Books like Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog)

If you liked Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog), read Shiloh, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, or Wonder — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Closest match: Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

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 Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) by Lynn Plourde (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–5)? 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 3–5 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog)

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.

Shiloh890L
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Librarygrades 4–6
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Wonder790L
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Losergrades 4–6
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Alonegrades 4–6
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Roller Girl440L
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Ella Enchantedgrades 4–7
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)740L
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
New Kidgrades 4–8
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea · grades 3–5 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret · grades 3–6 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • Superfudge by Judy Blume · grades 3–6 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold · grades 3–5 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Cliff-Hanger by Alane Ferguson · grades 4–6 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Compound by S. A. Bodeen · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret · grades 3–6 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • Scythe by Neal Shusterman · grades 7–12 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
  • Superfudge by Judy Blume · grades 3–6 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • Cardboard by Doug TenNapel · grades 6–8 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Compound by S. A. Bodeen · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Scythe by Neal Shusterman · grades 7–12 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list (+2 more shared lists).
  • House Arrest by K. A. Holt · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog)?
The 10 closest matches to Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) by Lynn Plourde on ReadingList include Shiloh, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Wonder, Loser, and Because of Winn-Dixie. Each is scored on shared themes, 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 Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog) 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 Maxi’s Secrets: (Or, What You Can Learn from a Dog)

Browse by another angle

Find ReadingList in your Google results more often: