Books like Fathers and Sons

If you liked Fathers and Sons, read Dairy Queen, Forged by Fire, or Master Harold...and the Boys — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev (Realistic Fiction · grades 9–10)? 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 9–10 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Fathers and Sons

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Why each is a match

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Dairy Queengrades 9–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Forged by Firegrades 7–10
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Master Harold...and the Boysgrades 9–10
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–10). Amazon → books like this →
My Sister's Keepergrades 9–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Perfect Chemistrygrades 9–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Stargirlgrades 6–9
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Metamorphosisgrades 9–10
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–10). Amazon → books like this →
The Second Summer of the Sisterhoodgrades 9–12
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsgrades 7–10
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →
Touching Spirit Beargrades 6–9
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Fathers and Sons for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Sign Painter by Allen Say · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • A Boy, a Dog and a Frog by Mercer Mayer · grades K–1 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Amos & Boris by William Steig · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Fathers and Sons for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Sign Painter by Allen Say · grades 2–3 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Albert by Donna Jo Napoli · grades 3–5 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
  • Alligator Sue by Sharon Arms Doucet · grades 3–5 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2000s).

Books like Fathers and Sons for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Boy at War by Harry Mazer · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
  • Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell · 890L — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
  • Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
  • Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine · grades 3–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
  • Hoot by Carl Hiaasen · 760L — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2000s).

Books like Fathers and Sons for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri · grades 11–12 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner · grades 11–12 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky · grades 11–12 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Selected Stories by Katherine Mansfield · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2000s).
  • The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow · grades 11–12 — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Fathers and Sons?
The 10 closest matches to Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev on ReadingList include Dairy Queen, Forged by Fire, Master Harold...and the Boys, My Sister's Keeper, and Perfect Chemistry. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 9–10), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Fathers and Sons reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 9–10), 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.

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