Books like Plain Jane and the Mermaid

If you liked Plain Jane and the Mermaid, read Beasts, Brownstone, or Death in the Jungle — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol (Juvenile Fiction · grades 9–12)? 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 9–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Plain Jane and the Mermaid

Reading the whole similar-books list? Open any title for its Amazon listing — or listen to many of them free with a 30-day Audible trial.

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.

Beastsgrades 9–12
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list, same genre (Juvenile Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
Brownstonegrades 9–12
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
Death in the Junglegrades 4–10
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (4–10). Amazon →
Divergentgrades 8–12
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (8–12). Amazon →
His Face Is the Sungrades 9–12
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
Long Way Down720L
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
Orbiting Jupitergrades 7–10
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (7–10). Amazon →
Sisters in the Windgrades 9–12
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian600L
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (7–10). Amazon →
The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survivalgrades 9–12
Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →

Books like Plain Jane and the Mermaid for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Ballet Brown by Bellen Woodard · grades K–1 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Barnaby Unboxed! by Terry Fan · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Braided Roots by Pasha Westbrook · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Cabin Head and Tree Head by Scott Campbell · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Detective Sweet Pea: The Case of the Golden Bone by Sara Varon · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Books like Plain Jane and the Mermaid for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • And Then, Boom! by Lisa Fipps · grades 4–5 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Barnaby Unboxed! by Terry Fan · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Braided Roots by Pasha Westbrook · grades 2–3 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Bubblegum Shoes: The Case of the Contraband Closet by Goldy Moldavsky · grades 4–5 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan · grades 4–5 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Books like Plain Jane and the Mermaid for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • How to Talk to Your Succulent by Zoe Persico · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • It's All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II by Adam Gidwitz · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • Swing by Audrey Meeker · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).
  • The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling · grades 6–8 — Both on the Great Lakes Great Books Award list and same genre (Juvenile Fiction).

Book data last updated 2026-07-02. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to Plain Jane and the Mermaid