What books are similar to The Outsiders?

The 10 closest matches to The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton on ReadingList include Long Way Down, Speak, Ender's Game, The Poet X, and Chains. Each is scored on shared themes (class conflict, friendship, and loyalty), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 7–9), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The Outsiders reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 7–9), 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 Outsiders

If you liked The Outsiders, read Long Way Down, Speak, or Ender's Game — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds — shares family and violence

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 Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (Young Adult Fiction · 750L · grades 7–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of class conflict, friendship, and loyalty. 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 7–9 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.

Long Way Down720L: Shares themes of family and violence, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Young Adult Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Speak690L: Shares themes of identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Young Adult Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Ender's Game780L: Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (780L vs 750L). Amazon → books like this →
The Poet X800L: Shares themes of family and identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Young Adult Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Chains780L: Shares themes of loyalty and a close reading level (780L vs 750L). Amazon → books like this →
The False Princegrades 5–9: Shares themes of loyalty and identity and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon → books like this →
Everything We Never Hadgrades 7–12: Shares themes of family and identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Never Thought I'd End Up Heregrades 7–12: Shares themes of family and identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Walk Two Moons770L: Shares themes of friendship, family, and identity, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (770L vs 750L). Amazon → books like this →
Monster670L: Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (670L vs 750L). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Outsiders for younger readers (K–2)

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

Guji Guji by Chen, Zhiyuan · grades K–3 — Shares themes of loyalty and family and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 750L).
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak · 740L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, a close reading level (740L vs 750L), and the same era (1960s).
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey · 730L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (730L vs 750L).
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (860L vs 750L).

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

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

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White · 680L — Shares themes of friendship and loyalty, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (680L vs 750L).
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian · 820L — Shares themes of friendship, family, and identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (820L vs 750L).
Guji Guji by Chen, Zhiyuan · grades K–3 — Shares themes of loyalty and family and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 750L).
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson · 810L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (810L vs 750L).

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

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

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian · 820L — Shares themes of friendship, family, and identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (820L vs 750L).
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson · 810L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (810L vs 750L).
The Giver by Lois Lowry · 760L — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list (+2 more shared lists) and a close reading level (760L vs 750L).
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl · 810L — Shares themes of family and a close reading level (810L vs 750L).
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (810L vs 750L).

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

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

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood · 750L — Shares themes of identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 750L).
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou · 1070L — Shares themes of family and identity and both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (810L vs 750L).
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros · 870L — Shares themes of identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (870L vs 750L).
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck · 680L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (680L vs 750L).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Outsiders?: The 10 closest matches to The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton on ReadingList include Long Way Down, Speak, Ender's Game, The Poet X, and Chains. Each is scored on shared themes (class conflict, friendship, and loyalty), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 7–9), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The Outsiders reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 7–9), 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 Outsiders