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas · 590L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), a close reading level (590L vs 730L), and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Ghost?: The 10 closest matches to Ghost by Jason Reynolds on ReadingList include Restart, The Crossover, The Westing Game, Ghost Boys, and Hoot. Each is scored on shared themes (running, family violence, and mentorship), 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 Ghost 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.

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