Books like Fowl Play

If you liked Fowl Play, read The Sherlock Society, Final Word (The Winterton Deception #1), or A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Fowl Play by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb (Middle Grade Mystery · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of mystery, family, and grief. 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 Fowl Play

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Why each is a match

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The Sherlock Societygrades 4–8
Shares themes of mystery and family, both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Mystery). Amazon →
Final Word (The Winterton Deception #1)grades 3–7
Shares themes of mystery and family, same genre (Middle Grade Mystery), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hallgrades 3–6
Shares themes of mystery, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Mystery). Amazon →
Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead Housegrades 3–7
Shares themes of mystery and family, same genre (Middle Grade Mystery), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
The Boxcar Children490L
Shares themes of mystery and family, same genre (Middle Grade Mystery), and overlapping grades (2–4). Amazon →
All the Lovely Bad Onesgrades 5–8
Shares themes of mystery and family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Dear Mr. Henshawgrades 4–6
Shares themes of family and grief, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Old Yellergrades 5–8
Shares themes of family and grief, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
The Crossover750L
Shares themes of family and grief, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
The Lost Yeargrades 6–8
Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon →

Books like Fowl Play for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande · grades K–3 — Shares themes of family and grief and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • A Mischief of Mice by Christie Matheson · grades K–3 — Shares themes of mystery, both on the Colorado Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Picture Purrfect (Bodega Cats #1) by Hilda Eunice Burgos · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–4).
  • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).

Books like Fowl Play for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of family and grief, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–7).
  • Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of family and grief and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande · grades K–3 — Shares themes of family and grief and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Duel by Jessixa Bagley · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of family and grief and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of family and grief and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like Fowl Play for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of family and grief, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–7).
  • Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of family and grief and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Duel by Jessixa Bagley · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of family and grief and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of family and grief and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of mystery and family and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like Fowl Play for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

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

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