Books like Jacob Have I Loved

If you liked Jacob Have I Loved, read Bridge to Terabithia, Dicey's Song, or A Year Down Yonder — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson (Juvenile Fiction · grades 3–7)? 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.

10 books similar to Jacob Have I Loved

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Why each is a match

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Bridge to Terabithia810L
Is by Katherine Paterson, the same author, both on the Newbery Medal list, and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Dicey's Songgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
A Year Down Yondergrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
All the Blues in the Skygrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Caddie Woodlawn's Familygrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Carry On, Mr. Bowditchgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Crispin: The Cross of Leadgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Criss Crossgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Gay Neck, The Story of a Pigeon & Ghond The Huntergrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Ginger Pyegrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Jacob Have I Loved for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Fables by Arnold Lobel · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1980s).
  • Half a Moon and One Whole Star by Crescent Dragonwagon · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1980s).
  • Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1980s).
  • Lon Po Po by Ed Young · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1980s).
  • Owl Moon by Jane Yolen · grades K–3 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction), overlapping grades (K–3), and the same era (1980s).

Books like Jacob Have I Loved for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • It's Like This Cat by Emily Neville · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like Jacob Have I Loved for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Hitty Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • It's Like This Cat by Emily Neville · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).

Books like Jacob Have I Loved for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Beasts by Ingvild Bjerkeland · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Gone Wolf by Amber McBride · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Jacob Have I Loved?
The 10 closest matches to Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson on ReadingList include Bridge to Terabithia, Dicey's Song, A Year Down Yonder, All the Blues in the Sky, and Caddie Woodlawn's Family. Each is scored on shared themes, 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 Jacob Have I Loved 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 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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