Books like The Boy at the Back of the Class

If you liked The Boy at the Back of the Class, read Save Me a Seat, Dogtown, or Front Desk — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf (Realistic Fiction · grades 3–6)? It’s most often read for its themes of empathy, friendship, and immigration. 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 3–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Boy at the Back of the Class

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Why each is a match

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Save Me a Seat780L
Shares themes of friendship and immigration, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Dogtowngrades 3–6
Shares themes of friendship and courage, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Front Desk640L
Shares themes of immigration, both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list, and same genre (Realistic Fiction). Amazon →
The Last Musketeergrades 4–7
Shares themes of friendship and courage, both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list, and overlapping grades (4–7). Amazon →
Swim Teamgrades 3–7
Shares themes of friendship and courage, both on the Battle of the Books (state reading programs) list, and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
A Boy Named Queengrades 3–8
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon →
Amal Unboundgrades 5–8
Shares themes of courage, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Eight Keysgrades 4–6
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon →
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25grades 6–9
Shares themes of friendship and courage and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →
Pie in the Skygrades 3–6
Shares themes of immigration, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →

Books like The Boy at the Back of the Class for younger readers (K–2)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps K–2— same scoring, different audience.

  • Gibberish by Young Vo · grades K–3 — Shares themes of friendship and immigration and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Just Like Millie by Lauren Castillo · grades K–3 — Shares themes of friendship and courage and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Knight Owl by Christopher Denise · grades K–3 — Shares themes of friendship and courage and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise · grades K–3 — Shares themes of friendship and courage and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • The Guardian Test (Legends of Lotus Island #1) by Christina Soontornvat · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of friendship and courage and overlapping grades (2–5).

Books like The Boy at the Back of the Class for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

Closest matches whose grade range overlaps 3–5— same scoring, different audience.

  • Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Ungifted by Gordon Korman · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Wild Wings by Gill Lewis · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Wonder by R.J. Palacio · 790L — Shares themes of empathy and friendship and overlapping grades (3–7).
  • Blubber by Judy Blume · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like The Boy at the Back of the Class for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Ungifted by Gordon Korman · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
  • Wild Wings by Gill Lewis · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).

Books like The Boy at the Back of the Class for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Shares themes of courage and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • My Ántonia by Willa Cather · 1010L — Shares themes of friendship and immigration.
  • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak · 730L — Shares themes of friendship and courage.
  • The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini · 840L — Shares themes of friendship and immigration.

Book data last updated 2026-07-07. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

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