Are books like Hello, Universe reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–7), 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 Hello, Universe

If you liked Hello, Universe, read The First State of Being, Wonder, or Holes — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

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 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 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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The First State of Beinggrades 6–8: Is by Erin Entrada Kelly, the same author, shares themes of friendship, and both on the Newbery Medal list. Amazon → books like this →
Wonder790L: Shares themes of friendship and bullying, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Holes660L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Fish in a Tree550L: Shares themes of friendship and bullying, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (550L vs 690L). Amazon → books like this →
Out of My Mind700L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
The BFG720L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Restart730L: Shares themes of bullying, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (730L vs 690L). Amazon → books like this →
Pax760L: Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (760L vs 690L). Amazon → books like this →
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet820L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
The 13-Story Treehouse560L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Hello, Universe for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 690L).
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 690L).
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña · 610L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (610L vs 690L), and the same era (2010s).
Corduroy by Don Freeman · 600L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (600L vs 690L).

Books like Hello, Universe for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina · 700L — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (700L vs 690L).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (670L vs 690L).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 690L).
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead · 750L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (750L vs 690L).
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen · 760L — Shares themes of friendship and bullying and a close reading level (760L vs 690L).

Books like Hello, Universe for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina · 700L — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (700L vs 690L).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (670L vs 690L).
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead · 750L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (750L vs 690L).
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen · 760L — Shares themes of friendship and bullying and a close reading level (760L vs 690L).
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks · 780L — Shares themes of friendship and bullying and a close reading level (780L vs 690L).

Books like Hello, Universe for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship and bullying and overlapping grades (6–9).
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak · 730L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (730L vs 690L).
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck · 630L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (630L vs 690L).
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton · 750L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 690L).
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky · 720L — Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (720L vs 690L).

Common questions

What books are similar to Hello, Universe?: The 10 closest matches to Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly on ReadingList include The First State of Being, Wonder, Holes, Fish in a Tree, and Out of My Mind. Each is scored on shared themes (Filipino-American identity, friendship, and neurodivergence (deafness, anxiety)), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–7), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Hello, Universe reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–7), 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 2026-08-11. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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