Books like Maniac Magee

Looking for books like Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (Middle Grade Fiction · 820L · grades 4–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of race, homelessness, and family. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Maniac Magee

Why each is a match

Blended610L
Shares themes of race and family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (610L vs 820L).
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH790L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (790L vs 820L).
Wonder790L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (790L vs 820L).
Ramona Quimby, Age 8860L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (860L vs 820L).
One Crazy Summer750L
Shares themes of race and family and a close reading level (750L vs 820L).
Ramona the Pest750L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 820L).
Bud, Not Buddy950L
Shares themes of race and family and a close reading level (950L vs 820L).
Mr. Popper's Penguins910L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (910L vs 820L).
Stuart Little920L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (920L vs 820L).
Out of My Mind700L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (700L vs 820L).

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