Books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous

If you liked Deep and Dark and Dangerous, read One for Sorrow, Closed for the Season, or Because of Winn-Dixie — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn? 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Deep and Dark and Dangerous

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Why each is a match

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One for Sorrowgrades 4–6
Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Closed for the Seasongrades 3–8
Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Ruby Hollergrades 3–5
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Stolen Childrengrades 4–6
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The City of Embergrades 4–6
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Hunger Games810L
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)740L
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+4 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulanegrades 3–6
Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Sea of Monstersgrades 4–6
Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 3–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 3–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Is by Mary Downing Hahn, the same author, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous 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 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen · grades 5–9 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Eragon by Christopher Paolini · grades 6–9 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s).
  • Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli · grades 6–9 — Both on the Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Deep and Dark and Dangerous?
The 10 closest matches to Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn on ReadingList include One for Sorrow, Closed for the Season, Because of Winn-Dixie, Ruby Holler, and Stolen Children. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Deep and Dark and Dangerous reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–6), 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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