Are books like Pie reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–8), 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 Pie

Q: What books are similar to Pie?

The 10 closest matches to Pie by Sarah Weeks on ReadingList include Backlash, Loser, Ramona's World, Swindle, and The Maze of Bones. Each is scored on shared themes (families, cooking, and mother-daughter relationship), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

If you liked Pie, read Backlash, Loser, or Ramona's World — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Pie by Sarah Weeks (Mystery · grades 3–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of families, cooking, and mother-daughter relationship. 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 3–8 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.

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Why each is a match

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Backlashgrades 3–8: Shares themes of family life, both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Losergrades 4–6: Shares themes of families and family life and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Ramona's Worldgrades 4–6: Shares themes of families and family life and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Swindlegrades 4–7: Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
The Maze of Bonesgrades 3–8: Shares themes of families, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Closed for the Seasongrades 3–8: Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Skeleton Mangrades 3–8: Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, same genre (Mystery), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Ava and Pipgrades 3–8: Shares themes of families and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Framed!grades 3–8: Same genre (Mystery), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
One Crazy Summer750L: Shares themes of mother-daughter relationship and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →

Books like Pie for younger readers (K–2)

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

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Mystery), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Mystery) and overlapping grades (2–8).
Ida B. and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of family life and overlapping grades (2–8).

Books like Pie for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of family life and overlapping grades (3–8).
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Mystery), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family life and overlapping grades (4–6).
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Mystery), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage · grades 4–7 — Same genre (Mystery), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Pie for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Saving Zasha by Randi G. Barrow · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of family life and overlapping grades (3–8).
The Apothecary by Maile Meloy · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Mystery), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of family life and overlapping grades (4–6).
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham · grades 4–6 — Same genre (Mystery), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2010s).
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage · grades 4–7 — Same genre (Mystery), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).

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

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

Drama by Raina Telgemeier · grades 5–9 — Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, overlapping grades (5–9), and the same era (2010s).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Mystery).
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Mystery) and overlapping grades (7–12).
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list, overlapping grades (7–10), and the same era (2010s).

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

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