# Books like The Pearl

**10** books similar to *The Pearl* by John Steinbeck (Literary Fiction · 1010L · grades 6–9), matched on shared themes, genre, and reading level. Every pick is grade-appropriate (a reading-level match, not just a topical one) and links to where it is assigned in US schools.

**Themes:** greed, colonial exploitation, family, fate and desire, class and race
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/similar/the-pearl
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Similar books

- [The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time](https://readinglist.school/book/the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time) by Mark Haddon _(1090L · Grades 8–12)_ — Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (1090L vs 1010L).
- [The Joy Luck Club](https://readinglist.school/book/the-joy-luck-club) by Amy Tan _(930L · Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (930L vs 1010L).
- [The Secret Life of Bees](https://readinglist.school/book/the-secret-life-of-bees) by Sue Monk Kidd _(840L · Grades 9–11)_ — Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and a close reading level (840L vs 1010L).
- [The Color Purple](https://readinglist.school/book/the-color-purple) by Alice Walker _(670L · Grades 9–12)_ — Shares themes of family, same genre (Literary Fiction), and overlapping grades (9–12).
- [Hatchet](https://readinglist.school/book/hatchet) by Gary Paulsen _(1020L · Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of nature and a close reading level (1020L vs 1010L).
- [Island of the Blue Dolphins](https://readinglist.school/book/island-of-the-blue-dolphins) by Scott O'Dell _(1000L · Grades 4–7)_ — Shares themes of nature and a close reading level (1000L vs 1010L).
- [The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963](https://readinglist.school/book/the-watsons-go-to-birmingham-1963) by Christopher Paul Curtis _(1000L · Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of family and a close reading level (1000L vs 1010L).
- [Brown Girl Dreaming](https://readinglist.school/book/brown-girl-dreaming) by Jacqueline Woodson _(990L · Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of family and a close reading level (990L vs 1010L).
- [Bud, Not Buddy](https://readinglist.school/book/bud-not-buddy) by Christopher Paul Curtis _(950L · Grades 4–7)_ — Shares themes of family and a close reading level (950L vs 1010L).
- [Diary of a Wimpy Kid](https://readinglist.school/book/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid) by Jeff Kinney _(950L · Grades 3–7)_ — Shares themes of family and a close reading level (950L vs 1010L).

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