What books are similar to Call Me Hope?

The 10 closest matches to Call Me Hope by Gretchen Olson on ReadingList include Class Clown, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, A Fine, Fine School, Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa, and Mr. Lincoln's Way. Each is scored on shared themes (child abuse, stress (physiology), and schools), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Call Me Hope reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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.

Books like Call Me Hope

If you liked Call Me Hope, read Class Clown, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, or A Fine, Fine School — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Call Me Hope by Gretchen Olson (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–5)? It’s most often read for its themes of child abuse, stress (physiology), and schools. 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 3–5 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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.

Class Clowngrades 3–5: Shares themes of schools, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Lilly's Purple Plastic Pursegrades K–3: Shares themes of schools, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
A Fine, Fine Schoolgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoagrades 2–3: Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–3). Amazon → books like this →
Mr. Lincoln's Waygrades 3–8: Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Girl Who Could Flygrades 4–6: Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Albertgrades 3–5: Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Avalon Highgrades 3–5: Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Daphne's Bookgrades 4–8: Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Don't Hurt Lauriegrades 4–8: Shares themes of child abuse, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Call Me Hope for younger readers (K–2)

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

Herbie's Troubles by Carol Chapman · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Hoodwinked by Arthur Howard · grades K–2 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester · grades K–3 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Hungry Hen by Richard Waring · grades K–2 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont · grades K–2 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Call Me Hope for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Eight Keys by Suzanne M. LaFleur · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Flying Solo by Ralph J. Fletcher · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of schools and mothers and daughters and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Call Me Hope for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson by Carol Lynch Williams · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of child abuse and mothers and daughters and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of child abuse and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Eight Keys by Suzanne M. LaFleur · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Flying Solo by Ralph J. Fletcher · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Call Me Hope for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson by Carol Lynch Williams · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of child abuse and mothers and daughters and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
After by Francine Prose · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of child abuse and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of child abuse and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Fire on the Mountain by Anita Desai · grades 9–10 — Shares themes of mothers and daughters and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Call Me Hope?: The 10 closest matches to Call Me Hope by Gretchen Olson on ReadingList include Class Clown, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, A Fine, Fine School, Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa, and Mr. Lincoln's Way. Each is scored on shared themes (child abuse, stress (physiology), and schools), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Call Me Hope reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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.

← Back to Call Me Hope