Books like Under the Blood-Red Sun

If you liked Under the Blood-Red Sun, read Lord of the Deep, Because of Winn-Dixie, or Boy at War — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury? 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 5–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Under the Blood-Red Sun

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Why each is a match

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Lord of the Deepgrades 4–9
Is by Graham Salisbury, the same author, overlapping grades (4–9), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Boy at Wargrades 4–6
Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Bunniculagrades 3–6
Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Chains780L
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Double Fudgegrades 4–6
Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Eragongrades 6–9
Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Nothing's Fair in Fifth Gradegrades 3–6
Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Shades of Graygrades 4–7
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Art of Keeping Coolgrades 5–8
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Under the Blood-Red Sun for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich · grades 4–7 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages · grades 5–8 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lemonade War by Davies, Jacqueline · grades 4–6 — Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan · 740L — Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).
  • There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar · grades 4–6 — Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Under the Blood-Red Sun for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Bomb by Theodore Taylor · grades 7–10 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich · grades 4–7 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages · grades 5–8 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Land by Mildred D. Taylor · grades 7–12 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lemonade War by Davies, Jacqueline · grades 4–6 — Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Under the Blood-Red Sun for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Bomb by Theodore Taylor · grades 7–10 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Land by Mildred D. Taylor · grades 7–12 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2000s).
  • The River Between Us by Richard Peck · grades 7–12 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2000s).

Book data last updated 2026-08-11. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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