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 Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World

If you liked Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World, read Loser, Project Mulberry, or All About Sam — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Loser by Jerry Spinelli — shares family and family life

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Looking for books like Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan (Realistic Fiction · grades 2–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of family, cancer, and nature. 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 2–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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Losergrades 4–6: Shares themes of family and family life, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Project Mulberrygrades 3–8: Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
All About Samgrades 4–6: Shares themes of family and family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Attaboy, Sam!grades 4–6: Shares themes of family and family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Fig Puddinggrades 3–5: Shares themes of family and family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
The Wild Robot740L: Shares themes of family and nature, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
101 Ways to Bug Your Parentsgrades 4–6: Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Backlashgrades 3–8: Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Daphne's Bookgrades 4–8: Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Ramona's Worldgrades 4–6: Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World for younger readers (K–2)

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

Say What? by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Star in the Storm by Joan Hiatt Harlow · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Togo by Robert J. Blake · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
When the Wolves Returned by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Striped Ice Cream by Joan M. Lexau · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye by Patricia Hermes · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of cancer, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of family life and overlapping grades (3–8).

Books like Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Striped Ice Cream by Joan M. Lexau · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye by Patricia Hermes · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of cancer, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of family life and overlapping grades (3–8).

Books like Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of family life and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Room by Emma Donoghue · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of family life and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Shadow of the Dragon by Sherry Garland · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of family life and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
I'm the King of the Castle by Susan Hill · grades 9–10 — Shares themes of nature and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World?: The 10 closest matches to Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan on ReadingList include Loser, Project Mulberry, All About Sam, Attaboy, Sam!, and Fig Pudding. Each is scored on shared themes (family, cancer, and nature), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–8), 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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