Books like Lord of the Flies

If you liked Lord of the Flies, read Anthem, Invisible Man, or A Separate Peace — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Lord of the Flies by William Golding (Allegory · 770L · grades 9–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of civilization vs savagery, loss of innocence, and power. 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.

10 books similar to Lord of the Flies

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Why each is a match

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Anthem880L
Shares themes of power, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and a close reading level (880L vs 770L). Amazon →
Invisible Man950L
Shares themes of power, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (950L vs 770L). Amazon →
A Separate Peace1110L
Shares themes of loss of innocence, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (9–11). Amazon →
The Catcher in the Rye790L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (790L vs 770L), and the same era (1950s). Amazon →
Julius Caesargrades 9–11
Shares themes of power, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (9–11). Amazon →
King Leargrades 11–12
Shares themes of power, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (11–12). Amazon →
The Tempestgrades 9–12
Shares themes of power, both on the AP English Literature & Composition list, and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
A Lesson Before Dying750L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list and a close reading level (750L vs 770L). Amazon →
The Handmaid's Tale750L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list and a close reading level (750L vs 770L). Amazon →
The Outsiders750L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (750L vs 770L). Amazon →

Books like Lord of the Flies for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (750L vs 770L).
  • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak · 740L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (740L vs 770L).
  • Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey · 730L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (730L vs 770L).

Books like Lord of the Flies for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt · 770L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (770L vs 770L).
  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (770L vs 770L).
  • Rebound by Kwame Alexander · 780L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (780L vs 770L).
  • The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden · 780L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (780L vs 770L).
  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan · 750L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (750L vs 770L).

Books like Lord of the Flies for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt · 770L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (770L vs 770L).
  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (770L vs 770L).
  • Rebound by Kwame Alexander · 780L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (780L vs 770L).
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry · 760L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (760L vs 770L).
  • Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan · 750L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (750L vs 770L).

Books like Lord of the Flies for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak · 730L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (730L vs 770L).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (810L vs 770L).
  • All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque · 830L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (830L vs 770L).
  • Life of Pi by Yann Martel · 830L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list and a close reading level (830L vs 770L).
  • The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini · 840L — Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (840L vs 770L).

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

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