What books are similar to Refugee?

The 10 closest matches to Refugee by Alan Gratz on ReadingList include Wonder, Allies, Projekt 1065, Inside Out & Back Again, and Echo. Each is scored on shared themes (refugees, survival, and family), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 5–9), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Refugee reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 5–9), 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 Refugee

If you liked Refugee, read Wonder, Allies, or Projekt 1065 — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Refugee by Alan Gratz (Historical Fiction · 800L · grades 5–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of refugees, survival, and family. 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 5–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

Reading the whole similar-books list? 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.

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.

Wonder790L: Shares themes of family and empathy, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+11 more shared lists), and a close reading level (790L vs 800L). Amazon → books like this →
Alliesgrades 5–9: Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Historical Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Projekt 1065grades 5–9: Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Historical Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Inside Out & Back Again800L: Shares themes of refugees, family, and displacement and a close reading level (800L vs 800L). Amazon → books like this →
Echo680L: Shares themes of family, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Historical Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Salt to the Sea560L: Shares themes of refugees and survival, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Historical Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
The Wild Robot740L: Shares themes of survival and family, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and a close reading level (740L vs 800L). Amazon → books like this →
Bud, Not Buddy950L: Shares themes of family, both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and same genre (Historical Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
A Night Dividedgrades 5–8: Shares themes of family, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Historical Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Code Name Kingfishergrades 4–8: Shares themes of survival and family, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and same genre (Historical Fiction). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Refugee for younger readers (K–2)

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

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis · 590L — Shares themes of survival and family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (590L vs 800L).
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (750L vs 800L).
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Shares themes of family, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+3 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (2–5).
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of survival, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey · 730L — Shares themes of family and a close reading level (730L vs 800L).

Books like Refugee for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and a close reading level (750L vs 800L).
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis · 590L — Shares themes of survival and family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (590L vs 800L).
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of survival and family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).
Two Degrees by Alan Gratz · grades 5–8 — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, shares themes of survival, and both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list.
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of refugees and family, both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–8).

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

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

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and a close reading level (750L vs 800L).
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of survival and family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).
Two Degrees by Alan Gratz · grades 5–8 — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, shares themes of survival, and both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list.
When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of refugees and family, both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–8).
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Shares themes of survival, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+9 more shared lists), and a close reading level (810L vs 800L).

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

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

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Shares themes of survival, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+9 more shared lists), and a close reading level (810L vs 800L).
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas · 590L — Shares themes of family, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (590L vs 800L).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of family, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (6–9).
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Shares themes of family, both on the North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Award list, and a close reading level (720L vs 800L).
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (7–10).

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

← Back to Refugee