Books like Ghost
Looking for books like Ghost by Jason Reynolds (Realistic Fiction · 730L · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of running, family violence, and mentorship. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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 Ghost
The Westing GameEllen Raskin · 750L
Walk Two MoonsSharon Creech · 770L
The CrossoverKwame Alexander · 750L
The Poet XElizabeth Acevedo · 800L
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
HootCarl Hiaasen · 760L
SpeakLaurie Halse Anderson · 690L
Ender's GameOrson Scott Card · 780L
I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)Malala Yousafzai · 830L- BlendedS.M.D.BlendedSharon M. Draper · 610L
Why each is a match
- The Westing Game750L
- Shares themes of identity and teamwork and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
- Walk Two Moons770L
- Shares themes of identity, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and a close reading level (770L vs 730L).
- The Crossover750L
- Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
- The Poet X800L
- Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (800L vs 730L).
- The Outsiders750L
- Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
- Hoot760L
- Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and a close reading level (760L vs 730L).
- Speak690L
- Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (690L vs 730L).
- Ender's Game780L
- Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (780L vs 730L).
- I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)830L
- Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (830L vs 730L).
- Blended610L
- Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (610L vs 730L).