Books like M.C. Higgins, the Great

If you liked M.C. Higgins, the Great, read Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush, Anthony Burns, or A Visit to William Blake's Inn — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like M.C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton (Children's · grades 4–9)? 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 4–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to M.C. Higgins, the Great

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Why each is a match

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Sweet Whispers, Brother Rushgrades 4–9
Is by Virginia Hamilton, the same author, both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, and same genre (Children's). Amazon → books like this →
Anthony Burnsgrades 4–10
Is by Virginia Hamilton, the same author, both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, and same genre (Children's). Amazon → books like this →
A Visit to William Blake's Inngrades K–5
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →
Missing Maygrades 4–9
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9). Amazon → books like this →
A Ray of Lightgrades 4–10
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
Abigail Adamsgrades 4–10
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
At Nightgrades K–5
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →
Black Enoughgrades 4–10
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
Blink and Cautiongrades 4–9
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9). Amazon → books like this →
Building Our Housegrades K–5
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →

Books like M.C. Higgins, the Great for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories by Laura Vaccaro Seeger · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryan · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • I Know Here by Laurel Croza · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).

Books like M.C. Higgins, the Great for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Carver by Marilyn Nelson · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories by Laura Vaccaro Seeger · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Electric Ben by Robert Byrd · grades 4–10 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).

Books like M.C. Higgins, the Great for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Carver by Marilyn Nelson · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Electric Ben by Robert Byrd · grades 4–10 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).

Books like M.C. Higgins, the Great for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Carver by Marilyn Nelson · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • Electric Ben by Robert Byrd · grades 4–10 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).

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

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