What books are similar to Pie in the Sky?

The 10 closest matches to Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai on ReadingList include Front Desk, Mick Harte Was Here, Save Me a Seat, Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe, and The Boy at the Back of the Class. Each is scored on shared themes (immigration, grief, and baking), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 3–6), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Pie in the Sky reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 3–6), 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 in the Sky

If you liked Pie in the Sky, read Front Desk, Mick Harte Was Here, or Save Me a Seat — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of immigration, grief, and baking. 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 3–6 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.

Front Desk640L: Shares themes of immigration, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
Mick Harte Was Heregrades 5–8: Shares themes of grief, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Save Me a Seat780L: Shares themes of immigration, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybegrades 4–7: Shares themes of grief, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
The Boy at the Back of the Classgrades 3–6: Shares themes of immigration, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrisegrades 5–8: Shares themes of grief, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Dear Mr. Henshawgrades 4–6: Shares themes of grief, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Hope in the Valleygrades 3–6: Shares themes of grief, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Other Words for Home930L: Shares themes of immigration, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Ruby Lost and Foundgrades 6–9: Shares themes of grief, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →

Books like Pie in the Sky for younger readers (K–2)

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

Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet · grades 1–4 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (1–4), and the same era (2010s).
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
Lulu's Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).
My Explosive Diary by Emily Gale · grades 2–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (2–8), and the same era (2010s).

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

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

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser · grades 3–6 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of grief, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–7).
Balloons over Broadway by Melissa Sweet · grades 1–4 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (1–4), and the same era (2010s).
Duel by Jessixa Bagley · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of grief, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–8).
Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang · grades 3–7 — Shares themes of immigration, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (3–7).

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

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

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser · grades 3–6 — Both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of grief, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–7).
Duel by Jessixa Bagley · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of grief, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–8).
Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang · grades 3–7 — Shares themes of immigration, both on the Garden State Children's Book Award list, and overlapping grades (3–7).
A Boy Named Queen by Sara Cassidy · grades 3–8 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (2010s).

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

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

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Shares themes of grief.
Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).
Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2010s).
Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction) and the same era (2010s).

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

← Back to Pie in the Sky