Books like The Doom Stone

If you liked The Doom Stone, read Cryptid Hunters, The Ghost of Graylock, or It Came from the Trees — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Doom Stone by Paul Zindel (Horror · grades 6–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of survival, science, and fear. 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 6–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Doom Stone

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Why each is a match

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Cryptid Huntersgrades 5–8
Shares themes of survival, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
The Ghost of Graylockgrades 5–8
Shares themes of fear, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
It Came from the Treesgrades 3–6
Shares themes of fear, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Mountain of Fire: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helensgrades 4–8
Shares themes of survival and science and overlapping grades (4–8). Amazon →
Refugee800L
Shares themes of survival, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–9). Amazon →
Tales from Cabin 23: The Boo Hag Flexgrades 3–6
Shares themes of fear, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
The Cursed Moongrades 3–6
Shares themes of fear, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →
Escaping the Giant Wavegrades 3–6
Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (3–6), and the same era (2010s). Amazon →
Hatchet1020L
Shares themes of survival, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (5–8). Amazon →
My Teacher Is an Aliengrades 3–6
Shares themes of science, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon →

Books like The Doom Stone for younger readers (K–2)

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

Books like The Doom Stone for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Red Midnight by Ben Mikaelsen · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Smile by Raina Telgemeier · 410L — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–7 — Both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (4–7).

Books like The Doom Stone for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper · 700L — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (2010s).
  • Red Midnight by Ben Mikaelsen · grades 3–8 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • Smile by Raina Telgemeier · 410L — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list (+1 more shared list), overlapping grades (4–8), and the same era (2010s).
  • The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret · grades 3–8 — Both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, same genre (Horror), and overlapping grades (3–8).
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins · 810L — Shares themes of survival, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9).

Books like The Doom Stone 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 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Young Hoosier Book Award list, and overlapping grades (6–9).
  • Unwind by Neal Shusterman · grades 8–12 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Nevada Young Readers' Award list, and overlapping grades (8–12).
  • Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys · 560L — Shares themes of survival and overlapping grades (8–12).
  • The Maze Runner by James Dashner · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of survival and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of survival and overlapping grades (9–12).

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

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