Books like Out of the Dust

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 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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.

10 books similar to Out of the Dust

Why each is a match

Esperanza Rising750L
Shares themes of Great Depression and a close reading level (750L vs 740L).
One Crazy Summer750L
Shares themes of mother-daughter relationship and a close reading level (750L vs 740L).
Inside Out & Back Again800L
Same genre (Middle Grade Verse Novel / Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (800L vs 740L).
Bridge to Terabithia810L
Shares themes of grief and loss and a close reading level (810L vs 740L).
Of Mice and Men630L
Shares themes of Great Depression and a close reading level (630L vs 740L).
A Lesson Before Dying750L
A close reading level (750L vs 740L) and the same era (1990s).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants720L
A close reading level (720L vs 740L) and the same era (1990s).
The Giver760L
A close reading level (760L vs 740L) and the same era (1990s).
Walk Two Moons770L
A close reading level (770L vs 740L) and the same era (1990s).
Speak690L
A close reading level (690L vs 740L) and the same era (1990s).

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