What books are similar to Speak?

The 10 closest matches to Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson on ReadingList include The Poet X, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Outsiders, The Crossover, and The Catcher in the Rye. Each is scored on shared themes (sexual assault and recovery, voice and silence, and mental health), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 8–10), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like Speak reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 8–10), 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 Speak

If you liked Speak, read The Poet X, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, or The Outsiders — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Young Adult Fiction · 690L · grades 8–10)? It’s most often read for its themes of sexual assault and recovery, voice and silence, and mental health. 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 8–10 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

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 Poet X800L: Shares themes of voice and silence and identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (800L vs 690L). Amazon →
The Perks of Being a Wallflower720L: Shares themes of mental health, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (720L vs 690L). Amazon →
The Outsiders750L: Shares themes of identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and same genre (Young Adult Fiction). Amazon →
The Crossover750L: Shares themes of identity, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (750L vs 690L). Amazon →
The Catcher in the Rye790L: Shares themes of mental health and identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (790L vs 690L). Amazon →
Monster670L: Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (670L vs 690L). Amazon →
Ender's Game780L: Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (780L vs 690L). Amazon →
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings1070L: Shares themes of voice and silence and identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (10–12). Amazon →
The Giver760L: Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (760L vs 690L), and the same era (1990s). Amazon →
American Born Chinese530L: Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and a close reading level (530L vs 690L). Amazon →

Books like Speak for younger readers (K–2)

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

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (750L vs 690L).
Beanie the Bansheenie by Eoin Colfer · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of identity and both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list.
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey · 730L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (730L vs 690L).
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak · 740L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (740L vs 690L).
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (470L vs 690L).

Books like Speak for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of identity, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (770L vs 690L).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (660L vs 690L), and the same era (1990s).
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin · 750L — Shares themes of identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 690L).
A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of mental health and identity and overlapping grades (4–8).
Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina · 700L — Shares themes of identity and a close reading level (700L vs 690L).

Books like Speak for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech · 770L — Shares themes of identity, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (770L vs 690L).
Holes by Louis Sachar · 660L — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), a close reading level (660L vs 690L), and the same era (1990s).
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin · 750L — Shares themes of identity, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 690L).
A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner · grades 4–8 — Shares themes of mental health and identity and overlapping grades (4–8).
Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12).

Books like Speak for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12).
Louder Than Hunger by John Schu · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of mental health and identity and overlapping grades (7–12).
Never Thought I'd End Up Here by Ann Liang · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12).
Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
The Forbidden Book by Sacha Lamb · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of identity, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–12).

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

← Back to Speak