Books like Ellie's Story

If you liked Ellie's Story, read Duke, Fudge, or Shiloh Season — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Ellie's Story by W. Bruce Cameron (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of working animals, search dogs, and human-animal relationships. 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 3–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Ellie's Story

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Why each is a match

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Dukegrades 3–5
Shares themes of human-animal relationships, both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
Fudgegrades 4–6
Shares themes of dogs, both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
Shiloh Seasongrades 3–6
Shares themes of dogs, both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
Saving Winslowgrades 3–8
Shares themes of human-animal relationships, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
¡Vamos! Let's Go Eatgrades 2–8
Shares themes of dogs, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Front Desk640L
Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
Ghost Boys360L
Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Mick Harte Was Heregrades 5–8
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
My Dog, My Herogrades 3–5
Shares themes of dogs, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
Star in the Stormgrades 2–8
Shares themes of dogs, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →

Books like Ellie's Story for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Lulu's Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • My Explosive Diary by Emily Gale · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of dogs and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Ellie's Story for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Ungifted by Gordon Korman · grades 5–8 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Wild Wings by Gill Lewis · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Attaboy, Sam! by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Ellie's Story for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Ungifted by Gordon Korman · grades 5–8 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Wild Wings by Gill Lewis · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Attaboy, Sam! by Lois Lowry · grades 4–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Ellie's Story 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 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
  • Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).

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

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