Books like The Book Thief

Looking for books like The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Historical Fiction · 730L · grades 8–11)? It’s most often read for its themes of Holocaust, courage, and the power of words. 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 8–11 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Book Thief

Why each is a match

The Devil's Arithmetic730L
Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (730L vs 730L).
When You Reach Me750L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
Salt to the Sea560L
Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (560L vs 730L).
My Ántonia1010L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (10–12).
A Long Walk to Water720L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (720L vs 730L).
Long Way Down720L
Shares themes of loss and a close reading level (720L vs 730L).
The Perks of Being a Wallflower720L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (720L vs 730L).
One Crazy Summer750L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
The Outsiders750L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
Refugee800L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (800L vs 730L).

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