What books are similar to The Last Kids on Earth?

The 10 closest matches to The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier on ReadingList include The Great Pet Escape, Real Friends, Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the School Bus, Allergic, and Iceberg. Each is scored on shared themes (humorous stories, survival, and monsters), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The Last Kids on Earth reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–6), 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 Last Kids on Earth

If you liked The Last Kids on Earth, read The Great Pet Escape or Real Friends — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: The Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson — shares humorous stories

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 Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier (Graphic Novel · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of humorous stories, survival, and monsters. 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 3–6 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.

The Great Pet Escapegrades 3–8: Shares themes of humorous stories, same genre (Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Real Friendsgrades 2–8: Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, same genre (Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the School Busgrades 3–5: Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Allergicgrades 4–6: Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, same genre (Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Iceberggrades 3–7: Shares themes of survival, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Skinnybonesgrades 3–6: Shares themes of humorous stories, both on the Texas Bluebonnet Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Awkwardgrades 3–5: Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Dog Man Unleashedgrades 3–6: Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Giants Bewaregrades 3–5: Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Sistersgrades 4–6: Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Last Kids on Earth 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 overlapping grades (2–5).
A Lion is a Lion by Polly Dunbar · grades K–0 — Shares themes of humorous stories.
Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories and overlapping grades (2–8).
Escargot by Dashka Slater · grades K–2 — Shares themes of humorous stories.
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of humorous stories and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like The Last Kids on Earth for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 3–6 — Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey · grades 3–5 — Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s).
The Big Bad Fox by Benjamin Renner · grades 3–5 — Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s).
The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo · 610L — Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–5).

Books like The Last Kids on Earth for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 3–6 — Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
The Cardboard Kingdom by Chad Sell · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Graphic Novel), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko · grades 3–6 — Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
Snot Stew by Bill Wallace · grades 3–6 — Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).
Tornado by Betsy Cromer Byars · grades 3–6 — Both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like The Last Kids on Earth for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Graphic Novel) and the same era (2010s).
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys · 560L — Shares themes of survival.
Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Graphic Novel).
Now Let Me Fly: A Portrait of Eugene Bullard by Ronald Wimberly · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Graphic Novel).
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Graphic Novel).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Last Kids on Earth?: The 10 closest matches to The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier on ReadingList include The Great Pet Escape, Real Friends, Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the School Bus, Allergic, and Iceberg. Each is scored on shared themes (humorous stories, survival, and monsters), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The Last Kids on Earth reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–6), 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 Last Kids on Earth