Books like New Dragon City

If you liked New Dragon City, read City Spies, Invisible, or Greetings from Witness Protection! — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like New Dragon City by Mari Mancusi (Realistic Fiction · grades 6–8)? 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 6–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to New Dragon City

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

City Spiesgrades 4–6
Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Invisiblegrades 4–6
Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →
Greetings from Witness Protection!grades 6–8
Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Stunggrades 6–9
Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Touching Spirit Beargrades 6–9
Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Variantgrades 6–8
Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Wedgie & Gizmogrades 3–6
Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
¡Vamos! Let's Go Eatgrades 2–8
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Across the Desertgrades 3–6
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →
Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravitygrades 4–8
Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2020s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like New Dragon City for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Again by Emily Gravett · grades K–3 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • Are You a Cheeseburger? by Monica Arnaldo · grades K–3 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • Chez Bob by Bob Shea · grades K–2 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Except Antarctica! by Todd Sturgell · grades K–3 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).

Books like New Dragon City for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley · grades 3–5 — Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
  • The Adventures of Invisible Boy by Doogie Horner · grades 3–5 — Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
  • The Area 51 Files by Julie Buxbaum · grades 3–5 — Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2020s).
  • Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming · grades 3–5 — Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • The Candymakers by Wendy Mass · grades 3–5 — Both on the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like New Dragon City for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Attack of the Black Rectangles by A. S. King · grades 6–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • Better with Butter by Victoria Piontek · grades 3–6 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2020s).
  • Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2020s).
  • City of Thieves by Alex London · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2020s).

Books like New Dragon City for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • Five Survive by Holly Jackson · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2020s).
  • Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2020s).

Common questions

What books are similar to New Dragon City?
The 10 closest matches to New Dragon City by Mari Mancusi on ReadingList include City Spies, Invisible, Greetings from Witness Protection!, Stung, and Touching Spirit Bear. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 6–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like New Dragon City reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 6–8), 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.

← Back to New Dragon City

Browse by another angle