Books like Escaping the Giant Wave

If you liked Escaping the Giant Wave, read Abduction, Because of Mr. Terupt, or Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret? 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 Escaping the Giant Wave

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Why each is a match

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Abductiongrades 3–6
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Because of Mr. Teruptgrades 3–5
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Librarygrades 4–6
Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Fudge-a-Maniagrades 3–6
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Mick Harte Was Heregrades 5–8
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
New Kidgrades 4–8
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Out of My Mind700L
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Restart730L
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Smile410L
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Superfudgegrades 3–6
Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like Escaping the Giant Wave for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd · grades 4–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 5–8 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+3 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo · 610L — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+3 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (3–5).

Books like Escaping the Giant Wave for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Scythe by Neal Shusterman · grades 7–12 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
  • The Best School Year Ever by Barbara Robinson · grades 3–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Doom Stone by Paul Zindel · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd · grades 4–6 — Both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Escaping the Giant Wave for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Scythe by Neal Shusterman · grades 7–12 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2010s).
  • The Doom Stone by Paul Zindel · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Legend by Marie Lu · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), 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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