What books are similar to I Must Betray You?

The 10 closest matches to I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys on ReadingList include Check & Mate, Between Shades Of Gray, Dairy Queen, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie, and Everything, Everything. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 9–12), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like I Must Betray You reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 9–12), 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 I Must Betray You

If you liked I Must Betray You, read Check & Mate, Between Shades Of Gray, or Dairy Queen — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys (Realistic Fiction · grades 9–12)? 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 9–12 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.

Check & Mategrades 9–12: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Between Shades Of Graygrades 4–9: Is by Ruta Sepetys, the same author and overlapping grades (4–9). Amazon → books like this →
Dairy Queengrades 9–12: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Piegrades 6–9: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Everything, Everythinggrades 9–12: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
My Sister's Keepergrades 9–12: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Patron Saints of Nothinggrades 9–12: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Perfect Chemistrygrades 9–12: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Salt to the Sea560L: Is by Ruta Sepetys, the same author and overlapping grades (8–12). Amazon → books like this →
The Second Summer of the Sisterhoodgrades 9–12: Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →

Books like I Must Betray You for younger readers (K–2)

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

Except Antarctica! by Todd Sturgell · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Mr. Fox's Game of "No!" by David LaRochelle · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
The Yawns Are Coming by Christopher Eliopoulos · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Chester by Mélanie Watt · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like I Must Betray You for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes · grades 5–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Except Antarctica! by Todd Sturgell · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Mr. Fox's Game of "No!" by David LaRochelle · grades K–3 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Nubby’s Story by Aubre Andrus · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).

Books like I Must Betray You for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes · grades 5–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Nubby’s Story by Aubre Andrus · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
Aliens Are Coming! by Megan McCarthy · grades 3–6 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Chomp by Carl Hiaasen · grades 6–8 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like I Must Betray You for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta · grades 9–12 — Both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
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).
The Yield by Tara June Winch · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (11–12), and the same era (2020s).

Common questions

What books are similar to I Must Betray You?: The 10 closest matches to I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys on ReadingList include Check & Mate, Between Shades Of Gray, Dairy Queen, Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie, and Everything, Everything. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 9–12), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like I Must Betray You reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 9–12), 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.

← Back to I Must Betray You