Books like Not Nothing

If you liked Not Nothing, read Wonder, Because of Winn-Dixie, or Diary of a Wimpy Kid — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Not Nothing by Gayle Forman (Middle Grade Fiction · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of redemption, friendship, and history. 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.

10 books similar to Not Nothing

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Why each is a match

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Wonder790L
Shares themes of friendship and empathy, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Heroesgrades 6–8
Shares themes of friendship and history, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon →
Mid-Airgrades 5–8
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Simon Sort of Saysgrades 6–8
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkiengrades 4–8
Shares themes of friendship and history, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon →
The Partition Projectgrades 4–8
Shares themes of history, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Fish in a Tree550L
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Holes660L
Shares themes of friendship, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →

Books like Not Nothing for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths · 560L — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • A Lot to Like! by Derek Anderson · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of friendship and overlapping grades (2–5).

Books like Not Nothing for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker · 760L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Countdown to Yesterday by Shirley Marr · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).

Books like Not Nothing for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker · 760L — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Confessions of a Class Clown by Arianne Costner · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8).
  • Control Freaks by J.E. Thomas · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8).

Books like Not Nothing for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

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

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