Are books like New Kid 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 New Kid

If you liked New Kid, read Smile, El Deafo, or Roller Girl — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Smile by Raina Telgemeier — shares friendship

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Looking for books like New Kid by Jerry Craft (Middle Grade Graphic Novel · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of race and identity, code-switching, and middle school adjustment. 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.

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Why each is a match

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Smile410L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list (+6 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
El Deafo420L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+5 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Roller Girl440L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Class Actgrades 4–8: Is by Jerry Craft, the same author, shares themes of friendship, and both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list). Amazon → books like this →
Swim Teamgrades 3–7: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Four Eyes: A Graphic Novelgrades 3–7: Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself500L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Out of My Mind700L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Wonder790L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+11 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobodygrades 4–8: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →

Books like New Kid for younger readers (K–2)

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

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
Dog Man by Dav Pilkey · 390L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel).
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña · 610L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).

Books like New Kid for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson · 990L — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate · 570L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt · 550L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+8 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like New Kid for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson · 990L — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate · 570L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt · 550L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+8 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).

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

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

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas · 590L — Shares themes of code-switching and both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+2 more shared lists).
Drama by Raina Telgemeier · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9).
Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+5 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).
The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen · grades 5–9 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).
The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan · grades 5–9 — Both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to New Kid?: The 10 closest matches to New Kid by Jerry Craft on ReadingList include Smile, El Deafo, Roller Girl, Class Act, and Swim Team. Each is scored on shared themes (race and identity, code-switching, and middle school adjustment), 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 New Kid 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.

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