Books like Missing May

If you liked Missing May, read The Bird House, A Visit to William Blake's Inn, or M.C. Higgins, the Great — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Missing May by Cynthia Rylant (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 Missing May

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Why each is a match

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The Bird Housegrades 4–10
Is by Cynthia Rylant, 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 →
M.C. Higgins, the Greatgrades 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 →
Ajeemah and His Songrades 4–9
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9). Amazon → books like this →
Franklin Delano Rooseveltgrades 4–10
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →
Goldengrove ; Unleavinggrades 4–9
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9). Amazon → books like this →
Jambo Means Hellogrades K–5
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →
John Henrygrades K–5
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →
Off to School, Baby Duck!grades K–5
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5). Amazon → books like this →
Orphan Train Ridergrades 4–10
Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Missing May for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Red-eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks by Katherine Paterson · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • "Let's Get a Pup!", Said Kate by Bob Graham · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).

Books like Missing May for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Red-eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • Sojourner Truth by Pat McKissack · grades 4–10 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander · grades K–5 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (K–5).
  • The Boy and the Samurai by Erik Christian Haugaard · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Friends by Kazumi Yumoto · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).

Books like Missing May for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Sojourner Truth by Pat McKissack · grades 4–10 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • The Boy and the Samurai by Erik Christian Haugaard · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Friends by Kazumi Yumoto · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Friendship by Mildred D. Taylor · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz · grades 4–10 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).

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

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

  • Sojourner Truth by Pat McKissack · grades 4–10 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).
  • The Boy and the Samurai by Erik Christian Haugaard · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Friends by Kazumi Yumoto · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Friendship by Mildred D. Taylor · grades 4–9 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–9).
  • The Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz · grades 4–10 — Both on the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award list, same genre (Children's), and overlapping grades (4–10).

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

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