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.

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

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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 →

Books like Criss Cross for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2000s).
  • My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann · grades K–3 — Same genre (JUVENILE FICTION), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (2000s).
  • A Story, a Story by Gail E. Haley · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction) and overlapping grades (K–3).

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).
  • Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • 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).
  • 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).
  • Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).

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).
  • Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • 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).
  • 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).
  • Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).

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

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

  • Beasts by Ingvild Bjerkeland · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Gone Wolf by Amber McBride · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

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.

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