Books like When Stars Are Scattered

If you liked When Stars Are Scattered, read Parachute Kids, Refugee, or Roller Girl — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson (Graphic Novel · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of refugees, family, and hope. 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 When Stars Are Scattered

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Why each is a match

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Parachute Kidsgrades 3–7
Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Refugee800L
Shares themes of refugees and family, both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon → books like this →
Roller Girl440L
Is by Victoria Jamieson, the same author, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Amari and the Night Brothersgrades 4–7
Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Class Actgrades 4–8
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Ferrisgrades 3–6
Shares themes of family, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Four Eyes: A Graphic Novelgrades 3–7
Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Great Pet Escapegrades 3–8
Is by Victoria Jamieson, the same author, same genre (Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Labors of Hercules Bealgrades 3–7
Shares themes of family, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Lost Yeargrades 6–8
Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like When Stars Are Scattered for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Shares themes of family and both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Shares themes of family, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Picture Purrfect (Bodega Cats #1) by Hilda Eunice Burgos · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Bone by Jeff Smith · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, same genre (Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like When Stars Are Scattered for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family, both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of family and hope and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney · 950L — Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like When Stars Are Scattered for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family, both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of family and hope and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney · 950L — Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like When Stars Are Scattered for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of family, both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Shares themes of family, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas · 590L — Shares themes of family and both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list).
  • The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of family and hope and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys · 560L — Shares themes of refugees and hope and overlapping grades (8–12).

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

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