Books like Ground Zero

If you liked Ground Zero, read Heroes, Allies, or 96 Miles — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Ground Zero by Alan Gratz? 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 6–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Ground Zero

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Why each is a match

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Heroesgrades 6–8
Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Alliesgrades 5–9
Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon → books like this →
96 Milesgrades 6–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
A Royal Conundrumgrades 3–6
Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Amari and the Night Brothersgrades 4–7
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Black Brother, Black Brothergrades 5–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Confetti Girlgrades 6–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Ferrisgrades 3–6
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Simon Sort of Saysgrades 6–8
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
The Fortgrades 6–8
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Ground Zero for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third III · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Beanie the Bansheenie by Eoin Colfer · grades 2–5 — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list and the same era (2020s).
  • Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb · grades K–2 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and the same era (2020s).

Books like Ground Zero for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Two Degrees by Alan Gratz · grades 5–8 — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Odder by Katherine Applegate · grades 3–5 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+3 more shared lists) and the same era (2020s).
  • Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie · grades 3–5 — Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2020s).

Books like Ground Zero for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Two Degrees by Alan Gratz · grades 5–8 — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer · grades 7–10 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2020s).
  • The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 3–7 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2020s).

Books like Ground Zero for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Is by Alan Gratz, the same author, both on the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer · grades 7–10 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2020s).
  • Eragon by Christopher Paolini · grades 6–9 — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+2 more shared lists) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas · 590L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list).

Common questions

What books are similar to Ground Zero?
The 10 closest matches to Ground Zero by Alan Gratz on ReadingList include Heroes, Allies, 96 Miles, A Royal Conundrum, and Amari and the Night Brothers. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 6–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Ground Zero reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 6–8), 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.

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