Books like Hamlet

If you liked Hamlet, read King Lear, Macbeth, or Heart of Darkness — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Hamlet by William Shakespeare (Tragedy · grades 11–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of revenge, madness, and mortality. 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 11–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Hamlet

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

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Why each is a match

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King Leargrades 11–12
Is by William Shakespeare, the same author, shares themes of madness, and both on the AP English Literature & Composition list. Amazon → books like this →
Macbethgrades 9–12
Is by William Shakespeare, the same author, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Tragedy). Amazon → books like this →
Heart of Darkness1070L
Shares themes of madness, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (11–12). Amazon → books like this →
Our Towngrades 9–12
Shares themes of mortality, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Things They Carried880L
Shares themes of mortality, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (11–12). Amazon → books like this →
Long Way Down720L
Shares themes of revenge and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Not Quite Dead Yetgrades 7–12
Shares themes of mortality and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Scythegrades 7–12
Shares themes of mortality and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Steelheartgrades 7–12
Shares themes of revenge and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Fault in Our Stars850L
Shares themes of mortality and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →

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

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

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare · grades 8–12 — Is by William Shakespeare, the same author, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (8–12).
  • Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare · grades 8–10 — Is by William Shakespeare, the same author and both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list.
  • The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin · 750L — Shares themes of deception and both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list.

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

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

  • Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare · grades 9–12 — Is by William Shakespeare, the same author, shares themes of deception, and both on the AP English Literature & Composition list.
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare · grades 8–12 — Is by William Shakespeare, the same author, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (8–12).
  • Othello by William Shakespeare · grades 10–12 — Is by William Shakespeare, the same author, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (10–12).
  • Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare · grades 9–12 — Is by William Shakespeare, the same author, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare · grades 9–11 — Is by William Shakespeare, the same author, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (9–11).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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