What books are similar to Fourth Grade Rats?

The 10 closest matches to Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli on ReadingList include Crash, Red Kayak, Dogtown, Each Kindness, and Eight Keys. Each is scored on shared themes (conduct of life, schools, and friendship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Fourth Grade Rats reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–6), 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 Fourth Grade Rats

If you liked Fourth Grade Rats, read Crash, Red Kayak, or Dogtown — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Closest match: Crash by Jerry Spinelli — shares conduct of life and friendship

Get it on Amazon →

Affiliate link: as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Looking for books like Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli (Realistic Fiction · grades 4–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of conduct of life, schools, and friendship. 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 4–6 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 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.

Crashgrades 3–8: Is by Jerry Spinelli, the same author, shares themes of conduct of life and friendship, and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Red Kayakgrades 6–8: Shares themes of conduct of life and friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Dogtowngrades 3–6: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Each Kindnessgrades 3–8: Shares themes of schools and friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Eight Keysgrades 4–6: Shares themes of schools and friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Sixth Grade Can Really Kill Yougrades 3–8: Shares themes of schools and school stories, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
There's a Girl in My Hammerlockgrades 6–8: Is by Jerry Spinelli, the same author, shares themes of schools, and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Class Clowngrades 3–5: Shares themes of schools, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Mr. Lincoln's Waygrades 3–8: Shares themes of schools, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Real Friendsgrades 2–8: Shares themes of schools and friendship, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Fourth Grade Rats for younger readers (K–2)

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

Rotten Teeth by Laura Simms · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian · grades K–3 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Don't Need Friends by Carolyn Crimi · grades K–2 — Shares themes of friendship and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Mr. Tanen's Ties by Maryann Cocca-Leffler · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Fourth Grade Rats for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Rotten Teeth by Laura Simms · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli · grades 3–6 — Is by Jerry Spinelli, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Is by Jerry Spinelli, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian · grades K–3 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Schooled by Gordon Korman · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of school stories, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Fourth Grade Rats for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli · grades 3–6 — Is by Jerry Spinelli, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Is by Jerry Spinelli, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Schooled by Gordon Korman · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of school stories, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Shoeshine Girl by Clyde Robert Bulla · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli · grades 6–9 — Is by Jerry Spinelli, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).

Books like Fourth Grade Rats for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of conduct of life and schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli · grades 6–9 — Is by Jerry Spinelli, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Fourth Grade Rats?: The 10 closest matches to Fourth Grade Rats by Jerry Spinelli on ReadingList include Crash, Red Kayak, Dogtown, Each Kindness, and Eight Keys. Each is scored on shared themes (conduct of life, schools, and friendship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Fourth Grade Rats reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–6), 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 Fourth Grade Rats