Books like The Hero and the Crown

If you liked The Hero and the Crown, read The Bronze Bow, The Door in the Wall, or The Slave Dancer — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (Young Adult Fiction · grades 3–7)? 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 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Hero and the Crown

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Why each is a match

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The Bronze Bowgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (YOUNG ADULT FICTION), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Door in the Wallgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
The Slave Dancergrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Up a Road Slowlygrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Young Adult Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7). Amazon → books like this →
Ender's Game780L
Same genre (Young Adult Fiction), overlapping grades (6–10), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
A Visit to William Blake's Inngrades K–5
Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (K–5), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglassgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
American Born Chinese530L
Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12). Amazon → books like this →
Dear Mr. Henshawgrades 4–6
Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (4–6), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →
Dicey's Songgrades 3–7
Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Hero and the Crown for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

  • Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Number the Stars by Lois Lowry · 670L — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (4–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan · 660L — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–5), and the same era (1980s).
  • The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).

Books like The Hero and the Crown for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

  • Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman · grades 3–7 — Both on the Newbery Medal list, overlapping grades (3–7), and the same era (1980s).
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • Monster by Walter Dean Myers · 670L — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).

Books like The Hero and the Crown for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

  • Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • Four for the Road by K.J. Reilly · grades 9–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
  • Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds · 720L — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).
  • Monster by Walter Dean Myers · 670L — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction).
  • Never Thought I'd End Up Here by Ann Liang · grades 7–12 — Same genre (Young Adult Fiction) and overlapping grades (7–12).

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

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