Books like Stone Fox
Looking for books like Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner (Middle Grade Fiction · 550L · grades 3–5)? It’s most often read for its themes of family, determination, and sacrifice. 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 3–5 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.
10 books similar to Stone Fox
Mr. Popper's PenguinsRichard Atwater · Florence Atwater · 910L- The Season of Styx MaloneK.M.The Season of Styx MaloneKekla Magoon · 510L
Because of Winn-DixieKate DiCamillo · 610L- BlendedS.M.D.BlendedSharon M. Draper · 610L
Sarah, Plain and TallPatricia MacLachlan · 660L
Tales of a Fourth Grade NothingJudy Blume · 470L
Out of My MindSharon M. Draper · 700L
Ramona Quimby, Age 8Beverly Cleary · 860L
Ramona the PestBeverly Cleary · 750L
PaxSara Pennypacker · 760L
Why each is a match
- Mr. Popper's Penguins910L
- Shares themes of family and determination, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
- The Season of Styx Malone510L
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (510L vs 550L).
- Because of Winn-Dixie610L
- Shares themes of loss, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (610L vs 550L).
- Blended610L
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (610L vs 550L).
- Sarah, Plain and Tall660L
- Shares themes of family and loss and a close reading level (660L vs 550L).
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing470L
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (470L vs 550L).
- Out of My Mind700L
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (700L vs 550L).
- Ramona Quimby, Age 8860L
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5).
- Ramona the Pest750L
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 550L).
- Pax760L
- Shares themes of loss, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and a close reading level (760L vs 550L).