What books are similar to Guts?

The 10 closest matches to Guts by Raina Telgemeier on ReadingList include Smile, Drama, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hatchet, and Heroes. Each is scored on shared themes (anxiety, growing up, and courage), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Guts reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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 Guts

If you liked Guts, read Smile, Drama, or Diary of a Wimpy Kid — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Smile by Raina Telgemeier — shares growing up

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 Guts by Raina Telgemeier (Graphic Memoir · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of anxiety, growing up, and courage. 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 4–8 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.

Smile410L: Is by Raina Telgemeier, the same author, shares themes of growing up, and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Dramagrades 5–9: Is by Raina Telgemeier, the same author, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon → books like this →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L: Shares themes of growing up, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Hatchet1020L: Shares themes of growing up, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Heroesgrades 6–8: Shares themes of courage, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone880L: Shares themes of courage, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Librarygrades 4–6: Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Foundgrades 4–6: Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Mid-Airgrades 5–8: Shares themes of growing up, both on the Volunteer State Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
New Kidgrades 4–8: Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Guts for younger readers (K–2)

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

Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike by Dashka Slater · grades K–2 — Shares themes of growing up and courage.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle · 460L — Shares themes of growing up.
The Yellow Bus by Loren Long · grades K–3 — Shares themes of growing up.

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

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

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier · grades 4–6 — Is by Raina Telgemeier, the same author, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).
Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
Pax by Sara Pennypacker · 760L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).

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

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

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier · grades 4–6 — Is by Raina Telgemeier, the same author, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).
Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
Pax by Sara Pennypacker · 760L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).

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

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

Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green · 850L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of courage, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of courage, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of courage, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).

Common questions

What books are similar to Guts?: The 10 closest matches to Guts by Raina Telgemeier on ReadingList include Smile, Drama, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hatchet, and Heroes. Each is scored on shared themes (anxiety, growing up, and courage), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Guts reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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 Guts