What books are similar to Ella Enchanted?

The 10 closest matches to Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine on ReadingList include Eragon, Gregor the Overlander, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Shiloh, and A Night Divided. Each is scored on shared themes (courage, fairy-tale, and independence), 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 Ella Enchanted 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.

Books like Ella Enchanted

If you liked Ella Enchanted, read Eragon, Gregor the Overlander, or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (Fantasy · grades 4–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of courage, fairy-tale, and independence. 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.

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audible30-day trial

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Eragongrades 6–9: Shares themes of courage, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Fantasy). Amazon →
Gregor the Overlandergrades 4–7: Shares themes of courage, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and same genre (Fantasy). Amazon →
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone880L: Shares themes of courage, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Shiloh890L: Shares themes of courage, both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
A Night Dividedgrades 5–8: Shares themes of courage, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Echo680L: Shares themes of courage, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25grades 6–9: Shares themes of courage, both on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →
Number the Stars670L: Shares themes of courage, both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Stormbreakergrades 5–8: Shares themes of courage, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
The False Princegrades 5–9: Shares themes of courage, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon →

Books like Ella Enchanted for younger readers (K–2)

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

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise · grades K–3 — Shares themes of courage and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaust by Elisa Boxer · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of courage and overlapping grades (2–5).
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis · 590L — Shares themes of courage and overlapping grades (2–5).
Just Like Millie by Lauren Castillo · grades K–3 — Shares themes of courage.
Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise · grades K–3 — Shares themes of courage.

Books like Ella Enchanted for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Shares themes of courage, both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–6).
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of courage, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of courage, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling · grades 4–8 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–8).

Books like Ella Enchanted for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Shares themes of courage, both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–6).
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of courage, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of courage, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling · grades 4–8 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–8).

Books like Ella Enchanted for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Fantasy).
Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of courage, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
Divergent by Veronica Roth · grades 8–12 — Shares themes of courage and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of courage, both on the Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of courage, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (7–10).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to Ella Enchanted