What books are similar to Thirteen Reasons Why?

The 10 closest matches to Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher on ReadingList include How to Survive Your Murder, Not Quite Dead Yet, That's Not My Name, The Agathas, and The Reappearance of Rachel Price. Each is scored on shared themes (mystery, nyt:paperback_books=2011-06-11, and suicide), 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 Thirteen Reasons Why 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 Thirteen Reasons Why

If you liked Thirteen Reasons Why, read How to Survive Your Murder, Not Quite Dead Yet, or That's Not My Name — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Closest match: How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine — shares mystery

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 Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Mystery · grades 9–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of mystery, nyt:paperback_books=2011-06-11, and suicide. 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.

How to Survive Your Murdergrades 9–12: Shares themes of mystery, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Not Quite Dead Yetgrades 7–12: Shares themes of mystery, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
That's Not My Namegrades 9–12: Shares themes of mystery, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Agathasgrades 9–12: Shares themes of mystery, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Reappearance of Rachel Pricegrades 7–12: Shares themes of mystery, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Under the Surfacegrades 7–12: Shares themes of mystery, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Impulsegrades 9–12: Shares themes of suicide, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Good Girl's Guide to Murdergrades 9–12: Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Daughter of the Starsgrades 9–12: Same genre (Mystery) and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Death and the King's Horsemangrades 11–12: Shares themes of suicide and overlapping grades (11–12). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Thirteen Reasons Why for younger readers (K–2)

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

Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools in fiction.
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick · grades K–3 — Same genre (Mystery).
Double Trouble in Walla Walla by Andrew Clements · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools in fiction.
In a Dark, Dark Room by Alvin Schwartz · grades K–3 — Same genre (Mystery).

Books like Thirteen Reasons Why for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
Hannah Sharpe, Cartoon Detective by Janet Tashjian · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin · 750L — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
Swindle by Gordon Korman · grades 4–7 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Mystery), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Thirteen Reasons Why for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
Hannah Sharpe, Cartoon Detective by Janet Tashjian · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin · 750L — Shares themes of mystery and same genre (Mystery).
Swindle by Gordon Korman · grades 4–7 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Mystery), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Thirteen Reasons Why for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon · 1090L — Shares themes of mystery and overlapping grades (8–12).
Eat Your Heart Out by Kelly deVos · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Mystery) and overlapping grades (9–12).
Fake ID by L. R. Giles · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Mystery) and overlapping grades (9–12).
Middlemarch by George Eliot · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Mystery) and overlapping grades (11–12).
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Mystery) and overlapping grades (9–12).

Common questions

What books are similar to Thirteen Reasons Why?: The 10 closest matches to Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher on ReadingList include How to Survive Your Murder, Not Quite Dead Yet, That's Not My Name, The Agathas, and The Reappearance of Rachel Price. Each is scored on shared themes (mystery, nyt:paperback_books=2011-06-11, and suicide), 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 Thirteen Reasons Why 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 Thirteen Reasons Why