Books like Bad News for Outlaws

If you liked Bad News for Outlaws, read Elijah of Buxton (Scholastic Gold), Freewater, or New Kid — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Bad News for Outlaws by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson? 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 Bad News for Outlaws

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Why each is a match

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Elijah of Buxton (Scholastic Gold)grades 5–8
Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Freewatergrades 4–7
Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
New Kidgrades 4–8
Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon →
P.S. Be Elevengrades 5–8
Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Unspeakablegrades 3–7
Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
Day of Tearsgrades 7–12
Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Please Write in this Bookgrades 3–5
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Remembergrades 4–8
Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulanegrades 3–6
Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →

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

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

  • We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s).
  • When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead · 750L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s).
  • Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin · 810L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).

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

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

  • We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson · grades 4–8 — Both on the Coretta Scott King Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s).
  • When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead · 750L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2000s).
  • Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin · 810L — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).

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

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