Books like The Hunger Games

If you liked The Hunger Games, read Sunrise on the Reaping, Refugee, or The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Young Adult Dystopian · 810L · grades 6–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of authoritarianism, survival, and media and spectacle. 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 6–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Hunger Games

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Why each is a match

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Sunrise on the Reapinggrades 7–12
Is by Suzanne Collins, the same author, shares themes of survival and sacrifice, and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Refugee800L
Shares themes of survival, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+9 more shared lists), and a close reading level (800L vs 810L). Amazon → books like this →
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)740L
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+7 more shared lists), a close reading level (740L vs 810L), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Hatchet1020L
Shares themes of survival, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), and a close reading level (1020L vs 810L). Amazon → books like this →
Gregor the Overlandergrades 4–7
Is by Suzanne Collins, the same author, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Touching Spirit Beargrades 6–9
Shares themes of survival, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Unwindgrades 8–12
Shares themes of survival, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (8–12). Amazon → books like this →
Maniac Magee820L
Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+7 more shared lists) and a close reading level (820L vs 810L). Amazon → books like this →
Wonder790L
Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+12 more shared lists) and a close reading level (790L vs 810L). Amazon → books like this →
Hoot760L
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), a close reading level (760L vs 810L), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Hunger Games for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (750L vs 810L).
  • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists).
  • Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of survival and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (860L vs 810L).
  • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak · 740L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (740L vs 810L).

Books like The Hunger Games for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+4 more shared lists) and a close reading level (750L vs 810L).
  • The Wild Robot by Peter Brown · 740L — Shares themes of survival, both on the Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) list, and a close reading level (740L vs 810L).
  • The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), a close reading level (670L vs 810L), and the same era (2000s).
  • Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of sacrifice, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Two Degrees by Alan Gratz · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).

Books like The Hunger Games for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Giver by Lois Lowry · 760L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+8 more shared lists) and a close reading level (760L vs 810L).
  • The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+4 more shared lists) and a close reading level (750L vs 810L).
  • The Wild Robot by Peter Brown · 740L — Shares themes of survival, both on the Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) list, and a close reading level (740L vs 810L).
  • The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), a close reading level (670L vs 810L), and the same era (2000s).
  • Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of sacrifice, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9).

Books like The Hunger Games for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of sacrifice, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Charlotte Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • Life of Pi by Yann Martel · 830L — Shares themes of survival and a close reading level (830L vs 810L).
  • The Fault in Our Stars by John Green · 850L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (850L vs 810L).
  • Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys · 560L — Shares themes of survival, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and a close reading level (560L vs 810L).

What to read after The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is book 1 of 5 in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games series. Not done with the series yet? Follow the The Hunger Games reading order first — then come back for the matches above.

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

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