What books are similar to Hummingbird?

The 10 closest matches to Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd on ReadingList include City of Thieves, City Spies, The Witching Wind, Zeus, Dog of Chaos, and Zia Erases the World. Each is scored on shared themes, 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 Hummingbird 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 Hummingbird

If you liked Hummingbird, read City of Thieves, City Spies, or The Witching Wind — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–8)? 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.

City of Thievesgrades 3–8: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
City Spiesgrades 4–6: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
The Witching Windgrades 3–6: Is by Natalie Lloyd, the same author, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Zeus, Dog of Chaosgrades 3–8: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Zia Erases the Worldgrades 3–8: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
A Boy Named Queengrades 3–8: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
A Snicker of Magic (Scholastic Gold)grades 3–10: Is by Natalie Lloyd, the same author and overlapping grades (3–10). Amazon → books like this →
Ava and Pipgrades 3–8: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Jobgrades 3–8: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Ban This Bookgrades 3–6: Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Hummingbird for younger readers (K–2)

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

¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third III · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
Summer Vamp by Violet Chan Karim · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
Swing by Audrey Meeker · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).

Books like Hummingbird for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Hostage by Willo Davis Roberts · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Loch by Paul Zindel · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like Hummingbird for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Hostage by Willo Davis Roberts · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Loch by Paul Zindel · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).

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

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

Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2020s).
The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2020s).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–9).
Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–10).
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–10).

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to Hummingbird