Books like Lei and the Fire Goddess

If you liked Lei and the Fire Goddess, read City Spies, Invisible, or Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea (Realistic Fiction · grades 4–6)? 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Lei and the Fire Goddess

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Why each is a match

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City Spiesgrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Invisiblegrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaretgrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Boy at Wargrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Dear Mr. Henshawgrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Front Desk640L
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Fudgegrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Henry Reed's Babysitting Servicegrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Jelly Bellygrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Jonathan Livingston Seagullgrades 4–6
Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Lei and the Fire Goddess 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 Lei and the Fire Goddess for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger · grades 4–6 — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • The Lemonade War by Davies, Jacqueline · grades 4–6 — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger · grades 4–6 — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye by Patricia Hermes · grades 4–6 — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Lei and the Fire Goddess for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger · grades 4–6 — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • The Lemonade War by Davies, Jacqueline · grades 4–6 — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger · grades 4–6 — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye by Patricia Hermes · grades 4–6 — Both on the Hawai'i Nēnē Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like Lei and the Fire Goddess 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).
  • The Yield by Tara June Winch · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney · grades 9–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Barber Shop Chronicles by Inua Ellams · grades 11–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to Lei and the Fire Goddess?
The 10 closest matches to Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea on ReadingList include City Spies, Invisible, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Boy at War, and Dear Mr. Henshaw. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Lei and the Fire Goddess reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–6), 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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