Books like Song for A Whale

If you liked Song for A Whale, read The War That Saved My Life, A Boy Called Christmas, or A Dog Called Homeless — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like Song for A Whale by Lynne Kelly? 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 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to Song for A Whale

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

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Why each is a match

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The War That Saved My Life580L
Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Boy Called Christmasgrades 3–10
Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Dog Called Homelessgrades 3–6
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
A Snicker of Magic (Scholastic Gold)grades 3–10
Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
After Ever Aftergrades 5–8
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Alchemy and Meggy Swanngrades 3–10
Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Anna and the Swallow Mangrades 3–10
Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Anything But Typicalgrades 5–8
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardiangrades 3–10
Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
As Brave As Yougrades 4–7
Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like Song for A Whale for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Becoming Naomi Leon (Scholastic Gold) by Pam Muñoz Ryan · grades 4–7 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle · grades 4–9 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (4–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Bloody Jack Series by L. A. Meyer · grades 3–10 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s).
  • Close to Famous by Joan Bauer · grades 4–7 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Song for A Whale for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Becoming Naomi Leon (Scholastic Gold) by Pam Muñoz Ryan · grades 4–7 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle · grades 4–9 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (4–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Bloody Jack Series by L. A. Meyer · grades 3–10 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s).
  • Close to Famous by Joan Bauer · grades 4–7 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s).

Books like Song for A Whale for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro · grades 9–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list and the same era (2010s).
  • Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle · grades 4–9 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (4–9), and the same era (2010s).
  • Bloody Jack Series by L. A. Meyer · grades 3–10 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s).
  • Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds · grades 3–10 — Both on the Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook) list, overlapping grades (3–10), and the same era (2010s).
  • Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein · grades 7–12 — Both on the Schneider Family Book Award list, overlapping grades (7–12), 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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