Books like Math Curse

If you liked Math Curse, read Flying Solo, Fourth Grade Rats, or Ramona's World — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Looking for books like Math Curse by Jon Scieszka (Realistic Fiction · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of mathematics, schools, and math anxiety. 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 4–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Math Curse

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Why each is a match

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Flying Sologrades 4–6
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Fourth Grade Ratsgrades 4–6
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Ramona's Worldgrades 4–6
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Call Me Hopegrades 3–5
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
Class Clowngrades 3–5
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
Eight Keysgrades 4–6
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Shiloh890L
Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Sixth Grade Can Really Kill Yougrades 3–8
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
The Cat Ate My Gymsuitgrades 4–6
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
The Girl Who Could Flygrades 4–6
Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →

Books like Math Curse for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Sharing Susan by Eve Bunting · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Tangerine by Edward Bloor · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat by Raúl the Third III · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Math Curse for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Ghost by Jason Reynolds · 730L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Rules by Cynthia Lord · grades 4–7 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1990s).

Books like Math Curse for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • The Perfect Score by Rob Buyea · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Ghost by Jason Reynolds · 730L — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Rules by Cynthia Lord · grades 4–7 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • 101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1990s).

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

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

  • Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–10).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–10).

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

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