Books like The Old Willis Place

If you liked The Old Willis Place, read Wait Till Helen Comes, Deep and Dark and Dangerous, or Odder — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn? 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.

10 books similar to The Old Willis Place

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Why each is a match

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Wait Till Helen Comesgrades 4–7
Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Deep and Dark and Dangerousgrades 4–6
Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Oddergrades 3–5
Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
The Terrible Twogrades 3–5
Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
11 Birthdaysgrades 3–5
Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Because of Mr. Teruptgrades 3–5
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+4 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Bud, Not Buddy950L
Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Bunniculagrades 3–6
Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Old Willis Place for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • El Deafo by Cece Bell · 420L — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine · grades 4–7 — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein · grades 4–6 — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+3 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like The Old Willis Place for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • El Deafo by Cece Bell · 420L — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine · grades 4–7 — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein · grades 4–6 — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+3 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like The Old Willis Place for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Scythe by Neal Shusterman · grades 7–12 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen · grades 7–12 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list).

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

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