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 Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival

If you liked Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival, read Duke, The Stranger Next Door, or Dash (Dogs of World War II) — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Duke by Kirby Larson

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Looking for books like Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of cats. 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.

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Why each is a match

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Dukegrades 3–5: Is by Kirby Larson, the same author, both on the Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
The Stranger Next Doorgrades 3–8: Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Dash (Dogs of World War II)grades 4–7: Is by Kirby Larson, the same author and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Cats in Krasinski Squaregrades 3–8: Shares themes of cats and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Diary of a Killer Catgrades 3–5: Shares themes of cats and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
The Forbidden Librarygrades 2–8: Shares themes of cats and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Grand Escapegrades 3–5: Shares themes of cats and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Widgetgrades K–3: Shares themes of cats, both on the Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Socksgrades 4–8: Shares themes of cats, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Chestergrades K–3: Shares themes of cats, both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen · 760L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7).
No Talking by Andrew Clements · grades 3–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Boy at War by Harry Mazer · grades 4–6 — Both on the Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen · 760L — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7).
No Talking by Andrew Clements · grades 3–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Scranimals by Jack Prelutsky · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Boy at War by Harry Mazer · grades 4–6 — Both on the Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival?: The 10 closest matches to Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival by Kirby Larson on ReadingList include Duke, The Stranger Next Door, Dash (Dogs of World War II), The Cats in Krasinski Square, and The Diary of a Killer Cat. Each is scored on shared themes (cats), 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 Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival 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.

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