Books like Breaking into Sunlight

If you liked Breaking into Sunlight, read All the Ways to Go, Not Nothing, or Between Two Brothers — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Breaking into Sunlight by John Cochran (Middle Grade Fiction · grades 6–8)? 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 6–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Breaking into Sunlight

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Why each is a match

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All the Ways to Gogrades 6–8
Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Not Nothinggrades 4–8
Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Between Two Brothersgrades 4–8
Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Boy 2.0grades 4–8
Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Confessions of a Class Clowngrades 6–8
Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Control Freaksgrades 6–8
Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Countdown to Yesterdaygrades 3–6
Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Groundedgrades 4–8
Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Jawbreakergrades 3–7
Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Just Keep Walkinggrades 3–6
Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Breaking into Sunlight for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • 100 Chapatis by Derek Mascarenhas · grades K–2 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi · grades K–2 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Brave Baby Hummingbird by Sy Montgomery · grades K–2 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Daughter of the Light-Footed People by Belen Medina · grades K–2 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).

Books like Breaking into Sunlight for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Finding Normal by Stephanie Faris · grades 3–5 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
  • The One and Only Family by Katherine Applegate · grades 3–5 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
  • A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser · grades 4–5 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • High Score by Destiny Howell · grades 4–5 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • J vs. K by Kwame Alexander & Jerry Craft · grades 3–5 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction) and the same era (2020s).

Books like Breaking into Sunlight for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Oliver's Great Big Universe by Jorge Cham · grades 3–6 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
  • Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride · grades 3–6 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
  • Operation Final Notice by Matthew Landis · grades 4–8 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Popcorn by Rob Harrell · grades 4–8 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2020s).

Books like Breaking into Sunlight for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Conditions of a Heart by Bethany Mangle · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Rise by Freya Finch · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • The Beasts in Your Brain by Katherine Speller · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • The Dark Becomes Her by Judy I. Lin · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • The Revenant Games by Margie Fuston · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mississippi Magnolia Book Award list and the same era (2020s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Breaking into Sunlight?
The 10 closest matches to Breaking into Sunlight by John Cochran on ReadingList include All the Ways to Go, Not Nothing, Between Two Brothers, Boy 2.0, and Confessions of a Class Clown. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 6–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Breaking into Sunlight reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 6–8), 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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