What books are similar to Girl in a Cage?

The 10 closest matches to Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen on ReadingList include The Devil's Arithmetic, Magyk, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Stranger with My Face, and The Search for Delicious. Each is scored on shared themes (princesses, childhood and youth, and history), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Girl in a Cage reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–8), 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 Girl in a Cage

If you liked Girl in a Cage, read The Devil's Arithmetic, Magyk, or Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Looking for books like Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen (Fantasy · grades 3–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of princesses, childhood and youth, and history. 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 3–8 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.

The Devil's Arithmetic730L: Is by Jane Yolen, the same author, shares themes of history, and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →
Magykgrades 3–8: Shares themes of fantasy fiction, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabangrades 4–8: Shares themes of fantasy fiction, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon → books like this →
Stranger with My Facegrades 6–8: Shares themes of fantasy fiction, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Search for Deliciousgrades 2–3: Shares themes of fantasy fiction, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (2–3). Amazon → books like this →
Trouble with Trollsgrades K–3: Shares themes of fantasy fiction, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Amari and the Night Brothersgrades 4–7: Both on the Blue Hen Book Award (Delaware Library Association, Youth Services Division) — Middle Readers division list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Owl Moongrades K–3: Is by Jane Yolen, the same author and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
The Sword of Summergrades 3–8: Both on the Blue Hen Book Award (Delaware Library Association, Youth Services Division) — Middle Readers division list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Wishing Spellgrades 3–8: Both on the Blue Hen Book Award (Delaware Library Association, Youth Services Division) — Middle Readers division list, same genre (Fantasy), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Girl in a Cage for younger readers (K–2)

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

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (2–8).
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (K–3).
Enchanted Wood by Ruth Sanderson · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (K–3).
Eyes of the Dragon by Margaret Leaf · grades K–3 — Same genre (Fantasy) and overlapping grades (K–3).
Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Girl in a Cage for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Boy at War by Harry Mazer · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (4–6).
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (2–8).
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins · grades 4–7 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).
Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism by Georgia Byng · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2000s).
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2000s).

Books like Girl in a Cage for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

12 Again by Sue Corbett · grades 6–8 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2000s).
Boy at War by Harry Mazer · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (4–6).
Eragon by Christopher Paolini · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s).
Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass · grades 6–8 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2000s).
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Girl in a Cage for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen · grades 9–12 — Is by Jane Yolen, the same author and shares themes of history.
The Darkangel by Meredith Ann Pierce · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of fantasy fiction and same genre (Fantasy).
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín · grades 9–10 — Shares themes of history.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Fantasy), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s).
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of history.

Common questions

What books are similar to Girl in a Cage?: The 10 closest matches to Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen on ReadingList include The Devil's Arithmetic, Magyk, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Stranger with My Face, and The Search for Delicious. Each is scored on shared themes (princesses, childhood and youth, and history), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Girl in a Cage reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–8), 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 Girl in a Cage