Are books like Lawn Boy reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–8), 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 Lawn Boy

If you liked Lawn Boy, read Harris and Me, Nightjohn, or Sharing Susan — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen (Realistic Fiction · grades 2–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of summer employment, money-making projects for children, and business enterprises. 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 2–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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Harris and Megrades 6–8: Is by Gary Paulsen, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Nightjohngrades 6–8: Is by Gary Paulsen, the same author, overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (1990s). Amazon → books like this →
Sharing Susangrades 2–8: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Shiloh Seasongrades 3–6: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Tangerinegrades 2–8: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Verdigrades 3–5: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Walk Two Moons770L: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–7). Amazon → books like this →
When Zachary Beaver Came to Towngrades 2–8: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
¡Vamos! Let's Go Eatgrades 2–8: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Black Brother, Black Brothergrades 5–8: Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Lawn Boy for younger readers (K–2)

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

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Lawn Boy for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Ferris by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Front Desk by Kelly Yang · 640L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
Ghost by Jason Reynolds · 730L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

Books like Lawn Boy for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
Ferris by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Front Desk by Kelly Yang · 640L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
Ghost by Jason Reynolds · 730L — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

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

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

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
A Door Near Here by Heather Quarles · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1990s).
A Time of Troubles by Pieter Van Raven · grades 5–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (1990s).
Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1990s).
Bad by Jean Ferris · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (1990s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Lawn Boy?: The 10 closest matches to Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen on ReadingList include Harris and Me, Nightjohn, Sharing Susan, Shiloh Season, and Tangerine. Each is scored on shared themes (summer employment, money-making projects for children, and business enterprises), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 2–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Lawn Boy reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 2–8), 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.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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