Books like Surviving the City

If you liked Surviving the City, read Hearts Unbroken, House of Purple Cedar, or If I Ever Get Out of Here — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Closest match: Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith

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Looking for books like Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett (Young Adult · grades 9–12)? 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 Surviving the City

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Why each is a match

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Hearts Unbrokengrades 9–12
Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
House of Purple Cedargrades 9–12
Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
If I Ever Get Out of Heregrades 9–12
Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Applegrades 9–12
Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Rez Ballgrades 9–12
Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Trail of the Dead (Killer of Enemies #2)grades 9–12
Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
Warrior Girl Unearthedgrades 9–12
Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list, same genre (Young Adult), and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon → books like this →
After the Snowgrades 9–12
Same genre (Young Adult), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Beautiful Creatures: The Manga (A Graphic Novel)grades 9–12
Same genre (Young Adult), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →
Because You'll Never Meet Megrades 9–12
Same genre (Young Adult), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon → books like this →

More like this

Same grade band, chosen by theme and by how many reading lists carry them. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Show 12 more

Books like Surviving the City for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Eagle Drums by NASUGRAQ RAINEY. HOPSON · grades 3–7 — Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
  • In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse by Joseph Marshall · grades 3–7 — Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
  • Jordin Tootoo by Melanie Florence · grades 3–7 — Both on the American Indian Youth Literature Award list and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Books like Surviving the City for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Belle Époque by Elizabeth Ross · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
  • Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
  • Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
  • Check, Please! Book 1: # Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
  • Conviction by Kelly Loy Gilbert · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult), overlapping grades (9–12), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →

Common questions

What books are similar to Surviving the City?
The 10 closest matches to Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett on ReadingList include Hearts Unbroken, House of Purple Cedar, If I Ever Get Out of Here, Apple, and Rez Ball. Each is scored on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 9–12), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like Surviving the City reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 9–12), 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.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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