Books like Bad

If you liked Bad, read Armageddon Summer, Breaking Boxes, or Ironman — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Bad by Jean Ferris (Realistic Fiction · 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 Bad

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Why each is a match

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Armageddon Summergrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Breaking Boxesgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Ironmangrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Shadow of the Dragongrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnesgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Only Alien on the Planetgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Silver Kissgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Ties That Bind, Ties That Breakgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
We All Fall Downgrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
A Sudden Silencegrades 9–12
Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Bad for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Don't Fidget a Feather! by Erica Silverman · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • High-Wire Henry by Mary Calhoun · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Livingstone Mouse by Pamela Duncan Edwards · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).

Books like Bad for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Don't Fidget a Feather! by Erica Silverman · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Grandpa's Teeth by Rod Clement · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • High-Wire Henry by Mary Calhoun · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Livingstone Mouse by Pamela Duncan Edwards · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).

Books like Bad for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos · grades 6–8 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Stonewords: A Ghost Story by Pam Conrad · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Weslandia by Paul Fleischman · grades 3–8 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • All About Sam by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Bad for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • After by Francine Prose · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).

Common questions

What books are similar to Bad?
The 10 closest matches to Bad by Jean Ferris on ReadingList include Armageddon Summer, Breaking Boxes, Ironman, Shadow of the Dragon, and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 9–12), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Bad reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 9–12), 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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