Books like Popcorn

If you liked Popcorn, read Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Confessions of a Class Clown, or J vs. K — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Popcorn by Rob Harrell (Middle Grade Fiction · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of anxiety, school, and humor. 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 4–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Popcorn

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Why each is a match

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Shares themes of school and humor, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Confessions of a Class Clowngrades 6–8
Shares themes of school and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon →
J vs. Kgrades 3–5
Shares themes of school and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
The Superteacher Projectgrades 3–6
Shares themes of school and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobodygrades 4–8
Shares themes of school and humor, both on the Maine Student Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon →
Ramona Quimby, Age 8860L
Shares themes of school and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon →
The Adventures of Captain Underpants720L
Shares themes of school and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon →
Control Freaksgrades 6–8
Shares themes of school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon →
Hannah Sharpe, Cartoon Detectivegrades 3–6
Shares themes of school and humor and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Oliver's Great Big Universegrades 3–6
Shares themes of humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →

Books like Popcorn for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Shares themes of school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–4).
  • The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths · 560L — Shares themes of humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • A Lot to Like! by Derek Anderson · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of humor and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Beanie the Bansheenie by Eoin Colfer · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of humor and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb · grades K–2 — Shares themes of humor.

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

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

  • Operation Final Notice by Matthew Landis · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of anxiety, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Roll for Initiative by Jaime Formato · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of anxiety, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen · grades 4–8 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce · 500L — Shares themes of school and humor and overlapping grades (4–7).
  • Boy 2.0 by Tracey Baptiste · grades 4–8 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).

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

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

  • Operation Final Notice by Matthew Landis · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of anxiety, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Roll for Initiative by Jaime Formato · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of anxiety, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow · grades 6–8 — Shares themes of humor, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–8).
  • Between Two Brothers by Crystal Allen · grades 4–8 — Both on the Maine Student Book Award list, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
  • Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce · 500L — Shares themes of school and humor and overlapping grades (4–7).

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

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

  • Louder Than Hunger by John Schu · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of mental health and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of mental health.
  • Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller · grades 11–12 — Shares themes of mental health.
  • Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson · 690L — Shares themes of mental health and overlapping grades (8–10).
  • The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger · 790L — Shares themes of mental health.

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

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