Books like Champ

If you liked Champ, read Refugee, Restart, or Because of Winn-Dixie — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Champ by Marcia Thornton Jones? 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.

10 books similar to Champ

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Why each is a match

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Refugee800L
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon →
Restart730L
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Deep and Dark and Dangerousgrades 4–6
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Flushgrades 3–5
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Hoot760L
Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Nothing's Fair in Fifth Gradegrades 3–6
Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Please Write in this Bookgrades 3–5
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Ruby Hollergrades 3–5
Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →

Books like Champ for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Stolen Children by Peg Kehret · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan · 740L — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Champ for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Eragon by Christopher Paolini · grades 6–9 — Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list and the same era (2000s).
  • Stolen Children by Peg Kehret · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan · 740L — Both on the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Champ for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Eragon by Christopher Paolini · grades 6–9 — Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list and the same era (2000s).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list and the same era (2000s).
  • Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen · grades 6–9 — Both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list and the same era (2000s).

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

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