Books like Ghost Cadet

If you liked Ghost Cadet, read The Ghost of Fossil Glen, All the Lovely Bad Ones, or The Ghost's Grave — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Ghost Cadet by Elaine Marie Alphin (Horror · grades 3–5)? It’s most often read for its themes of campaigns, ghosts, and grandmothers. 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 3–5 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Ghost Cadet

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.

The Ghost of Fossil Glengrades 3–8
Shares themes of ghosts, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and same genre (Horror). Amazon → books like this →
All the Lovely Bad Onesgrades 5–8
Shares themes of ghosts, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and same genre (Horror). Amazon → books like this →
The Ghost's Gravegrades 3–8
Shares themes of ghosts, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and same genre (Horror). Amazon → books like this →
Wait Till Helen Comesgrades 4–7
Shares themes of ghosts, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and same genre (Horror). Amazon → books like this →
Ghost in the Housegrades 4–6
Shares themes of ghosts, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Horror at the Haunted Housegrades 4–6
Shares themes of ghosts, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
A Haunting in Williamsburggrades 3–5
Shares themes of ghosts, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Earthquake Terrorgrades 3–5
Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
The Cursed Moongrades 3–6
Shares themes of ghosts, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Ghost of Graylockgrades 5–8
Shares themes of ghosts, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Ghost Cadet for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Basket by George Ella Lyon · grades K–3 — Shares themes of grandmothers and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Akiak by Robert J. Blake · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1990s).
  • Beware of Boys by Tony Blundell · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1990s).
  • Copycat by Ruth Brown · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1990s).
  • Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Ghost Cadet for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Ghost on Saturday Night by Sid Fleischman · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of ghosts, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Because of You, John Lewis by Andrea Davis Pinkney · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of history, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of ghosts, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Hoops by Matt Tavares · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of history, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (3–5).
  • Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of history, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (3–8).

Books like Ghost Cadet for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Ghost on Saturday Night by Sid Fleischman · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of ghosts, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of ghosts, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of history, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Riding Freedom by Pam Muñoz Ryan · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • The Haunting by Joan Lowery Nixon · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of ghosts.

Books like Ghost Cadet for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Murder Among Friends by Candace Fleming · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of history and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
  • Now Let Me Fly: A Portrait of Eugene Bullard by Ronald Wimberly · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of history and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
  • The Haunting by Joan Lowery Nixon · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of ghosts.
  • A Door Near Here by Heather Quarles · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of campaigns.

Common questions

What books are similar to Ghost Cadet?
The 10 closest matches to Ghost Cadet by Elaine Marie Alphin on ReadingList include The Ghost of Fossil Glen, All the Lovely Bad Ones, The Ghost's Grave, Wait Till Helen Comes, and Ghost in the House. Each is scored on shared themes (campaigns, ghosts, and grandmothers), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–5), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Ghost Cadet reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–5), 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 Ghost Cadet

Browse by another angle