Books like The Devil's Arithmetic

If you liked The Devil's Arithmetic, read The Book Thief, I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912, or Number the Stars — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

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 titles below 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

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Why each is a match

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The Book Thief730L
Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (730L vs 730L). Amazon →
I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912590L
Shares themes of history, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (590L vs 730L). Amazon →
Number the Stars670L
Shares themes of Holocaust and a close reading level (670L vs 730L). Amazon →
Salt to the Sea560L
Shares themes of Holocaust, same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (560L vs 730L). Amazon →
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—19631000L
Shares themes of history, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
Code Name Kingfishergrades 4–8
Shares themes of history, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon →
Fever 1793grades 2–8
Shares themes of history, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon →
Hidden Hope: How a Toy and a Hero Saved Lives During the Holocaustgrades 2–5
Shares themes of Holocaust and history and overlapping grades (2–5). Amazon →
Iceberggrades 3–7
Shares themes of history, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →
Nothing Else But Miraclesgrades 3–7
Shares themes of history, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon →

Books like The Devil's Arithmetic for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The Apothecary by Maile Meloy · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of history and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate · grades 2–5 — Shares themes of memory and overlapping grades (2–5).
  • The Yellow Bus by Loren Long · grades K–3 — Shares themes of memory.
  • Time to Make Art by Jeff Mack · grades K–3 — Shares themes of history.

Books like The Devil's Arithmetic for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Restart by Gordon Korman · 730L — Shares themes of memory and a close reading level (730L vs 730L).
  • A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park · 720L — Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (720L vs 730L).
  • One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia · 750L — Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
  • Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan · 680L — Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (680L vs 730L).
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (800L vs 730L).

Books like The Devil's Arithmetic for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Restart by Gordon Korman · 730L — Shares themes of memory and a close reading level (730L vs 730L).
  • A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park · 720L — Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (720L vs 730L).
  • One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia · 750L — Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (750L vs 730L).
  • The Giver by Lois Lowry · 760L — Shares themes of memory and a close reading level (760L vs 730L).
  • Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan · 680L — Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (680L vs 730L).

Books like The Devil's Arithmetic for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • My Ántonia by Willa Cather · 1010L — Shares themes of memory and same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • Torch by Lyn Miller-Lachmann · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of history and same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Same genre (Historical Fiction) and a close reading level (800L vs 730L).
  • Night by Elie Wiesel · 590L — Shares themes of Holocaust and a close reading level (590L vs 730L).
  • The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien · 880L — Shares themes of memory and a close reading level (880L vs 730L).

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

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