Books like Breathing Room

If you liked Breathing Room, read A Night Divided, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie, or El Deafo — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Breathing Room by Marsha Hayles? 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 Breathing Room

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audible30-day trial

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

A Night Dividedgrades 5–8
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Piegrades 6–9
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
El Deafo420L
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Librarygrades 4–6
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Matchedgrades 6–8
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
One for the Murphysgrades 6–8
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Out of My Mind700L
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Refugee800L
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Resistancegrades 6–8
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Restart730L
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like Breathing Room for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass · grades 3–5 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea · grades 3–5 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs · grades 3–5 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley · 580L — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • White Bird by R.J. Palacio · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).

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

← Back to Breathing Room