Books like Ghost

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 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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.

10 books similar to Ghost

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Why each is a match

Save Me a Seat780L
Shares themes of identity, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and a close reading level (780L vs 730L).
The Westing Game750L
Shares themes of identity and teamwork and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
Walk Two Moons770L
Shares themes of identity, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and a close reading level (770L vs 730L).
Ghost Boys360L
Shares themes of identity, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Restart730L
Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (730L vs 730L).
The Crossover750L
Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
Merci Suárez Changes Gears700L
Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (700L vs 730L).
The Poet X800L
Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (800L vs 730L).
Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life890L
Shares themes of identity, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and a close reading level (890L vs 730L).
Black Brother, Black Brothergrades 5–8
Shares themes of identity, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

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