Books like Flaming Arrows

If you liked Flaming Arrows, read Brighty of the Grand Canyon, Little Vic, or Project Mulberry — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Flaming Arrows by William O. Steele (Realistic Fiction · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of frontier and pioneer life, indians of north america, and prejudices. 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 4–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Flaming Arrows

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

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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.

Brighty of the Grand Canyongrades 4–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Little Vicgrades 4–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Project Mulberrygrades 3–8
Shares themes of prejudices, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Two Suns in the Skygrades 6–10
Shares themes of prejudices, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–10). Amazon → books like this →
Worthgrades 4–8
Shares themes of frontier and pioneer life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Airball: My Life in Briefsgrades 6–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Bristle Facegrades 4–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Daphne's Bookgrades 4–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Dovey Coegrades 6–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Ghost730L
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Flaming Arrows for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Frog Went A-Courtin' by John M. Langstaff · grades K–3 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1950s).
  • Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik · grades K–1 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1950s).
  • ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third III · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • A Boy, a Dog and a Frog by Mercer Mayer · grades K–1 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech · grades K–3 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Flaming Arrows for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes · 360L — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Harry Cat's Pet Puppy by George Selden · grades 4–8 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Henry Reed's Babysitting Service by Keith Robertson · grades 4–6 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park · grades 5–8 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

Books like Flaming Arrows for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes · 360L — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Harry Cat's Pet Puppy by George Selden · grades 4–8 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Henry Reed's Babysitting Service by Keith Robertson · grades 4–6 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Mick Harte Was Here by Barbara Park · grades 5–8 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

Books like Flaming Arrows for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney · grades 9–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1950s).
  • The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1950s).
  • A Door Near Here by Heather Quarles · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • A Sudden Silence by Eve Bunting · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Flaming Arrows?
The 10 closest matches to Flaming Arrows by William O. Steele on ReadingList include Brighty of the Grand Canyon, Little Vic, Project Mulberry, Two Suns in the Sky, and Worth. Each is scored on shared themes (frontier and pioneer life, indians of north america, and prejudices), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Flaming Arrows reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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.

← Back to Flaming Arrows

Browse by another angle