# 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

- [The Cay](https://readinglist.school/book/the-cay) by Theodore Taylor _(Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of courage and friendship, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
- [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).
- [Echo](https://readinglist.school/book/echo) by Pam Muñoz Ryan _(680L · Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of courage, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (680L vs 730L).
- [When You Reach Me](https://readinglist.school/book/when-you-reach-me) by Rebecca Stead _(750L · Grades 4–8)_ — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
- [One Crazy Summer](https://readinglist.school/book/one-crazy-summer) by Rita Williams-Garcia _(750L · Grades 5–8)_ — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
- [The Outsiders](https://readinglist.school/book/the-outsiders) by S.E. Hinton _(750L · Grades 7–9)_ — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
- [The Kite Runner](https://readinglist.school/book/the-kite-runner) by Khaled Hosseini _(840L · Grades 10–12)_ — Shares themes of friendship, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (840L vs 730L).
- [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).
- [My Ántonia](https://readinglist.school/book/my-antonia) by Willa Cather _(1010L · Grades 10–12)_ — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (10–12).
- [A Night Divided](https://readinglist.school/book/a-night-divided) by Jennifer A. Nielsen _(Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of courage, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).

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