Books like The Recess Queen

If you liked The Recess Queen, read My Explosive Diary, A Boy Named Queen, or Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared themes, shared award lists, and reading level.

Looking for books like The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill (Realistic Fiction · grades K–3)? It’s most often read for its themes of recess, recesses, and bullies. 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 K–3 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Recess Queen

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

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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.

Try it on audio — free. Kids who struggle with the print versions often finish the assigned books by listening.

Listen free on Audiblestarts instantly

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.

My Explosive Diarygrades 2–8
Shares themes of bullies and bullying, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8). Amazon → books like this →
A Boy Named Queengrades 3–8
Shares themes of bullying, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–8). Amazon → books like this →
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Thingsgrades 3–5
Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →
Dogzillagrades K–3
Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Guji Gujigrades K–3
Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
He Came With the Couchgrades K–3
Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Hooway for Wodney Watgrades K–3
Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
I Need My Monstergrades K–3
Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3). Amazon → books like this →
Jake and Lilygrades 3–6
Shares themes of bullies, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6). Amazon → books like this →
John, Paul, George and Bengrades 3–5
Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–5). Amazon → books like this →

Books like The Recess Queen for younger readers (K–2)

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

  • Say What? by Margaret Peterson Haddix · grades 2–8 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (2–8).
  • The Monster Who Ate My Peas by Danny Schnitzlein · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • The Soccer Mom From Outer Space by Barney Saltzberg · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Again by Emily Gravett · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).
  • Are You a Cheeseburger? by Monica Arnaldo · grades K–3 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and overlapping grades (K–3).

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

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

  • Hoot by Carl Hiaasen · 760L — Shares themes of bullying and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Trading Places with Tank Talbott by Dori Hillestad Butler · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of bullies and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Blubber by Judy Blume · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of bullying and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks · 780L — Shares themes of bullying and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

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

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

  • Hoot by Carl Hiaasen · 760L — Shares themes of bullying and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Trading Places with Tank Talbott by Dori Hillestad Butler · grades 4–6 — Shares themes of bullies and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Blubber by Judy Blume · grades 4–7 — Shares themes of bullying and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • Breathe: A Ghost Story by Cliff McNish · grades 6–8 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Loser by Jerry Spinelli · grades 4–6 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).

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

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

  • My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Posted by John David Anderson · grades 6–9 — Shares themes of bullying and same genre (Realistic Fiction).
  • The House Next Door by Richie Tankersley Cusick · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • Wolf Rider: A Tale of Terror by Avi · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list, same genre (Realistic Fiction), and the same era (2000s).
  • A Door Near Here by Heather Quarles · grades 9–12 — Both on the Virginia Readers' Choice list and same genre (Realistic Fiction).

Common questions

What books are similar to The Recess Queen?
The 10 closest matches to The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill on ReadingList include My Explosive Diary, A Boy Named Queen, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things, Dogzilla, and Guji Guji. Each is scored on shared themes (recess, recesses, and bullies), shared award lists, genre, and reading level (grades K–3), and links to the curricula, states, and grades where it is assigned in US schools, with primary sources.
Are books like The Recess Queen reading-level appropriate?
Yes — every match is a reading-level match, not just a topical one, scored on Lexile and grade band (grades K–3), 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.

Book data last updated 2026-09-05. Matches are computed from each book’s cited attributes — see the methodology.

← Back to The Recess Queen

Browse by another angle