Books like Surviving the Applewhites

If you liked Surviving the Applewhites, read So B. It, Rules, or Ghost — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: So B. It by Sarah Weeks — shares family

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Looking for books like Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan (Realistic Fiction · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of family, art, and growth. 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 5–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Surviving the Applewhites

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Why each is a match

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So B. Itgrades 5–8
Shares themes of family, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Rulesgrades 4–7
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Ghost730L
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Honest Truthgrades 5–8
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Swindlegrades 4–7
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Graveyard Book820L
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
When Stars Are Scatteredgrades 5–8
Shares themes of family, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Hoot760L
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
A Single Shard920L
Shares themes of art and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Shares themes of family, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Surviving the Applewhites for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande · grades K–3 — Shares themes of family and art.
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • Hoodwinked by Arthur Howard · grades K–2 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester · grades K–3 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Hungry Hen by Richard Waring · grades K–2 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Surviving the Applewhites for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande · grades K–3 — Shares themes of family and art.
  • Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt · 550L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker · 760L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list).

Books like Surviving the Applewhites for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Dovey Coe by Frances O'Roark Dowell · grades 6–8 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8).
  • Yellow Star by Jennifer Roy · grades 6–8 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8).
  • Buddy by M. H. Herlong · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (6–8).
  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt · 550L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like Surviving the Applewhites for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Impulse by Ellen Hopkins · grades 9–12 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Brimstone Journals by Ron Koertge · grades 9–12 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lovely Bones: A Novel by Alice Sebold · grades 9–12 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Surviving the Applewhites?
The 10 closest matches to Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan on ReadingList include So B. It, Rules, Ghost, The Honest Truth, and Swindle. Each is scored on shared themes (family, art, and growth), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 5–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Surviving the Applewhites reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 5–8), 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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