Books like The Odyssey

If you liked The Odyssey, read Great Expectations, The Outsiders, or Julius Caesar — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Odyssey by Homer (Epic Poetry · 1130L · grades 9–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of heroism, homecoming, and hospitality and xenia. 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 9–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Odyssey

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Why each is a match

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Great Expectations1150L
Shares themes of loyalty and a close reading level (1150L vs 1130L). Amazon →
The Outsiders750L
Shares themes of loyalty, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (7–9). Amazon →
Julius Caesargrades 9–11
Shares themes of loyalty, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and overlapping grades (9–11). Amazon →
The Call of the Wild1120L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1120L vs 1130L). Amazon →
A Separate Peace1110L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1110L vs 1130L). Amazon →
Pride and Prejudice1100L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (1100L vs 1130L). Amazon →
19841090L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1090L vs 1130L). Amazon →
A Tale of Two Cities1170L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1170L vs 1130L). Amazon →
Animal Farm1170L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1170L vs 1130L). Amazon →
Frankenstein1170L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1170L vs 1130L). Amazon →

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

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

  • Charlotte's Web by E.B. White · 680L — Shares themes of loyalty and both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list.
  • Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson · 780L — Shares themes of loyalty and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker · 760L — Shares themes of loyalty.
  • Nimbus by Jan Eldredge · grades 3–6 — Shares themes of loyalty.
  • Saving Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of loyalty.

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

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

  • Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass · 1080L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1080L vs 1130L).
  • The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank · 1080L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1080L vs 1130L).
  • Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson · 780L — Shares themes of loyalty and overlapping grades (5–9).
  • Pax by Sara Pennypacker · 760L — Shares themes of loyalty.
  • Legend by Marie Lu · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of loyalty and overlapping grades (6–9).

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

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

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

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