Books like A Curse Dark as Gold

If you liked A Curse Dark as Gold, read Flash Burnout, Hold Still, or Madapple — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Young Adult · grades 9–12)? 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.

10 books similar to A Curse Dark as Gold

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

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Why each is a match

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Flash Burnoutgrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Hold Stillgrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Madapplegrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Me, the Missing, and the Deadgrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Everaftergrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Ace of Spadesgrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
After the Snowgrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Aisle Ninegrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
All the Fighting Partsgrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
All the Noise at Oncegrades 9–12
Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →

Books like A Curse Dark as Gold for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Beautiful Creatures: The Manga (A Graphic Novel) by Cassandra Jean · grades 9–12 — Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • Because You'll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas · grades 9–12 — Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • Belle Époque by Elizabeth Ross · grades 9–12 — Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown · grades 9–12 — Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough · grades 9–12 — Both on the William C. Morris YA Debut Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12).

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

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