Books like The City of Ember

If you liked The City of Ember, read Because of Winn-Dixie, Cryptid Hunters, or Deep and Dark and Dangerous — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau? 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 4–6 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The City of Ember

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Why each is a match

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Because of Winn-Dixie610L
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Cryptid Huntersgrades 5–8
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Deep and Dark and Dangerousgrades 4–6
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Gregor the Overlandergrades 4–7
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Hoot760L
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
How to Steal a Doggrades 3–5
Both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Ruby Hollergrades 3–5
Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
So B. Itgrades 5–8
Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Stolen Childrengrades 4–6
Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →

Books like The City of Ember for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan · grades 5–8 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan · 740L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s).
  • There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar · grades 4–6 — Both on the Land of Enchantment Book Award list (+3 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s).

Books like The City of Ember for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan · grades 5–8 — Both on the Great Stone Face Book Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan · 740L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+4 more shared lists), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo · grades 3–6 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2000s).
  • The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan · grades 4–6 — Both on the Mark Twain Readers Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (2000s).

Books like The City of Ember for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), overlapping grades (6–9), and the same era (2000s).
  • Unwind by Neal Shusterman · grades 8–12 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and the same era (2000s).
  • Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt · grades 7–10 — Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list).
  • The Doom Stone by Paul Zindel · grades 6–9 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list) and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper · grades 7–10 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list and the same era (2000s).

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

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