Are books like The House in the Cerulean Sea reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 9–12), 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 The House in the Cerulean Sea

If you liked The House in the Cerulean Sea, read Cinder, Lore, or Everless — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Cinder by Marissa Meyer — shares new york times bestseller

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 The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune (Fantasy · grades 9–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of serie:cerulean_chronicles, american literature, and new york times bestseller. 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 9–12 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.

Cindergrades 9–12: Shares themes of new york times bestseller, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Loregrades 9–12: Shares themes of new york times bestseller, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Everlessgrades 9–12: Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Divine Rivalsgrades 9–12: Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Inheritance Gamesgrades 9–12: Shares themes of new york times bestseller, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Roomgrades 9–12: Shares themes of new york times bestseller and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
A Fate So Coldgrades 7–12: Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Check & Mategrades 9–12: Shares themes of new york times bestseller and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Five Survivegrades 9–12: Shares themes of new york times bestseller and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Darkangelgrades 9–12: Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The House in the Cerulean Sea for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).
The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).
We Are in a Book by Mo Willems · grades K–3 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fantasy) and the same era (2010s).

Books like The House in the Cerulean Sea for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and same genre (Fantasy).
Powerless by Matthew Cody · grades 4–7 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks · grades 3–6 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson · grades 3–5 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).

Books like The House in the Cerulean Sea for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and same genre (Fantasy).
The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and same genre (Fantasy).
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel · grades 6–8 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).
Powerless by Matthew Cody · grades 4–7 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks · grades 3–6 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Fantasy).

Books like The House in the Cerulean Sea for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (11–12).
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of new york times bestseller and overlapping grades (9–12).
Watership Down by Richard Adams · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (9–12).

Common questions

What books are similar to The House in the Cerulean Sea?: The 10 closest matches to The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune on ReadingList include Cinder, Lore, Everless, Divine Rivals, and The Inheritance Games. Each is scored on shared themes (serie:cerulean_chronicles, american literature, and new york times bestseller), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 9–12), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The House in the Cerulean Sea reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 9–12), 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 The House in the Cerulean Sea