What books are similar to Mr. Lincoln's Way?

The 10 closest matches to Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco on ReadingList include A Fine, Fine School, Herbie's Troubles, Mr. Tanen's Ties, Big Bad Bruce, and Class Clown. Each is scored on shared themes (schools, bullies, and school principals), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Mr. Lincoln's Way reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–8), 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 Mr. Lincoln's Way

If you liked Mr. Lincoln's Way, read A Fine, Fine School, Herbie's Troubles, or Mr. Tanen's Ties — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of schools, bullies, and school principals. 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 3–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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A Fine, Fine Schoolgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools and school principals, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Herbie's Troublesgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools and bullies, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Mr. Tanen's Tiesgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools and school principals, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Big Bad Brucegrades K–3: Shares themes of bullies, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Class Clowngrades 3–5: Shares themes of schools, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Each Kindnessgrades 3–8: Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Fourth Grade Ratsgrades 4–6: Shares themes of schools, both on the South Carolina Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Hooway for Wodney Watgrades K–3: Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Keygrades 6–8: Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →
Never Spit on Your Shoesgrades K–3: Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon → books like this →

Books like Mr. Lincoln's Way for younger readers (K–2)

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

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman · grades 2–3 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–3).
The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill · grades K–3 — Shares themes of bullies, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child · grades K–3 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes · grades K–3 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Mr. Lincoln's Way for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco · grades 3–6 — Is by Patricia Polacco, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Tucky Jo and Little Heart by Patricia Polacco · grades 3–5 — Is by Patricia Polacco, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
Albert by Donna Jo Napoli · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of birds, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
Call Me Hope by Gretchen Olson · grades 3–5 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman · grades 2–3 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–3).

Books like Mr. Lincoln's Way for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco · grades 3–6 — Is by Patricia Polacco, the same author, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko · grades 3–6 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of schools, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Trading Places with Tank Talbott by Dori Hillestad Butler · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of bullies, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
Alabama Moon by Watt Key · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of bullies, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and overlapping grades (6–8).

Books like Mr. Lincoln's Way for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

After by Francine Prose · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Define "Normal" by Julie Anne Peters · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of schools and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Shattering Glass by Gail Giles · grades 9–12 — Both on the California Young Reader Medal list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).

Common questions

What books are similar to Mr. Lincoln's Way?: The 10 closest matches to Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco on ReadingList include A Fine, Fine School, Herbie's Troubles, Mr. Tanen's Ties, Big Bad Bruce, and Class Clown. Each is scored on shared themes (schools, bullies, and school principals), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Mr. Lincoln's Way reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–8), 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.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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