Books like The Devil's Arithmetic

Looking for books like The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen (Historical Fiction · 730L · grades 5–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of Holocaust, memory, and Jewish identity. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, 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 5–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Devil's Arithmetic

Why each is a match

The Book Thief730L
Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (730L vs 730L).
Number the Stars670L
Shares themes of Holocaust and a close reading level (670L vs 730L).
Salt to the Sea560L
Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (560L vs 730L).
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—19631000L
Shares themes of history, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
A Long Walk to Water720L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (720L vs 730L).
One Crazy Summer750L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
The Giver760L
Shares themes of memory and a close reading level (760L vs 730L).
Refugee800L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (800L vs 730L).
The Parker Inheritance610L
Shares themes of history and a close reading level (610L vs 730L).
Dragonwings870L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (870L vs 730L).

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