What books are similar to Romiette and Julio?

The 10 closest matches to Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper on ReadingList include Amal Unbound, Divine Rivals, Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25, Mick Harte Was Here, and Orbiting Jupiter. Each is scored on shared themes (love, prejudice, and courage), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 7–10), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Romiette and Julio reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 7–10), 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 Romiette and Julio

If you liked Romiette and Julio, read Amal Unbound, Divine Rivals, or Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper (Realistic Fiction · grades 7–10)? It’s most often read for its themes of love, prejudice, and courage. 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 7–10 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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Why each is a match

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Amal Unboundgrades 5–8: Shares themes of courage, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Divine Rivalsgrades 9–12: Shares themes of love and courage and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25grades 6–9: Shares themes of courage, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →
Mick Harte Was Heregrades 5–8: Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Orbiting Jupitergrades 7–10: Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10). Amazon →
The Selectiongrades 7–12: Shares themes of love, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
Touching Spirit Beargrades 6–9: Shares themes of courage, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →
Ella Enchantedgrades 4–7: Shares themes of courage, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Forged by Firegrades 7–10: Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10). Amazon →
Gregor the Overlandergrades 4–7: Shares themes of courage, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →

Books like Romiette and Julio for younger readers (K–2)

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

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).
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 by Lauren Tarshis · 590L — Shares themes of courage.
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 Romiette and Julio for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Shares themes of courage, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold · grades 3–5 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2010s).
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Books like Romiette and Julio for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · 890L — Shares themes of courage, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
Stuntboy, In-Between Time by Jason Reynolds · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
So B. It by Sarah Weeks · grades 5–8 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

Books like Romiette and Julio for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli · grades 6–9 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10).
Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of courage and overlapping grades (5–9).
Divergent by Veronica Roth · grades 8–12 — Shares themes of courage and overlapping grades (8–12).
Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick · grades 6–9 — Same genre (Realistic Fiction), overlapping grades (6–9), 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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