Books like Hello, Universe

Looking for books like Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly (Middle Grade Fiction · 690L · grades 3–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of Filipino-American identity, friendship, and neurodivergence (deafness, anxiety). 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 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Hello, Universe

Why each is a match

Wonder790L
Shares themes of friendship and bullying, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (790L vs 690L).
Fish in a Tree550L
Shares themes of friendship and bullying, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (550L vs 690L).
Out of My Mind700L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (700L vs 690L).
Pax760L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (760L vs 690L).
Holes660L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (660L vs 690L).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants720L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 690L).
The BFG720L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 690L).
Hoot760L
Shares themes of friendship and bullying and a close reading level (760L vs 690L).
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (610L vs 690L).
The Cricket in Times Square780L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (780L vs 690L).

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