# Books like The Tale of Despereaux

**10** books similar to *The Tale of Despereaux* by Kate DiCamillo (Middle Grade Fantasy · 670L · grades 3–6), 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:** courage, forgiveness, light vs dark, fairy-tale form, underdog narrative
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/similar/the-tale-of-despereaux
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Similar books

- [The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)](https://readinglist.school/book/the-lightning-thief) by Rick Riordan _(740L · Grades 4–7)_ — Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy), a close reading level (740L vs 670L), and the same era (2000s).
- [Number the Stars](https://readinglist.school/book/number-the-stars) by Lois Lowry _(670L · Grades 4–7)_ — Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (670L vs 670L).
- [The BFG](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bfg) by Roald Dahl _(720L · Grades 3–6)_ — Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (720L vs 670L).
- [Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy](https://readinglist.school/book/wings-of-fire-the-dragonet-prophecy) by Tui T. Sutherland _(720L · Grades 3–7)_ — Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy) and a close reading level (720L vs 670L).
- [The Graveyard Book](https://readinglist.school/book/the-graveyard-book) by Neil Gaiman _(820L · Grades 5–8)_ — Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy), a close reading level (820L vs 670L), and the same era (2000s).
- [I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912](https://readinglist.school/book/i-survived-the-sinking-of-the-titanic-1912) by Lauren Tarshis _(590L · Grades 2–5)_ — Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (590L vs 670L).
- [Tuck Everlasting](https://readinglist.school/book/tuck-everlasting) by Natalie Babbitt _(770L · Grades 4–7)_ — Same genre (Middle Grade Fantasy) and a close reading level (770L vs 670L).
- [Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH](https://readinglist.school/book/mrs-frisby-and-the-rats-of-nimh) by Robert C. O'Brien _(790L · Grades 4–6)_ — Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (790L vs 670L).
- [Because of Winn-Dixie](https://readinglist.school/book/because-of-winn-dixie) by Kate DiCamillo _(610L · Grades 3–5)_ — A close reading level (610L vs 670L) and the same era (2000s).
- [I Am Malala (Young Readers Edition)](https://readinglist.school/book/i-am-malala-young-readers) by Malala Yousafzai _(830L · Grades 6–10)_ — Shares themes of courage and a close reading level (830L vs 670L).

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