Books like Dragonwings

Looking for books like Dragonwings by Laurence Yep (Historical Fiction · 870L · grades 6–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of immigration, Chinese-American experience, and family. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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 6–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Dragonwings

Why each is a match

Bud, Not Buddy950L
Shares themes of family and perseverance, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (950L vs 870L).
Inside Out & Back Again800L
Shares themes of immigration and family and a close reading level (800L vs 870L).
Refugee800L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (800L vs 870L).
One Crazy Summer750L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 870L).
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—19631000L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (1000L vs 870L).
A Long Walk to Water720L
Shares themes of perseverance, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 870L).
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry920L
Same genre (Historical Fiction), a close reading level (920L vs 870L), and the same era (1970s).
Where the Red Fern Grows700L
Shares themes of family and perseverance and a close reading level (700L vs 870L).
Shiloh890L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (890L vs 870L).
A Single Shard920L
Shares themes of perseverance and a close reading level (920L vs 870L).

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