Books like Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Looking for books like Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin (Young Adult Nonfiction / History · 920L · grades 6–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of history, science and ethics, and war. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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 6–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon

Why each is a match

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You1000L
Shares themes of American history, same genre (Young Adult Nonfiction / History), and a close reading level (1000L vs 920L).
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—19631000L
Shares themes of history and a close reading level (1000L vs 920L).
All Quiet on the Western Front830L
Shares themes of war and a close reading level (830L vs 920L).
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH790L
Shares themes of science and ethics and a close reading level (790L vs 920L).
Ender's Game780L
Shares themes of war and a close reading level (780L vs 920L).
Pax760L
Shares themes of war and a close reading level (760L vs 920L).
A Long Walk to Water720L
Shares themes of war and a close reading level (720L vs 920L).
Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy720L
Shares themes of war and a close reading level (720L vs 920L).
Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults)1130L
Same genre (Young Adult Nonfiction / History), a close reading level (1130L vs 920L), and the same era (2010s).
The Parker Inheritance610L
Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (6–8).

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