Books like Parachute Kids

If you liked Parachute Kids, read Front Desk, When Stars Are Scattered, or In the Beautiful Country — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang (Graphic Novel · grades 3–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of immigration, family, and resilience. 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 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Parachute Kids

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Why each is a match

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Front Desk640L
Shares themes of immigration, family, and resilience, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
When Stars Are Scatteredgrades 5–8
Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Graphic Novel). Amazon →
In the Beautiful Countrygrades 3–6
Shares themes of immigration, family, and resilience and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
The War That Saved My Life580L
Shares themes of family and resilience, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Inside Out & Back Again800L
Shares themes of immigration, family, and resilience and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon →
Other Words for Home930L
Shares themes of immigration and family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
The Lost Yeargrades 6–8
Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon →
All the Lovely Bad Onesgrades 5–8
Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Everything We Never Hadgrades 7–12
Shares themes of immigration and family and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
Refugee800L
Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon →

Books like Parachute Kids for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Picture Purrfect (Bodega Cats #1) by Hilda Eunice Burgos · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–4).
  • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande · grades K–3 — Shares themes of family and overlapping grades (K–3).

Books like Parachute Kids for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of resilience, both on the Georgia Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Class Act by Jerry Craft · grades 4–8 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, same genre (Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (4–8).

Books like Parachute Kids for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (3–6).
  • The Crossover by Kwame Alexander · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of family and resilience and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of resilience, both on the Georgia Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of family, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like Parachute Kids 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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