Books like Criss Cross
If you liked Criss Cross, read A Year Down Yonder, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, or All the Blues in the Sky — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Closest match: A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
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Looking for books like Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (Juvenile Fiction · grades 3–7)? 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 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.
10 books similar to Criss Cross
A Year Down YonderRichard Peck
Crispin: The Cross of LeadAvi
All the Blues in the SkyRenée Watson
Caddie Woodlawn's FamilyCarol Ryrie Brink
Carry On, Mr. BowditchJean Lee Latham
Dicey's SongCynthia Voigt
Gay Neck, The Story of a Pigeon & Ghond The HunterDhan Gopal Mukerji
Ginger PyeEleanor Estes
Hitty Her First Hundred YearsRachel Field
It's Like This CatEmily Neville
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Why each is a match
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- A Year Down Yondergrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- Crispin: The Cross of Leadgrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- All the Blues in the Skygrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- Caddie Woodlawn's Familygrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- Carry On, Mr. Bowditchgrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- Dicey's Songgrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- Gay Neck, The Story of a Pigeon & Ghond The Huntergrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- Ginger Pyegrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- Hitty Her First Hundred Yearsgrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
- It's Like This Catgrades 3–7
- Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
More like this
Same grade band, chosen by theme and by how many reading lists carry them. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Time for AndrewMary Downing HahnAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 7 reading lists
Grades 4–6 · 179 pages
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Jennifer Murdley's ToadBruce CovilleAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 2 reading lists
Grades 4–8 · 177 pages
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King of the WindMarguerite HenryAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 2 reading lists
Grades 3–7 · 184 pages
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The Girl with the Silver EyesWillo Davis RobertsAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 2 reading lists
Grades 4–6 · 196 pages
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The Man Who Loved ClownsJune Rae WoodAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 2 reading lists
Grades 4–6 · 225 pages
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Buffalo DreamerViolet DuncanAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–5 · 129 pages
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DonutheadSue StauffacherAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 1 reading list
Grades 3–8 · 178 pages
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FifteenBeverly ClearyAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 1 reading list
Grades 4–8 · 260 pages
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Jacob Have I LovedKatherine PatersonAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 1 reading list
Grades 3–7 · 262 pages
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Johnny TremainEsther Hoskins ForbesAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 1 reading list
Grades 3–7 · 306 pages
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Miss HickoryCarolyn Sherwin BaileyAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 1 reading list
Grades 3–7 · 136 pages
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Onion JohnJoseph KrumgoldAlso Juvenile Fiction · on 1 reading list
Grades 3–7 · 268 pages
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Books like Criss Cross for elementary readers (grades 3–5)
Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.
- Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
- Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
- King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
- Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
- Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
Books like Criss Cross for middle school (grades 6–8)
Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 6–8— same scoring, different audience.
- Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
- Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
- King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
- Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
- Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
Common questions
- What books are similar to Criss Cross?
- The 10 closest matches to Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins on ReadingList include A Year Down Yonder, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, All the Blues in the Sky, Caddie Woodlawn's Family, and Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
- Are books like Criss Cross reading-level appropriate?
- Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–7), 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.