Books like Crime and Punishment

If you liked Crime and Punishment, read As I Lay Dying, Barber Shop Chronicles, or Everything, Everything — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Realistic Fiction · grades 11–12)? 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 11–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Crime and Punishment

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Why each is a match

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As I Lay Dyinggrades 11–12
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (11–12). Amazon → books like this →
Barber Shop Chroniclesgrades 11–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (11–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Everything, Everythinggrades 9–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Patron Saints of Nothinggrades 9–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Sweatgrades 11–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (11–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
The Adventures of Augie Marchgrades 11–12
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (11–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Namesakegrades 11–12
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (11–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Overstorygrades 11–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (11–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
The Sun is Also a Stargrades 9–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Those Who Wish Me Deadgrades 9–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Crime and Punishment for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • A Boy, a Dog and a Frog by Mercer Mayer · grades K–1 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Amos & Boris by William Steig · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman · grades K–1 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings · grades K–3 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Chester by Mélanie Watt · grades K–3 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).

Books like Crime and Punishment for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold · grades 3–5 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • A Boy Named Queen by Sara Cassidy · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Aliens Are Coming! by Megan McCarthy · grades 3–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Amos & Boris by William Steig · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Crime and Punishment for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • A Boy Named Queen by Sara Cassidy · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Aliens Are Coming! by Megan McCarthy · grades 3–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Ava and Pip by Carol Weston · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Backlash by Sarah Darer Littman · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).

Books like Crime and Punishment for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev · grades 9–10 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Master Harold...and the Boys by Athol Fugard · grades 9–10 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Crime and Punishment?
The 10 closest matches to Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky on ReadingList include As I Lay Dying, Barber Shop Chronicles, Everything, Everything, Patron Saints of Nothing, and Sweat. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 11–12), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Crime and Punishment reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 11–12), 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.

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