Books like Close to Famous

If you liked Close to Famous, read A Dog Called Homeless, After Ever After, or Anything But Typical — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Close to Famous by Joan Bauer? 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 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Close to Famous

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Why each is a match

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A Dog Called Homelessgrades 3–6
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
After Ever Aftergrades 5–8
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Anything But Typicalgrades 5–8
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
As Brave As Yougrades 4–7
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Becoming Naomi Leon (Scholastic Gold)grades 4–7
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Cursedgrades 7–12
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Fish in a Tree550L
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Handbook for Dragon Slayersgrades 4–7
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Hurt Go Happygrades 7–10
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddessgrades 4–7
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like Close to Famous for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Song for A Whale by Lynne Kelly · grades 4–7 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley · 580L — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Una niña llamada Rose / Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin · grades 4–7 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor · grades 5–8 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick · grades 4–7 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Close to Famous for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John · grades 8–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein · grades 8–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Small Steps by Louis Sachar · grades 6–9 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Song for A Whale by Lynne Kelly · grades 4–7 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen · grades 7–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Close to Famous for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro · grades 9–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John · grades 8–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Girls Like Us by Gail Giles · grades 9–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork · grades 9–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein · grades 8–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list and the same era (2010s).

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

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