Books like The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm

If you liked The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm, read The House of the Scorpion, Aliens Ate My Homework, or Nova's Ark — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes and reading level.

Looking for books like The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer (Science Fiction · grades 6–8)? It’s most often read for its themes of zimbabweans, blacks, and science fiction. 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 6–8 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm

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

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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.

The House of the Scorpiongrades 7–10
Is by Nancy Farmer, the same author, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (7–10). Amazon → books like this →
Aliens Ate My Homeworkgrades 3–8
Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Nova's Arkgrades 2–8
Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
Shape-Changergrades 3–8
Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Sea of Trollsgrades 6–8
Is by Nancy Farmer, the same author, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
The Transall Sagagrades 6–9
Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon → books like this →
Virtually Perfectgrades 3–8
Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Airborngrades 6–8
Shares themes of science fiction, both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, and overlapping grades (6–8). Amazon → books like this →
Aliens for Breakfastgrades 3–6
Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevatorgrades 4–6
Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Akiak by Robert J. Blake · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • Beware of Boys by Tony Blundell · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • Copycat by Ruth Brown · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • Red Racer by Audrey Wood · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).

Books like The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • My Robot Buddy by Alfred Slote · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Science Fiction), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • A Haunting in Williamsburg by Lou Kassem · grades 3–5 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • Akiak by Robert J. Blake · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • Beware of Boys by Tony Blundell · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).

Books like The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • My Robot Buddy by Alfred Slote · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of science fiction, same genre (Science Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–6).
  • Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 5–8 — Same genre (Science Fiction), overlapping grades (5–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Blackwater by Eve Bunting · grades 6–8 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, overlapping grades (6–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Crash by Jerry Spinelli · grades 3–8 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, overlapping grades (3–8), and the same era (1990s).
  • Dead Man in Indian Creek by Mary Downing Hahn · grades 4–6 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1990s).

Books like The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Science Fiction).
  • Uglies by Scott Westerfeld · grades 9–12 — Shares themes of science fiction and both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list.
  • A Door Near Here by Heather Quarles · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul by Jack Canfield · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).
  • Daughter of the Stars by Phyllis A. Whitney · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and the same era (1990s).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm?
The 10 closest matches to The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer on ReadingList include The House of the Scorpion, Aliens Ate My Homework, Nova's Ark, Shape-Changer, and The Sea of Trolls. Each is scored on shared themes (zimbabweans, blacks, and science fiction), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 6–8), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 6–8), so the picks stay grade-appropriate. See how ReadingList judges text difficulty on the /standard methodology page.
How does ReadingList choose similar books?
Matches are ranked by shared themes, shared award and reading-program lists (two books picked for the same state award were chosen by the same committees for the same readers), same genre, comparable Lexile and grade band, and publication decade — computed from cited public curriculum data, not editorial opinion or AI-generated summaries.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm

Browse by another angle