Books like The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)

Looking for books like The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1) by Rick Riordan (Middle Grade Fantasy · 740L · grades 4–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of Greek mythology, neurodivergence (dyslexia, ADHD), and friendship. The 10 titlesbelow 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 4–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)

Why each is a match

Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy720L
Shares themes of friendship, same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy), and a close reading level (720L vs 740L).
The Graveyard Book820L
Shares themes of found family, same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy), and a close reading level (820L vs 740L).
When You Reach Me750L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (750L vs 740L).
Hoot760L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (760L vs 740L).
The Tale of Despereaux670L
Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy), a close reading level (670L vs 740L), and the same era (2000s).
The Outsiders750L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (750L vs 740L).
Pax760L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (760L vs 740L).
The Adventures of Captain Underpants720L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (720L vs 740L).
The BFG720L
Shares themes of friendship and a close reading level (720L vs 740L).
Tuck Everlasting770L
Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy) and a close reading level (770L vs 740L).

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