Are books like Matilda reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–6), 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.

Books like Matilda

Q: What books are similar to Matilda?

The 10 closest matches to Matilda by Roald Dahl on ReadingList include Frindle, Out of My Mind, Holes, Maniac Magee, and Wonder. Each is scored on shared themes (intelligence, overcoming neglect, and teacher-student bond), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

If you liked Matilda, read Frindle, Out of My Mind, or Holes — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Matilda by Roald Dahl (Middle Grade Fiction · 840L · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of intelligence, overcoming neglect, and teacher-student bond. 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 3–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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Frindle830L: Shares themes of intelligence, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Out of My Mind700L: Shares themes of intelligence, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Holes660L: Shares themes of justice, both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Maniac Magee820L: Both on the Massachusetts Children's Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (820L vs 840L). Amazon →
Wonder790L: Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (790L vs 840L). Amazon →
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH790L: Shares themes of intelligence, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
The Mouse and the Motorcycle860L: Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (860L vs 840L). Amazon →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L: Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (950L vs 840L). Amazon →
Restart730L: Both on the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (730L vs 840L). Amazon →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L: Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (610L vs 840L). Amazon →

Books like Matilda for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Both on the West Virginia Children's Choice Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 840L).
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 840L).
The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths · 560L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction) and overlapping grades (2–5).

Books like Matilda for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner · 550L — Both on the Utah Beehive Book Award (Children's Fiction) list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
Swindle by Gordon Korman · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of justice, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian · 820L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (820L vs 840L).
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), a close reading level (860L vs 840L), and the same era (1980s).
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl · 870L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (870L vs 840L).

Books like Matilda for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Swindle by Gordon Korman · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of justice, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian · 820L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (820L vs 840L).
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl · 870L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (870L vs 840L).
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee · 870L — Shares themes of justice, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (870L vs 840L).
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling · 880L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+4 more shared lists) and a close reading level (880L vs 840L).

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

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

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee · 870L — Shares themes of justice, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (870L vs 840L).
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (810L vs 840L).
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes · 910L — Shares themes of intelligence and a close reading level (910L vs 840L).
Legend by Marie Lu · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of justice, both on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9).
Unwind by Neal Shusterman · grades 8–12 — Shares themes of justice and both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list.

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

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