Books like Efren Divided
If you liked Efren Divided, read Frizzy, Lola, or Mexikid — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.
Looking for books like Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros? 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 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.
10 books similar to Efren Divided
FrizzyClaribel Ortega
LolaKarla Arenas Valenti
MexikidPedro Martín
The Last CuentistaDonna Barba Higuera
Enchanted AirMargarita Engle
I Lived on Butterfly HillMarjorie Agosín
Lucky Broken GirlRuth Behar
Sal and Gabi Break the UniverseCarlos Hernandez
The DreamerPam Muñoz Ryan
The Poet Slave of CubaMargarita Engle
Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.
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Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.
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Why each is a match
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- Frizzygrades 4–5
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–5), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
- Lolagrades 3–6
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
- Mexikidgrades 6–8
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list, overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
- The Last Cuentistagrades 4–7
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
- Enchanted Airgrades 6–10
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and overlapping grades (6–10). Amazon → books like this →
- I Lived on Butterfly Hillgrades 5–8
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
- Lucky Broken Girlgrades 5–8
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
- Sal and Gabi Break the Universegrades 4–7
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
- The Dreamergrades 4–7
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
- The Poet Slave of Cubagrades 7–12
- Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Books like Efren Divided for high school & teens (grades 9–12)
Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 9–12— same scoring, different audience.
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and the same era (2020s).
- Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and the same era (2020s).
- Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and the same era (2020s).
- How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and the same era (2020s).
- Saints of the Household by Ari Tison · grades 9–12 — Both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list and the same era (2020s).
Common questions
- What books are similar to Efren Divided?
- The 10 closest matches to Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros on ReadingList include Frizzy, Lola, Mexikid, The Last Cuentista, and Enchanted Air. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
- Are books like Efren Divided reading-level appropriate?
- Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–7), 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.