What books are similar to Out of the Dust?

The 10 closest matches to Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse on ReadingList include One Crazy Summer, Bridge to Terabithia, Esperanza Rising, The Giver, and Walk Two Moons. Each is scored on shared themes (Great Depression, Dust Bowl, and grief and loss), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 5–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Out of the Dust reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 5–8), 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 Out of the Dust

If you liked Out of the Dust, read One Crazy Summer, Bridge to Terabithia, or Esperanza Rising — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (Middle Grade Verse Novel / Historical Fiction · 740L · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of Great Depression, Dust Bowl, and grief and loss. 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 5–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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

Listen free on Audible30-day trial

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.

One Crazy Summer750L: Shares themes of mother-daughter relationship, both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (750L vs 740L). Amazon →
Bridge to Terabithia810L: Shares themes of grief and loss, both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (810L vs 740L). Amazon →
Esperanza Rising750L: Shares themes of Great Depression, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 740L). Amazon →
The Giver760L: Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (760L vs 740L), and the same era (1990s). Amazon →
Walk Two Moons770L: Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (770L vs 740L), and the same era (1990s). Amazon →
Sarah, Plain and Tall660L: Both on the Newbery Medal list (+2 more shared lists) and a close reading level (660L vs 740L). Amazon →
A Wrinkle in Time740L: Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (740L vs 740L). Amazon →
The Crossover750L: Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (750L vs 740L). Amazon →
The Westing Game750L: Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (750L vs 740L). Amazon →
When You Reach Me750L: Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (750L vs 740L). Amazon →

Books like Out of the Dust for younger readers (K–2)

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

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña · 610L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (610L vs 740L).
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak · 740L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (740L vs 740L).
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey · 730L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (730L vs 740L).
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (750L vs 740L).

Books like Out of the Dust for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg · 700L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (700L vs 740L).
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly · 690L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (690L vs 740L).
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien · 790L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (790L vs 740L).
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai · 800L — Same genre (Middle Grade Verse Novel / Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (800L vs 740L).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (670L vs 740L).

Books like Out of the Dust for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg · 700L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (700L vs 740L).
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly · 690L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (690L vs 740L).
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien · 790L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (790L vs 740L).
Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai · 800L — Same genre (Middle Grade Verse Novel / Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (800L vs 740L).
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (670L vs 740L).

Books like Out of the Dust for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck · 630L — Shares themes of Great Depression, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (630L vs 740L).
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson · 780L — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and a close reading level (780L vs 740L).
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson · 690L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, a close reading level (690L vs 740L), and the same era (1990s).
Monster by Walter Dean Myers · 670L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, a close reading level (670L vs 740L), and the same era (1990s).
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak · 730L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (730L vs 740L).

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

← Back to Out of the Dust