Books like Harris and Me

If you liked Harris and Me, read Lawn Boy, Nightjohn, or Dobry — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen (Realistic Fiction · grades 6–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of farm life, cousins, and boys. 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 Harris and Me

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Why each is a match

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Lawn Boygrades 2–8
Is by Gary Paulsen, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Nightjohngrades 6–8
Is by Gary Paulsen, the same author, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Dobrygrades 4–7
Shares themes of farm life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
El Chupacabrasgrades 3–6
Shares themes of farm life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Shiloh890L
Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Wild Wingsgrades 4–6
Shares themes of farm life, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaretgrades 4–6
Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Jobgrades 3–8
Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Cardboardgrades 6–8
Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Cliff-Hangergrades 4–6
Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Harris and Me for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nolen · grades K–3 — Shares themes of farm life, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Heart of a Tiger by Marsha Diane Arnold · grades K–3 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Mr. Tanen's Ties by Maryann Cocca-Leffler · grades K–3 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Arrowhawk by Lola M. Schaefer · grades K–3 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel · grades K–3 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Harris and Me for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm by Jerdine Nolen · grades K–3 — Shares themes of farm life, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Hatchet by Gary Paulsen · 1020L — Is by Gary Paulsen, the same author, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Heart of a Tiger by Marsha Diane Arnold · grades K–3 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • Mr. Tanen's Ties by Maryann Cocca-Leffler · grades K–3 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (1990s).
  • A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold · grades 3–5 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Harris and Me for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Hatchet by Gary Paulsen · 1020L — Is by Gary Paulsen, the same author, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Don't Hurt Laurie by Willo Davis Roberts · grades 4–8 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Fudge by Charlotte Towner Graeber · grades 4–6 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin · grades 4–6 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Harris and Me for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of farm life and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli · grades 6–9 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).

Common questions

What books are similar to Harris and Me?
The 10 closest matches to Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen on ReadingList include Lawn Boy, Nightjohn, Dobry, El Chupacabras, and Shiloh. Each is scored on shared themes (farm life, cousins, and boys), 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 Harris and Me 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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