What books are similar to J vs. K?

The 10 closest matches to J vs. K by Kwame Alexander & Jerry Craft on ReadingList include The Superteacher Project, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, and Hannah Sharpe, Cartoon Detective. Each is scored on shared themes (friendship, school, and humor), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like J vs. K reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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 J vs. K

If you liked J vs. K, read The Superteacher Project, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, or The Adventures of Captain Underpants — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Closest match: The Superteacher Project by Gordon Korman — shares friendship and school

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 J vs. K by Kwame Alexander & Jerry Craft (Middle Grade Fiction · grades 3–5)? It’s most often read for its themes of friendship, school, and humor. The 10 titles below 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 3–5 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.

The Superteacher Projectgrades 3–6: Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L: Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Adventures of Captain Underpants720L: Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon → books like this →
Ramona Quimby, Age 8860L: Shares themes of school and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Hannah Sharpe, Cartoon Detectivegrades 3–6: Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Popcorngrades 4–8: Shares themes of school and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet820L: Shares themes of friendship and school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Oliver's Great Big Universegrades 3–6: Shares themes of humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Frindle830L: Shares themes of school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Ramona the Pest750L: Shares themes of school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–4). Amazon → books like this →

Books like J vs. K for younger readers (K–2)

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

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths · 560L — Shares themes of friendship and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (2020s).
A Lot to Like! by Derek Anderson · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of friendship and humor and overlapping grades (2–5).
Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb · grades K–2 — Shares themes of friendship and humor.
Fox Has a Problem by Corey R. Tabor · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of friendship and humor and overlapping grades (2–5).

Books like J vs. K for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor and overlapping grades (3–6).
My Teacher Is an Alien by Bruce Coville · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor and overlapping grades (3–6).
The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths · 560L — Shares themes of friendship and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor and overlapping grades (3–5).
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo · 610L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).

Books like J vs. K for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Confessions of a Class Clown by Arianne Costner · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor, both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
Control Freaks by J.E. Thomas · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of friendship and school, both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of friendship and humor, both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of friendship, school, and humor and overlapping grades (3–6).

Common questions

What books are similar to J vs. K?: The 10 closest matches to J vs. K by Kwame Alexander & Jerry Craft on ReadingList include The Superteacher Project, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Adventures of Captain Underpants, Ramona Quimby, Age 8, and Hannah Sharpe, Cartoon Detective. Each is scored on shared themes (friendship, school, and humor), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like J vs. K reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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 J vs. K