Books like Chains

Looking for books like Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) · 780L · grades 5–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of slavery, freedom, and resilience. 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 5–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Chains

Why each is a match

The War That Saved My Life580L
Shares themes of freedom and resilience, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (580L vs 780L).
Esperanza Rising750L
Shares themes of resilience and a close reading level (750L vs 780L).
Island of the Blue Dolphins1000L
Shares themes of resilience, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (1000L vs 780L).
Inside Out & Back Again800L
Shares themes of resilience and a close reading level (800L vs 780L).
Pax760L
Shares themes of loyalty and a close reading level (760L vs 780L).
The Outsiders750L
Shares themes of loyalty and a close reading level (750L vs 780L).
I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)830L
Shares themes of resilience and a close reading level (830L vs 780L).
The Witch of Blackbird Pond850L
Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)) and a close reading level (850L vs 780L).
A Single Shard920L
Same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), a close reading level (920L vs 780L), and the same era (2000s).
Anthem880L
Shares themes of freedom and a close reading level (880L vs 780L).

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