# Books like The Book Thief

**10** books similar to *The Book Thief* by Markus Zusak (Historical Fiction · 730L · grades 8–11), matched on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level. Every pick is grade-appropriate (a reading-level match, not just a topical one) and links to where it is assigned in US schools.

**Themes:** Holocaust, courage, the power of words, friendship, loss
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/similar/the-book-thief
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Similar books

- [Salt to the Sea](https://readinglist.school/book/salt-to-the-sea) by Ruta Sepetys _(560L · Grades 8–12)_ — Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (560L vs 730L).
- [Long Way Down](https://readinglist.school/book/long-way-down) by Jason Reynolds _(720L · Grades 7–12)_ — Shares themes of loss, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (720L vs 730L).
- [Torch](https://readinglist.school/book/torch) by Lyn Miller-Lachmann _(Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of courage, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
- [Night](https://readinglist.school/book/night) by Elie Wiesel _(590L · Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of Holocaust, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (590L vs 730L).
- [Brooklyn](https://readinglist.school/book/brooklyn) by Colm Tóibín _(Grades 9–10)_ — Same genre (Historical Fiction), overlapping grades (9–10), and the same era (2000s).
- [The Diary of a Young Girl](https://readinglist.school/book/the-diary-of-a-young-girl) by Anne Frank _(1080L · Grades 7–10)_ — Shares themes of Holocaust, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (7–10).
- [A Tale of Two Cities](https://readinglist.school/book/a-tale-of-two-cities) by Charles Dickens _(1170L · Grades 9–12)_ — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
- [Maus: A Survivor's Tale](https://readinglist.school/book/maus) by Art Spiegelman _(Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of Holocaust, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (9–12).
- [The Killer Angels](https://readinglist.school/book/the-killer-angels) by Michael Shaara _(Grades 9–10)_ — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–10).
- [The Devil's Arithmetic](https://readinglist.school/book/the-devils-arithmetic) by Jane Yolen _(730L · Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (730L vs 730L).

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