Books like Shut Up, This Is Serious

If you liked Shut Up, This Is Serious, read The Outsiders, The Poet X, or Everything We Never Had — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta (Young Adult Fiction · grades 9–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of friendship, identity, and family. 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 Shut Up, This Is Serious

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.

The Outsiders750L
Shares themes of friendship, identity, and family, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–9). Amazon →
The Poet X800L
Shares themes of identity and family, both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list, and same genre (Young Adult Fiction). Amazon →
Everything We Never Hadgrades 7–12
Shares themes of identity and family, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
Never Thought I'd End Up Heregrades 7–12
Shares themes of identity and family, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
Ruby Lost and Foundgrades 6–9
Shares themes of identity and family, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →
Four for the Roadgrades 9–12
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
The Forbidden Bookgrades 7–12
Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
The Reappearance of Rachel Pricegrades 7–12
Shares themes of identity and family and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
The Silence That Binds Usgrades 9–12
Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
American Born Chinese530L
Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →

Books like Shut Up, This Is Serious for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb · grades K–2 — Shares themes of friendship and identity.
  • How This Book Got Red by Margaret Chiu Greanias · grades K–2 — Shares themes of friendship and identity.
  • You're So Amazing! by James Catchpole · grades K–2 — Shares themes of friendship and identity.
  • Yuna's Cardboard Castles by Marie Tang · grades K–2 — Shares themes of friendship and identity.
  • Dadaji's Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande · grades K–3 — Shares themes of family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.

Books like Shut Up, This Is Serious for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of friendship and identity and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian · 820L — Shares themes of friendship, identity, and family.
  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of friendship, identity, and family.
  • Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Shares themes of friendship and family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of friendship and family and both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list.

Books like Shut Up, This Is Serious for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of friendship and identity and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian · 820L — Shares themes of friendship, identity, and family.
  • Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of friendship, identity, and family.
  • Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Shares themes of friendship and family and both on the California Young Reader Medal list.
  • Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of friendship and family and both on the Pura Belpré Author Award list.

Books like Shut Up, This Is Serious for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Drama by Raina Telgemeier · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of friendship and identity and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card · 780L — Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–10).
  • Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes · 910L — Shares themes of friendship and identity and overlapping grades (8–11).
  • Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of identity, both on the California Young Reader Medal list, and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou · 1070L — Shares themes of identity and family and overlapping grades (10–12).

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

← Back to Shut Up, This Is Serious