Books like An American Plague

If you liked An American Plague, read Almost Astronauts, Black Potatoes, or Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like An American Plague by Jim Murphy? 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 6–10 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to An American Plague

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Why each is a match

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Almost Astronautsgrades 5–9
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Black Potatoesgrades 6–10
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (6–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon920L
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Kakapo Rescuegrades 4–7
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
March Book Threegrades 9–12
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
The Girl Who Drew Butterfliesgrades 5–9
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
The Voice That Challenged a Nationgrades 6–10
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (6–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
The Wallgrades 5–9
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Twelve Days in Maygrades 4–8
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Mystery Fishgrades 6–10
Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and overlapping grades (6–10). Amazon →

Books like An American Plague for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet · grades 1–4 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard · grades K–3 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Funny Bones by Duncan Tonatiuh · grades 2–5 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).

Books like An American Plague for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet · grades 1–4 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard · grades K–3 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).
  • Funny Bones by Duncan Tonatiuh · grades 2–5 — Both on the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal list and the same era (2010s).

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

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