Books like Game Changer

If you liked Game Changer, read Million-Dollar Throw, Athlete vs. Mathlete, or Ghost — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Game Changer by Tommy Greenwald (Sports Fiction · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of football, injury, and truth. 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 5–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Game Changer

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Why each is a match

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Million-Dollar Throwgrades 5–8
Shares themes of football, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list, and same genre (Sports Fiction). Amazon →
Athlete vs. Mathletegrades 3–5
Both on the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards), Grades 3-5 & Grades 6-8 divisions list, same genre (Sports Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
Ghost730L
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
New Kidgrades 4–8
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Smile410L
Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
The Crossover750L
Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Wonder790L
Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Allergicgrades 4–6
Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Bink & Golliegrades 2–8
Same genre (Sports Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →

Books like Game Changer for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • So B. It by Sarah Weeks · grades 5–8 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan · 740L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson · grades 5–8 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass · grades 3–5 — Both on the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards), Grades 3-5 & Grades 6-8 divisions list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s).
  • A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold · grades 3–5 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Game Changer for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • So B. It by Sarah Weeks · grades 5–8 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan · 740L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson · grades 5–8 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • A Corner of the Universe by Ann M. Martin · grades 5–8 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz · grades 4–7 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Game Changer for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Legend by Marie Lu · grades 6–9 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans · grades 6–9 — Both on the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards), Grades 3-5 & Grades 6-8 divisions list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list, overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2010s).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson · grades 7–12 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list, overlapping grades (7–12), 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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