Books like An American Story

If you liked An American Story, read Out of Wonder, The Undefeated, or Swim Team — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like An American Story by Kwame Alexander (Social Science · grades K–3)? 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 K–3 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to An American Story

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Why each is a match

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Out of Wondergrades K–3
Is by Kwame Alexander, the same author, both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Undefeatedgrades 2–6
Is by Kwame Alexander, the same author, both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, and overlapping grades (2–6). Amazon → books like this →
Swim Teamgrades 3–7
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
There Was a Party for Langstongrades K–5
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Unspeakablegrades 3–7
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
A Journey Under the Seagrades 2–5
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
A Lot to Like!grades 2–5
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Beautiful Blackbirdgrades K–5
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Biggrades K–5
Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Bluegrades K–4
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (K–4), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →

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

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

  • Fox Has a Problem by Corey R. Tabor · grades 2–5 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (2020s).
  • Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer · grades 2–5 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (2–5), and the same era (2020s).
  • Me & Mama by Cozbi A. Cabrera · grades K–5 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (2020s).
  • My Daddy Is a Cowboy by Stephanie Seales · grades K–3 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2020s).
  • R-E-S-P-E-C-T by Carole Boston Weatherford · grades K–3 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2020s).

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

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

  • A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga · grades 4–5 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston · grades 4–7 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Chinese Menu by Grace Lin · grades 3–10 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2020s).
  • Class Act by Jerry Craft · grades 4–8 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Curlfriends: New in Town (a Graphic Novel) by Sharee Miller · grades 3–8 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2020s).

Books like An American Story for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston · grades 4–7 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Chinese Menu by Grace Lin · grades 3–10 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2020s).
  • Class Act by Jerry Craft · grades 4–8 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Curlfriends: New in Town (a Graphic Novel) by Sharee Miller · grades 3–8 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Duel by Jessixa Bagley · grades 4–8 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).

Books like An American Story for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Chinese Menu by Grace Lin · grades 3–10 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2020s).
  • Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt · grades 6–9 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Root Magic by Eden Royce · grades 5–12 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).

Common questions

What books are similar to An American Story?
The 10 closest matches to An American Story by Kwame Alexander on ReadingList include Out of Wonder, The Undefeated, Swim Team, There Was a Party for Langston, and Unspeakable. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades K–3), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like An American Story reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades K–3), 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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