Books like Legend

If you liked Legend, read Antigone, Ghost Boys, or Swindle — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Legend by Marie Lu (Dystopian · grades 6–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of dystopia, justice, and loyalty. 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 6–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Legend

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Why each is a match

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Antigonegrades 9–12
Shares themes of justice and loyalty and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
Ghost Boys360L
Shares themes of justice, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Swindlegrades 4–7
Shares themes of justice, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
The False Princegrades 5–9
Shares themes of loyalty, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon →
Black Brother, Black Brothergrades 5–8
Shares themes of justice, both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list, and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Ghost730L
Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Holes660L
Shares themes of justice, both on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Matilda840L
Shares themes of justice, both on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Smile410L
Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
The Best School Year Evergrades 3–6
Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

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

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

  • The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of justice and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Odder by Katherine Applegate · grades 3–5 — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list).
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker · 760L — Shares themes of loyalty and overlapping grades (4–7).

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

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

  • The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of justice, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Both on the Kentucky Bluegrass Award (KBA) list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of justice and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth · grades 8–12 — Same genre (Dystopian), overlapping grades (8–12), and the same era (2010s).

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

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

  • Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of justice, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth · grades 8–12 — Same genre (Dystopian), overlapping grades (8–12), and the same era (2010s).
  • Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults) by Bryan Stevenson · 1130L — Shares themes of justice and overlapping grades (9–12).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Dystopian), overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2010s).

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

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