Books like Ramona the Pest

If you liked Ramona the Pest, read Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, or Wonder — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary (Middle Grade Fiction · 750L · grades 2–4)? It’s most often read for its themes of family, school, and growing up. 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 2–4 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Ramona the Pest

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Why each is a match

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Shares themes of family, school, and growing up, both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing470L
Shares themes of family and growing up, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Wonder790L
Shares themes of family, both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Maniac Magee820L
Shares themes of family, both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Ramona Quimby, Age 8860L
Shares themes of family, school, and growing up, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (860L vs 750L). Amazon →
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet820L
Shares themes of family and school, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Harriet the Spygrades 4–7
Shares themes of school and growing up, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH790L
Shares themes of family, both on the Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
Summer of the Monkeysgrades 4–7
Shares themes of family and growing up, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →
The Wild Robot740L
Shares themes of family, both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction). Amazon →

Books like Ramona the Pest for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (860L vs 750L).
  • The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey · 720L — Shares themes of school, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 750L).
  • Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey · 730L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (730L vs 750L).
  • The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown · 540L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (540L vs 750L).

Books like Ramona the Pest for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Rascal by Sterling North · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family and growing up, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Old Yeller by Fred Gipson · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family and growing up, both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+2 more shared lists), same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (860L vs 750L).
  • The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon · 510L — Shares themes of family and growing up, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).

Books like Ramona the Pest for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Rascal by Sterling North · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family and growing up, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Old Yeller by Fred Gipson · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of family and growing up, both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+2 more shared lists), and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon · 510L — Shares themes of family and growing up, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Middle Grade Fiction).
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (800L vs 750L).

Books like Ramona the Pest for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Shares themes of family, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (800L vs 750L).
  • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of family and growing up and both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list.
  • The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton · 750L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 750L).
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck · 680L — Shares themes of family, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (680L vs 750L).
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Shares themes of family and a close reading level (720L vs 750L).

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

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