Are books like New Kid reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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 New Kid

If you liked New Kid, read Class Act, Smile, or Dog Man — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like New Kid by Jerry Craft (Middle Grade Graphic Novel · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of race and identity, code-switching, and middle school adjustment. 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.

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Why each is a match

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Class Actgrades 4–8: Is by Jerry Craft, the same author, shares themes of friendship, and both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list). Amazon → books like this →
Smile410L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Iowa Children's Choice Award (ICCA) list (+5 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Dog Man390L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
El Deafo420L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+4 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Roller Girl440L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Swim Teamgrades 3–7: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Big Nate: In a Class by Himself500L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel). Amazon → books like this →
Out of My Mind700L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+5 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon → books like this →
Wonder790L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list (+11 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L: Shares themes of friendship, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list (+9 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →

Books like New Kid for younger readers (K–2)

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

The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel).
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (2–4).
Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
Real Friends by Shannon Hale · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list, and overlapping grades (2–8).
A Lot to Like! by Derek Anderson · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).

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

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

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel).
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt · 550L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+7 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Swindle by Gordon Korman · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).

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

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

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel).
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt · 550L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+7 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards), Grades 3-5 & Grades 6-8 divisions list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (6–9).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (4–7).

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

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

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards), Grades 3-5 & Grades 6-8 divisions list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (6–9).
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas · 590L — Shares themes of code-switching and both on the Mountain Laurel Book Award (Pennsylvania) list (+1 more shared list).
Drama by Raina Telgemeier · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9).
Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9).
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie · 600L — Shares themes of code-switching, both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award (Michigan Reading Association) list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (7–10).

Common questions

What books are similar to New Kid?: The 10 closest matches to New Kid by Jerry Craft on ReadingList include Class Act, Smile, Dog Man, El Deafo, and Roller Girl. Each is scored on shared themes (race and identity, code-switching, and middle school adjustment), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 4–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like New Kid reading-level appropriate?: Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 4–8), 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 2026-08-11. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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