Books like The Pearl

Looking for books like The Pearl by John Steinbeck (Literary Fiction · 1010L · grades 6–9)? It’s most often read for its themes of greed, colonial exploitation, and family. 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 6–9 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Pearl

Why each is a match

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time1090L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (1090L vs 1010L).
The Joy Luck Club930L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (930L vs 1010L).
The Secret Life of Bees840L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (840L vs 1010L).
The Color Purple670L
Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
Hatchet1020L
Shares themes of nature and a close reading level (1020L vs 1010L).
Island of the Blue Dolphins1000L
Shares themes of nature and a close reading level (1000L vs 1010L).
The Watsons Go to Birmingham—19631000L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (1000L vs 1010L).
Brown Girl Dreaming990L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (990L vs 1010L).
Bud, Not Buddy950L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (950L vs 1010L).
Diary of a Wimpy Kid950L
Shares themes of family and a close reading level (950L vs 1010L).

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