Books like Smile

Looking for books like Smile by Raina Telgemeier (Middle Grade Graphic Novel · 410L · grades 4–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of growing up, friendship, and self-acceptance. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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 Smile

Why each is a match

Dog Man390L
Shares themes of friendship and humor, same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel), and a close reading level (390L vs 410L).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Shares themes of growing up, friendship, and humor and overlapping grades (3–7).
The Season of Styx Malone510L
Shares themes of growing up and friendship and a close reading level (510L vs 410L).
The 13-Story Treehouse560L
Shares themes of friendship and humor and a close reading level (560L vs 410L).
New Kidgrades 4–8
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Graphic Novel), and overlapping grades (4–8).
Charlotte's Web680L
Shares themes of growing up and friendship and overlapping grades (3–5).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants720L
Shares themes of friendship and humor and overlapping grades (2–5).
Ramona Quimby, Age 8860L
Shares themes of growing up and humor and overlapping grades (3–5).
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing470L
Shares themes of growing up and a close reading level (470L vs 410L).
Fish in a Tree550L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (550L vs 410L).

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