Books like The Scarlet Letter

If you liked The Scarlet Letter, read A Tale of Two Cities, The Book Thief, or My Ántonia — the closest matches in our database, matched on shared award lists and reading level.

Looking for books like The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (Historical Fiction · 1420L · grades 10–12)? It’s most often read for its themes of sin and guilt, public shame vs private conscience, and Puritan society. 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 10–12 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.

10 books similar to The Scarlet Letter

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Why each is a match

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A Tale of Two Cities1170L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Historical Fiction), and a close reading level (1170L vs 1420L). Amazon →
The Book Thief730L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, same genre (Historical Fiction), and overlapping grades (8–11). Amazon →
My Ántonia1010L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and overlapping grades (10–12). Amazon →
Salt to the Sea560L
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and overlapping grades (8–12). Amazon →
Torchgrades 9–12
Same genre (Historical Fiction) and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
Little Women1300L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and a close reading level (1300L vs 1420L). Amazon →
Animal Farm1170L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (1170L vs 1420L). Amazon →
Frankenstein1170L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list (+1 more shared list) and a close reading level (1170L vs 1420L). Amazon →
Great Expectations1150L
Both on the AP English Literature & Composition list and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →
The Odyssey1130L
Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and overlapping grades (9–12). Amazon →

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

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

  • Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis · 950L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia · 750L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis · 1000L — Same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen · 730L — Same genre (Historical Fiction).

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

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

  • Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis · 950L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor · 920L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • Dragonwings by Laurence Yep · 870L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia · 750L — Both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list and same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis · 1000L — Same genre (Historical Fiction).

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

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

  • Refugee by Alan Gratz · 800L — Same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • Allies by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Same genre (Historical Fiction).
  • Projekt 1065 by Alan Gratz · grades 5–9 — Same genre (Historical Fiction).

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

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