Books like A Year Down Yonder

If you liked A Year Down Yonder, read A Season of Gifts, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, or Criss Cross — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck (Juvenile Fiction · grades 3–7)? 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 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to A Year Down Yonder

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Why each is a match

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A Season of Giftsgrades 3–8
Is by Richard Peck, the same author, overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Crispin: The Cross of Leadgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Criss Crossgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The River Between Usgrades 7–12
Is by Richard Peck, the same author, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
All the Blues in the Skygrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Caddie Woodlawn's Familygrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Carry On, Mr. Bowditchgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Dicey's Songgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Gay Neck, The Story of a Pigeon & Ghond The Huntergrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Ginger Pyegrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like A Year Down Yonder for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2000s).
  • My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann · grades K–3 — Same genre (JUVENILE FICTION), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2000s).
  • A Story, a Story by Gail E. Haley · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like A Year Down Yonder for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • It's Like This Cat by Emily Neville · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like A Year Down Yonder for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • It's Like This Cat by Emily Neville · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like A Year Down Yonder for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Beasts by Ingvild Bjerkeland · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Gone Wolf by Amber McBride · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to A Year Down Yonder?
The 10 closest matches to A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck on ReadingList include A Season of Gifts, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, Criss Cross, The River Between Us, and All the Blues in the Sky. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like A Year Down Yonder reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–7), 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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