Books like The Color of a Lie

If you liked The Color of a Lie, read African Town, Butterfly Yellow, or Chains — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson? 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 9–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Color of a Lie

Reading the whole similar-books list? Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audible30-day trial

New members only · many assigned titles are included with the membership. As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you.

Why each is a match

Amazon links below are affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

African Towngrades 7–12
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list, overlapping grades (7–12), and the same era (2020s). Amazon →
Butterfly Yellowgrades 9–12
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
Chains780L
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon →
Streams to the River, River to the Seagrades 6–9
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →
The Bombgrades 7–10
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and overlapping grades (7–10). Amazon →
The Hired Girlgrades 7–12
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
The Landgrades 7–12
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
The River Between Usgrades 7–12
Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon →
A Conspiracy of Kingsgrades 5–12
Overlapping grades (5–12) and the same era (2020s). Amazon →
A Face for Picassogrades 6–12
Overlapping grades (6–12) and the same era (2020s). Amazon →

Books like The Color of a Lie for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • A Sea of Lemon Trees by María Dolores Águila · grades 5–8 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).
  • All He Knew by Helen Frost · grades 5–8 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).
  • Bea and the New Deal Horse by L. M. Elliott · grades 3–5 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).
  • Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome · grades 4–7 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).
  • Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland · grades 4–7 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).

Books like The Color of a Lie for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • A Sea of Lemon Trees by María Dolores Águila · grades 5–8 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).
  • All He Knew by Helen Frost · grades 5–8 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).
  • Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome · grades 4–7 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).
  • Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland · grades 4–7 — Both on the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction list and the same era (2020s).

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

← Back to The Color of a Lie