What books are similar to The Hunger Games?

The 10 closest matches to The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins on ReadingList include Refugee, The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1), Hatchet, Touching Spirit Bear, and Unwind. Each is scored on shared themes (authoritarianism, survival, and media and spectacle), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades 6–9), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.

Are books like The Hunger Games reading-level appropriate?

Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades 6–9), 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.

Books like The Hunger Games

If you liked The Hunger Games, read Refugee, The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1), or Hatchet — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Young Adult Dystopian · 810L · grades 6–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of authoritarianism, survival, and media and spectacle. 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.

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

Listen free on Audible30-day trial

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.

Refugee800L: Shares themes of survival, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+9 more shared lists), and a close reading level (800L vs 810L). Amazon →
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)740L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+7 more shared lists), a close reading level (740L vs 810L), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
Hatchet1020L: Shares themes of survival, both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), and a close reading level (1020L vs 810L). Amazon →
Touching Spirit Beargrades 6–9: Shares themes of survival, both on the California Young Reader Medal list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (6–9). Amazon →
Unwindgrades 8–12: Shares themes of survival, both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (8–12). Amazon →
Maniac Magee820L: Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+7 more shared lists) and a close reading level (820L vs 810L). Amazon →
Wonder790L: Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+12 more shared lists) and a close reading level (790L vs 810L). Amazon →
Hoot760L: Both on the Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award list (+2 more shared lists), a close reading level (760L vs 810L), and the same era (2000s). Amazon →
The Giver760L: Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+8 more shared lists) and a close reading level (760L vs 810L). Amazon →
The Crossover750L: Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+4 more shared lists) and a close reading level (750L vs 810L). Amazon →

Books like The Hunger Games for younger readers (K–2)

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

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary · 750L — Both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (750L vs 810L).
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume · 470L — Both on the Grand Canyon Reader Award (Arizona) — formerly the Arizona Young Readers Award list (+2 more shared lists).
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson · grades 2–8 — Shares themes of survival and overlapping grades (2–8).
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary · 860L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (860L vs 810L).
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak · 740L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (740L vs 810L).

Books like The Hunger Games for elementary readers (grades 3–5)

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

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown · 740L — Shares themes of survival, both on the Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) list, and a close reading level (740L vs 810L).
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), a close reading level (670L vs 810L), and the same era (2000s).
Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of sacrifice, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9).
Two Degrees by Alan Gratz · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).
Frindle by Andrew Clements · 830L — Both on the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (830L vs 810L).

Books like The Hunger Games for middle school (grades 6–8)

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

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown · 740L — Shares themes of survival, both on the Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) list, and a close reading level (740L vs 810L).
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo · 670L — Both on the Dorothy Canfield Fisher / Vermont Golden Dome Book Award list (+6 more shared lists), a close reading level (670L vs 810L), and the same era (2000s).
Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of sacrifice, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9).
The Maze Runner by James Dashner · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Charlotte Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (7–12).
Two Degrees by Alan Gratz · grades 5–8 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Nebraska Golden Sower Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).

Books like The Hunger Games for high school & teens (grades 9–12)

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

Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Shares themes of sacrifice, both on the Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–9).
The Maze Runner by James Dashner · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of survival, both on the Charlotte Award list (+2 more shared lists), and overlapping grades (7–12).
Life of Pi by Yann Martel · 830L — Shares themes of survival and a close reading level (830L vs 810L).
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green · 850L — Both on the Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (850L vs 810L).
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins · grades 7–12 — Shares themes of survival and sacrifice and overlapping grades (7–12).

What to read after The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is book 1 of 5 in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games series. Not done with the series yet? Follow the The Hunger Games reading order first — then come back for the matches above.

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

← Back to The Hunger Games